Steve Sarkisian walked into this season with a roster that looks loaded after major work in both retention and the transfer portal, but that kind of depth can create a new question: where do the true freshmen fit?
Texas addressed a handful of needs with proven additions. Hollywood Smothers and Raleek Brown arrived to reshape the running back room.
Melvin Siani and Laurence Seymore were brought in to help up front. And when the Longhorns went looking for Anthony Hill Jr.’s replacement, they landed Rasheem Biles.
That leaves the 2026 recruiting class trying to force its way onto a team already packed with talent. Sarkisian may not have much choice but to get some of those freshmen on the field.
One name already drawing attention is Derrek Cooper. Smothers and Brown are expected to lead the backfield, and Sarkisian made it clear they were not brought in to watch from the sideline. Still, Cooper has put himself in the mix for touches.
What has stood out in fall camp is his physical style of running, according to Sarkisian. That matters, especially with other backs also competing for work. Cooper has clearly caught the staff’s eye.
He came to Texas with a strong reputation. Cooper was the fourth-ranked running back in the 2026 class and averaged nearly 11 yards per carry during his senior season. He may not open the year as the featured back, but there is real value in finding a role in an offense this deep.
Jermaine Bishop Jr. is in a different spot, but the path is just as crowded. The speed is obvious, and so is the resume.
He won Dave Campbell’s Mr. Texas Football award and piled up nearly 2,000 receiving yards and 20 touchdowns in high school.
The receiver room, though, is stacked. Auburn transfer Cam Coleman is the highest-rated wideout in the transfer portal.
Ryan Wingo, Texas’ leading receiver last season, is back. Emmett Mosley V and Sterling Berkhalter are also in the mix, which makes it hard to see an immediate opening for Bishop.
Even so, his chance will come. It could be on special teams or on offense, but Sarkisian is not likely to keep a player with Bishop’s ability hidden for long. Injuries always open doors, and if Bishop Jr. makes the most of his moment, the conversation can change fast.
That’s the reality of modern college football: veteran players usually get the first crack. But freshmen can still make noise, and Cooper or Bishop Jr. could be among the names that get on the field early this season.
In Other News...
Colin Simmons Is Becoming The Face Of Texas Defensive Hopes
Colin Simmons has spent just two seasons turning hype into something sturdier for Texas, piling up production that matches the elite expectations that followed him to Austin. The edge rusher has already posted 21 sacks, 29.5 tackles for loss and seven takeaways, numbers that help explain why he enters the season as a pre-season first-team All-American and a Bronko Nagurski Award watchlist name.
The broader national attention has caught up to him too, with The Athletic placing him No. 10 on its College football Freaks List because of his explosiveness and athleticism. For Texas, the appeal is obvious: Simmons is no longer just a high-end recruit with a lot of upside, but one of the players around whom real defensive hopes can be built. [Read more 🡒]
Texas Just Got Extra Fuel For Its Ohio State Showdown
Rasheem Biles has already found a place in Texas defense, and now the linebacker is headed toward a second-week matchup with a bit more personal edge than most. The Ohio State native came to Austin after three productive seasons at Pitt, where he developed into a steady, versatile defender before transferring to the Longhorns. Steve Sarkisian has praised Biles for the way he can move around the defense and make an impact in different roles, which is exactly why Texas expects him to be part of the plan when the Longhorns line up against the Buckeyes.
The backdrop makes the showdown a little more interesting, because Biles has never hidden how he feels about the school just up the road. He grew up near Ohio State, but the Buckeyes passed on recruiting him out of high school, and that slight still lingers as Texas prepares for one of its biggest early-season tests. For a Longhorns defense looking for any extra edge, Biles brings both experience and a little added motivation into a game that already had plenty of attention. [Read more 🡒]