Texas is heading into 2026 with the kind of roster that can make every opponent nervous, and the spotlight naturally lands on names like Arch Manning, Cam Coleman, Colin Simmons and Trevor Goosby. But tucked a little deeper in the conversation is a player who could end up mattering just as much in a different way: true freshman running back Derrek Cooper.
Cooper may not be the first name fans outside Austin circle on the schedule, but Texas people already know what the four-star recruit can do. He arrives with the kind of all-around skill set that makes him a real candidate to carve out a role fast for a team chasing championship-or-bust expectations.
That possibility gets even more interesting because Texas brought in two transfer backs this offseason in Hollywood Smother from NC State and Raleek Brown from Arizona State. Experience is really the main thing separating them from Cooper right now.
Steve Sarkisian and his staff still haven’t named a starter, and they probably shouldn’t. A committee approach makes sense if Texas wants to keep the backfield fresh for a run at the College Football Playoff.
And that opens the door for Cooper. He could be the kind of player who pops up in key moments all season long, and if injuries hit or production dips, he could even find himself getting starts.
New running backs coach Jabbar Juluke has already sounded impressed with what he’s seen from Cooper this offseason, while also making clear the freshman still has plenty to learn.
"He's big. He's physical," Juluke said.
"Man, sometimes he looked like a cat out there, and then like a cat on his feet, quick, nimble, making good cuts. Then sometimes, like, 'Ah, he's a freshman.' ...
He's still a work in progress. Elite ball skills, right?
Highly intelligent for a freshman. We threw a lot at him, man, and he's been picking it up really well.
I'm pleased where he's at right now."
A 1,000-yard season would be a lot to ask with Brown and Smothers in the mix, but Cooper could still make a real first-year impact. The source article points to a similar kind of freshman breakout in Ohio State’s Bo Jackson last season, when he ran for 1,090 yards and six touchdowns.
At the very least, Cooper looks set to get meaningful snaps when Texas opens the season at home against Texas State on Sept. 5.
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Karnell James LSU Flip Could Be Just The Start For Texas
Karnell Greedy James move from Texas to LSU was already a notable hit on the Longhorns 2027 recruiting board, but the ripple effect may be even more important than the flip itself. The four-star defensive back had been committed to Texas before changing course, and now he is not just wearing LSU colors on the trail, he is helping the Tigers work other targets while the class is still taking shape.
One of the names in that orbit is Easton Royal, the Texas five-star wide receiver commit who is weighing his options among Texas, LSU and Florida. Royal has acknowledged James switch and reposted the news on social media, a small but telling sign that the recruitment is still very much alive and that Texas may have more to worry about here than one lost defensive back. [Read more 🡒]
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Sean Millers staff has been viewed as the one to beat in this recruitment, but Popes push is a reminder that the fight is far from settled. LSU, Alabama, Arizona and Arkansas remain involved, and the longer this turns into a broader SEC-and-beyond battle, the more Texas has to protect its position on a player many believe could develop into an NBA-caliber prospect. [Read more 🡒]
Texas Finally Has An Answer For Last Seasons Pass Defense Collapse
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The headliner is Fort Worth cornerback John Meredith, a major pull for the program, and he is part of a group that keeps getting stronger. Texas has also added Sherrard, Jackson from Garland, and a safety out of Alabama, giving the staff multiple pieces to reshape the secondary. The bigger question now is whether this wave of commitments is the start of a real fix or just the first step toward one. [Read more 🡒]