Texas is heading into Week 2 of fall camp with a few things coming into focus, and a few others still very much up for grabs. After an opening week in Austin that brought some surprises - especially from young linemen Justus Terry and Jackson Christian - the Longhorns are starting to sort out who is trending toward the opening kickoff against Texas State in Week 1.
At quarterback, there’s no mystery at the top. Arch Manning is the starter, KJ Lacey is locked in as the backup, and Dia Bell sits third. Lacey has a firm grip on the No. 2 job, while Bell remains the one to watch for the future.
The backfield also looks fairly settled for now. Hollywood Smothers projects as the starter, with Raleek Brown behind him and true freshman Derrek Cooper third.
Smothers and Brown both figure to have major roles, but Smothers appears best positioned to handle every-down work. Cooper, meanwhile, has already started making a push for playing time.
Receiver is where the camp buzz has really started to build. Cam Coleman is already turning heads with huge plays, and he’s projected to start ahead of Sterling Berkhalter and Kohen Brown. Berkhalter brings the veteran presence Texas needed from the portal, while Brown’s speed has stood out.
Ryan Wingo is another name climbing after a strong start to camp following his struggles with drops in 2025. Behind him are Kaliq Lockett and Jermaine Bishop Jr., with Lockett still flying a little under the radar and Bishop expected to make an impact at some point.
Emmett Mosley V is listed as the starter in the next spot, with Daylan McCutcheon and Ryan Niblett behind him. Mosley is being viewed as one of the more underrated receivers on the roster, and there’s a real expectation he can put together a big season.
At tight end, Townsend appears to be in strong shape and poised for a step forward. Spencer Shannon is projected to start ahead of Michael Masuans and Charlie Jilek, even though many assumed Masuans had the job lined up. Shannon changed that conversation with what he showed last week.
Up front, Trevor Goosby is the clear starter with Jordan Coleman and John Turntine III behind him. Goosby is being talked about like a future first-round pick, and Coleman is beginning to emerge as a name for the future as well. Depth gets thin in a hurry after that, though Jaydon Chatman and Andre Cojoe can both move inside to guard if needed.
The interior line has its own battles, and Jackson Christian has made a push over the last week. Still, Laurence Seymore is projected to win the Week 1 job, with Jaydon Chatman backing him up and Cole Hutson in the third spot.
Christian is viewed as a long-term starter somewhere, even if that spot is not right now. At center, Conner Robertson is the starter, with Christian again in the mix as a future option and Dylan Sikorski behind them.
Hutson can also play the position.
Brandon Baker is projected as the starter at the next spot, with Paris Patterson and Dylan Sikorski behind him. Baker is expected to become an excellent guard for Texas and likely in the NFL, even with plenty of pressure on him to deliver. Melvin Siani is the starter at the next interior spot, with Andre Cojoe and Jonte Newman next.
On the defensive line, Colin Simmons is the starter with Colton Vasek and Richard Wesley behind him. Simmons is being billed as the best defensive player in college football, while Vasek is finally healthy and ready to contribute.
Lance Jackson is listed next, with Zina Umeozulu and Jamarion Carlton behind him. Jackson is viewed as a future NFL player, and Umeozulu has the kind of physical tools that should keep him on the field.
Texas is also enormous inside. Ian Geffrard is listed at 375 pounds, with Maraad Watson at 333 and Zion Williams at 370. The size alone jumps off the page.
Hero Kanu is the starter at the next spot, with Justus Terry and Alex January behind him. Terry has arguably been the most impressive player in camp and is expected to play a lot in 2026. The line as a whole might be the deepest unit on the roster.
At linebacker, Rasheem Biles is projected to start with Ty’Anthony Smith and Tyler Atkinson behind him. Biles is expected to be first- or second-team All-SEC and has fit in seamlessly under Will Muschamp.
Smith should have a major role in different packages. Justin Cryer is the starter at MIKE, followed by Darius Snow and Rocky Cummings.
Cryer looks like a natural fit for Muschamp there, while Snow adds veteran experience and Cummings is expected to play a lot. Brad Spence rounds out the next spot, with Markus Boswell and Kosi Okpala behind him.
Spence can line up at SAM, MIKE or JACK and should be on the field plenty.
In the secondary, Bo Mascoe is projected to start with Warren Roberson and John Meredith III behind him. Mascoe has already stepped in as a veteran leader and was one of the best in the Big Ten last season.
Kade Phillips is the clear starter on the other side, with Hayward Howard Jr. and Samari Matthews behind him. Roberson looks like the first injury replacement there before Howard.
Graceson Littleton is projected to start at the next spot, with Wardell Mack and Jonathan Cunningham behind him. Littleton could also play outside corner, and he looks like a strong fit where he is. Xavier Filsaime and Kobe Black could also see work there.
Derek Williams appears to have the lead at the final defensive back spot, with Xavier Filsaime or Kobe Black behind him. Filsaime and Black both look difficult to keep off the field, so this is one of the more interesting spots to watch.
Jelani McDonald rounds out the group as a starter, with Jordon Johnson-Rubell and Jonah Williams behind him. McDonald is expected to play like a star in 2026, Johnson-Rubell has earned his chance, and Jonah Williams still has some ground to make up despite obvious talent.
In Other News...
Texas Freshmen Are Already Making Key Position Battles Harder To Ignore
The first week of fall camp has already given Steve Sarkisian and his staff a few reasons to keep a closer eye on the freshmen, with Derrek Cooper, Jermaine Bishop Jr. and Tyler Atkinson all turning in promising early work. Coopers physical running style stood out enough to draw praise from Sarkisian, while Tyler Atkinson has made enough progress to get noticed in a linebacker room that already has established names in front of him.
Jermaine Bishop Jr. has also added to the pressure on the depth chart, with Ryan Niblett pointing to his agility and competitiveness as traits that translate quickly in camp. For Texas, the bigger takeaway is not just that the freshmen look ready to compete, but that the early battles for snaps are becoming harder to sort out by the day. [Read more 🡒]
Would Texas Ever Give Texas Tech The Game It Wants
Joey McGuire has made no secret of what he wants for Texas Techs future schedule, and it starts with more Power Conference opponents. The Red Raiders have spent time trying to line up marquee games, including an effort to get Texas on the slate, but those conversations have not produced the kind of matchup McGuire has been after. Other programs, from Texas A&M to USC, NC State and Mississippi State, reportedly passed on Techs requests as well, leaving the Red Raiders still searching for the sort of game that would raise the profile of their nonconference calendar.
From Texas side, the picture is a little less settled. Steve Sarkisian recently signaled some uncertainty about whether the Longhorns will keep their series with Notre Dame going, and any change there could ripple into future scheduling choices. For Texas Tech, that is the kind of opening worth watching, because the bigger the name left off the Longhorns calendar, the more room there may be for the Red Raiders to finally land the kind of matchup they have been chasing. [Read more 🡒]
Texas May Already Be Eyeing Trevor Goosbys Successor
With Trevor Goosby expected to move on after this season, Texas is already doing the kind of planning that keeps an offensive line from getting caught flat-footed. The Longhorns have put themselves in position to keep the pipeline moving, and one name worth watching is Austin Attalah, a four-star tackle prospect in the 2028 class who is viewed as a possible future fit up front.
Attalah is still early in the recruiting process, but Texas has made the cut as one of his top options alongside Texas Tech and USC. Even with the Longhorns in the mix, he has not yet visited campus or set a commitment date, which means this is still more about early positioning than any imminent decision. Still, for a program looking ahead to life after Goosby, getting in early matters. [Read more 🡒]