Steve Sarkisian is enjoying the buzz around Texas, but he’s not rushing to stamp this roster as the deepest team he’s ever had.
The Longhorns opened fall camp coming off a spot inside the top five of the USA Today Coaches Poll, and for a second straight year they enter the season looking loaded on paper. That hasn’t stopped the conversation from building around how much talent and depth Texas has assembled after a 10-3 season that left room for more.
Still, when asked whether this group is his deepest, Sarkisian kept it grounded.
“We'll see, you know. Again, I think that the portal, in some ways, helps because you can fill very specific spots from a depth perspective…”
He had already been candid at SEC Media Days about how Texas handled the transfer portal this offseason, and he made clear that every addition came with departures too.
“We lost a lot of guys, you know, and so how it all ties together and leaning into who are going to be the young players that are going to step up and maybe not be frontline players on offense, defense, but play on two or three special teams,” Sarkisian said. “Or covering on kickoffs, doing those types of things, because that's where your depth can show up as well.”
That’s the part of depth that doesn’t always get the headlines. It’s not just about the first and second units on offense or defense. It’s about the younger players who can help on special teams, where college football is increasingly leaning on inexperienced talent.
And that’s where Texas could be set up for a big 2026, especially with the attention fixed on names like Arch Manning, Cam Coleman, and Colin Simmons. The Longhorns are also two years removed from signing the nation’s No. 1-ranked recruiting class in 2025, a group that includes Justus Terry, Jonah Williams, Lance Jackson, Kade Phillips, and Kaliq Lockett.
Those players were all former five-stars, but with the exception of Jackson and Phillips, most didn’t see much of the field as freshmen. Sarkisian thinks the second-year jump is coming.
“I think we live in a society of like instant gratification. The guy's a five-star, and they're supposed to show up, and every guy's supposed to be a Freshman All-American, and it really doesn't work like that, …” Sarkisian said. “Because I think these guys are poised to take a huge step in our program."
In Other News...
Texas Secondary Draws Early Camp Concern After Two Young DBs Go Missing
Texas has only just gotten through two fall camp practices, but the secondary already has a small bit of intrigue attached to it. During a recent viewing window, two freshmen defensive backs were nowhere to be seen, adding a layer of early camp concern to a group that will be watched closely as the regular season approaches.
The missing players were cornerback Samari Matthews and safety Yaheim Riley, though coach Steve Sarkisian did not report any injuries. It remains unclear whether either rookie worked elsewhere during practice or simply stayed out of the portion open to reporters, but any absence from a position group this young will be noted while camp is still in its opening stages. [Read more 🡒]
Ryan Niblett's Texas Speed Ranking Included One Name Fans Didn't Expect
Ryan Nibletts eye for speed around Texas already comes with some credibility, since he has plenty of it himself from both the stopwatch and what shows up on Saturdays. So when the running back/wide receiver was asked to identify the fastest players on the roster, his answer naturally drew attention, especially with freshman wide receiver Kohen Brown and junior wide receiver Ryan Wingo in the mix. Brown has been one of the more talked-about newcomers after an impressive offseason physically, and he reportedly reached 23.1 miles per hour in conditioning, while Wingos reputation has been built on verified speed dating back to high school and continuing into college.
Warren Roberson also surfaced in the discussion, which fits with how Texas uses him on special teams and why his burst matters beyond just the depth chart. For a roster that values pace at every level, Nibletts list offers a useful snapshot of where the speed is concentrated, and it also hints at how much the Longhorns can lean on that athleticism when games tighten up. The only real suspense now is how that speed ranking translates once the pads come on and the deeper pecking order starts to show. [Read more 🡒]
Texas Has One Fall Camp Problem Talent Alone Wont Solve
Fall camp has a way of exposing whether a roster built on potential is actually ready to function like a team, and Texas is walking into that test with a handful of issues Steve Sarkisian has to sort through before the 2026 season. Freshmen will need to get up to speed quickly, several jobs are still open, and the newcomers brought in through the portal have to mesh with returning pieces fast enough to make the whole thing work. Add in the need for stronger leadership and cleaner communication up front, and the Longhorns are looking at a camp where talent is only the starting point.
The offensive line figures to be one of the biggest pressure points, because the group cannot afford confusion when it comes to assignments and calls. Health is part of that equation, too, after Manning, Trevor Goosby and Jonah Williams missed spring work because of injuries, leaving Texas with less continuity than it would prefer heading into August. If the Longhorns are going to turn all that talent into something sturdier, fall camp has to answer questions that paper over on a depth chart but show up quickly on Saturdays. [Read more 🡒]