Derrek Cooper hasn’t played a down yet for the Texas Longhorns, but he’s already making a statement - and it’s not just with his play. The freshman running back revealed via Instagram that he’ll be wearing the No. 5 jersey this season, a number that carries serious weight in Austin. That’s the same number Bijan Robinson wore while torching defenses and etching his name into Longhorns lore.
Robinson, of course, was the 2022 Doak Walker Award winner and finished his Texas career fourth all-time in both rushing yards (3,410) and total touchdowns (41). He parlayed that dominance into a top-10 NFL Draft selection by the Atlanta Falcons in 2023 and has since exploded onto the pro scene, surpassing the likes of Christian McCaffrey and Barry Sanders for the most career scrimmage yards by any player under 24.
So yeah - No. 5 means something in Austin. Cooper knows that.
And he’s not backing down from the challenge.
The Longhorns needed a win at running back in the 2025 recruiting cycle, and Cooper delivered. Before his commitment, the class was trending in the wrong direction.
But the Hollywood (Fla.) Chaminade-Madonna standout chose Texas over heavyweights like Florida State, Miami, and Ohio State - and he did it without even taking an official summer visit to the Forty Acres.
That’s the kind of confidence and commitment that turns heads in a program looking to reload, not rebuild.
By the time Cooper signed during the early signing period, he was the No. 108 overall prospect and the No. 7 running back in the nation, per the 247Sports Composite. His senior year numbers?
Eye-popping: 94 carries, 963 yards, 12 touchdowns - good for a blistering 10.2 yards per carry. That’s not just production; that’s dominance.
At 6'1", 201 pounds, Cooper brings a physical edge to the backfield. He’s the kind of runner who doesn’t waste time dancing behind the line - he plants his foot, gets downhill, and dares you to stop him.
He’s built to run through arm tackles, and he doesn’t shy away from contact. In fact, he seems to welcome it.
He’s got the toughness to push a pile and the burst to punish defenders who take bad angles. And when things break down?
He’s got the instincts and strength to BYOB - be your own blocker - and still get positive yards.
But Cooper isn’t just a bruiser. He’s got reliable hands out of the backfield and the kind of agility that can make defenders miss in space. On tape, he showed the ability to turn short receptions into chunk plays, and his top-end speed makes him a threat to take it the distance anytime he finds daylight.
What makes Cooper even more intriguing is his all-around football makeup. In high school, he wasn’t just the offensive workhorse - he also played as a hybrid linebacker/safety and made his presence felt on special teams, even blocking multiple punts. That kind of versatility speaks volumes about his toughness, football IQ, and willingness to do whatever it takes to help his team win.
And if you’re worried about tread on the tires, don’t be. Cooper only carried the ball 124 times in 2024, averaging 9.3 yards per carry. He’s fresh, and he’s ready.
Texas needed to overhaul its running back room after losing five of the six backs from the 2025 roster. Only redshirt freshman James Simon returns.
So head coach Steve Sarkisian and new running backs coach Jabbar Juluke went to work. In addition to Cooper, they brought in Georgetown prospect Jett Walker and hit the portal hard, landing Arizona State transfer Raleek Brown and NC State transfer Hollywood Smothers.
The plan is clear: build a dynamic, multi-dimensional backfield to support rising star quarterback Arch Manning. Cooper is expected to bring the thunder - the power, the punch, the between-the-tackles grit - while Brown and Smothers provide the lightning with their speed and elusiveness. It’s a trio built to keep defenses guessing and take some of the pressure off Manning as Texas looks to elevate its offensive consistency in 2026.
Interestingly, Cooper isn’t the first to wear No. 5 since Robinson left for the NFL. Running back Quintrevion Wisner wore it in 2025 before transferring to Florida State.
Wide receivers AD Mitchell and Ryan Wingo also donned the number in recent seasons. But if Cooper lives up to his billing, he might be the one to restore the No. 5 jersey’s legacy in the Texas backfield - not just as a tribute to Bijan, but as a name fans will remember in his own right.
The expectations are high. The lights are bright. And Derrek Cooper is stepping into both - head-on.