Warren Roberson is coming back to Austin - and that’s a big win for the Texas defense.
The third-year cornerback has officially withdrawn his name from the transfer portal and will return to the Longhorns in 2026, giving Texas some much-needed experience and depth at a position that was suddenly looking a little thin. With Roberson back in the fold, the Longhorns avoid the possibility of having to lean heavily on young, untested players on the outside next season.
And let’s be clear: this return makes a lot of sense for both sides.
Roberson is coming off a strong showing in the Citrus Bowl against Michigan, where he made a real case for a bigger role moving forward. Matched up for much of the game with standout Wolverines receiver Andrew Marsh, Roberson held his own - and then some.
Marsh, one of the more dynamic wideouts in the country, was limited to just three catches for 10 yards. Roberson finished the game with five total tackles and a couple of key pass breakups, showing the kind of physicality and awareness that coaches love to see from a boundary corner.
At 5-foot-10 and 188 pounds, Roberson isn’t the biggest guy on the field, but he plays bigger than his frame. His instincts and closing speed have always been there, and now, with a few years of development under his belt, he's starting to put it all together. In 2025, he logged 454 snaps and recorded 19 tackles, along with several impressive pass breakups that don’t always show up in the box score but absolutely show up on film.
With two years of eligibility still remaining, Roberson has a real opportunity to carve out a starting role this spring. He’ll be in the mix with Kade Phillips and Kobe Black for one of the outside corner spots, while true freshman Graceson Littleton has already locked down the nickel role after a breakout 2025 that turned heads inside the program.
It’s also worth noting that Black himself briefly entered the portal before deciding to return, which makes the cornerback room even more competitive - and potentially more cohesive - heading into spring ball. Whether or not new co-DC and safeties coach Blake Gideon played a role in convincing both Roberson and Black to stay is something to watch, but either way, Texas now finds itself in a much better position in the secondary than it was just a few weeks ago.
For Roberson, this is a chance to take the next step - not just as a contributor, but as a potential starter on a Texas team with big expectations in 2026. The tools are there.
The film is starting to back it up. Now it’s about locking in this spring and turning potential into production.