Texas is heading into 2026 with the kind of roster that can turn unknowns into household names fast. The Longhorns are ranked No. 4 in the coaches poll, and between a loaded portal class and the No. 8 high school recruiting class, the expectations in Austin are already sky-high.
That kind of stage tends to create new fan favorites, and Texas has several players who look ready to grab that spotlight.
Cam Coleman may already be halfway there. The former Auburn star has been flashing in fall camp with those jaw-dropping one-handed catches, the kind that make you stop what you’re doing and watch again.
He built a reputation in his home state for that kind of athleticism, and now he gets the chance to turn it into production that counts. With Arch Manning delivering him the best quarterback play he has ever had, Coleman could put together a huge season in Burnt Orange.
Freshman 5-star Jermaine Bishop also has the kind of profile that can catch fire quickly. He was a force in the Houston area, so he arrives with a built-in following before he even plays a snap.
From the slot, Bishop could become a problem on second reads when Manning is on the move. If those plays start turning into long gains, he’ll be on a lot more radars by December.
On defense, Pitt transfer Rasheem Biles looks like a player who could make his presence felt in a hurry. He has a thumper’s mentality on the outside and in the middle, and that should lead to plenty of big hits on running backs and quarterbacks trying to power through traffic.
There’s also a real path for him to pile up tackles and become one of the most visible defenders on the team. If he shows out against Ohio State in Week 2 at DKR Stadium, especially in the biggest non-conference game of the year, he could become an instant fan favorite.
Kosi Okpala is another name worth watching because of what he can do in multiple spots. He’s pushing for snaps in the middle and on the edge, and by all accounts he’s had a strong camp while earning praise from Steve Sarkisian. His versatility could keep him on the field in a variety of roles, and Will Muschamp, who has coached linebackers at Texas and Auburn, will appreciate that kind of flexibility.
Then there’s freshman Derrek Cooper, who is making it tough to keep him off the field. NC State transfer Hollywood Smothers and Arizona State transfer Raleek Brown were brought in to handle most of the carries, but Cooper has been too impressive in fall camp to ignore.
His game is different from that pass-catching duo; he brings a more violent style between the tackles and may be able to wear down defenses with runs up the middle. If his size holds up, he could earn more work sooner rather than later.
In Other News...
Jordan Shipleys Return To DKR Gave Texas Fans A Needed Smile
Jordan Shipleys return to Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium offered Texas fans a welcome reminder of how much one of the programs most beloved former receivers still means to them. Shipley, who was critically injured in a farming accident in January, has been in recovery ever since, and his appearance at the Longhorns fall camp scrimmage in Austin showed how far he has come after an ordeal that sent him to the ICU for 11 days.
Shipley has already spoken publicly about the accident and the progress he has made, including in a May podcast appearance where he walked through the recovery process. Even with the long-term complications that remain part of the picture, seeing him back at DKR gave the Texas faithful a reason to smile and a little perspective in the middle of camp. [Read more 🡒]
Texas Fall Camp Is Turning Up Pressure In Key Position Battles
Texas got through its first fall camp scrimmage with a few players sidelined by the flu, but the bigger takeaway was how much is still unsettled as kickoff nears. Will Muschamps defense showed promise, and the next stretch of camp is shaping up as a proving ground for players trying to carve out larger roles, from TyAnthony Smith and Justin Cryer to Daylan McCutcheon, Nick Townsend, Jonah Williams and Kobe Black.
For Texas, that is exactly the kind of pressure camp is supposed to create. Coaches have made it clear that the final weeks before the season will be about sorting out position battles and accelerating development, and the competition is broad enough to touch both sides of the ball. The Longhorns do not need every answer right now, but they do need to keep getting cleaner as the roster fights for spots that may not be decided until the last stage of camp. [Read more 🡒]
Texas Scrimmage Hinted At The Offensive Change Fans Have Wanted
Texas has been using fall camp to send a clear message about where its offense needs to grow, and a behind-closed-doors scrimmage offered a small but useful look at that push. The Longhorns released highlight clips from the session that leaned heavily on the offense, with wide receiver Cam Coleman showing up alongside a trio of running backs as the staff continues to spotlight a rushing attack that lagged badly last season. New faces in the backfield and up front have been part of that effort, and the program seems intent on making sure the ground game is not an afterthought this time around.
Steve Sarkisian also made it clear the scrimmage was not meant to be a full showcase for the top of the depth chart. Some of the biggest names were kept to limited live work, which leaves the public view of the day intentionally incomplete even as the clips offer a hint of what the offense can look like when it starts to click. For a Texas team trying to turn a familiar weakness into a strength, the encouraging part is less about the fireworks than the direction of the work. [Read more 🡒]