The Texas Longhorns head into the 2026 season with a roster that feels mostly settled, even if the staff isn’t ready to put every name in ink just yet. Most of the starting 22 looks all but locked, but there are still a few spots where the picture could change once the games start piling up.
At running back, the clearest example is the situation involving Christian “Smothers” and Raleek Brown. A true full-season job change would be hard to see unless injury or an extreme fumbling problem entered the picture.
More likely, Texas would treat that spot as fluid, with the coaching staff leaning into whichever back has the better rhythm at the moment. That could mean Smothers and Brown trading the official in-game starting label depending on the opponent and who’s running with more confidence.
If Brown ends up winning the lead role on offense, there’s another ripple effect waiting behind it. He could lose his place as a primary kick returner, even though he showed that burst in the spring scrimmage when he took one to the house.
Jermaine Bishop Jr. could be the player who changes that math. Outside of Ryan Niblett, he may be Texas’ best answer on kickoff returns.
That would also fit with the bigger health picture around Brown. He has the speed and quickness to be dangerous in the return game, but the Longhorns may not want him taking unnecessary punishment.
Brown missed nearly all of the 2024 season at Arizona State because of injury, and keeping him away from heavy special-teams collisions makes sense. A Bishop-Niblett combination on kickoff returns would give Texas a safer setup.
Tight end is another spot worth watching. Spencer Shannon may be the name some people point to as the starting Y tight end right now, but that label may not stick. Texas added Michigan State transfer Michael Masunas through the portal, and he’s already getting buzz as one of the SEC’s more underrated tight ends.
The Longhorns have plenty of young talent at the position, but Masunas brings experience along with the kind of talent that could push him into the lead once the season gets rolling and the schedule tightens.
Kicker is the most volatile of the bunch, and that usually comes with the territory. It doesn’t take much for a specialist to get squeezed, and Spectic is no exception. A short stretch of missed field goals or extra points could force Texas to look elsewhere if the options are there.
Longhorn fans have already seen how quickly that can happen. Bert Auburn’s late-season struggles in 2024 hurt Texas in the SEC Championship game against Georgia and nearly knocked the Longhorns out in the Peach Bowl win over Arizona State in the College Football Playoff quarterfinals. By the time Texas reached the CFP semifinals against Ohio State, Will Stone was handling extra points, and Auburn was clearly not the choice for field goals.
That’s the backdrop for Spectic’s season. He’s only a few misses away from putting himself on the hot seat. Still, Texas should be excited about what he can bring if things stay steady.
In Other News...
Texas Awaits Massive Decision From Elite In-State Sarkisian Target
Landen Williams-Callis is set to make one of the biggest recruiting calls in the state on Saturday, with the Richmond Randle High School star choosing between Texas, SMU, Texas A&M, Houston and Missouri. The five-star running back has spent his prep career piling up records and accolades, and his rise has made him one of the most closely followed prospects in Texas high school football history.
For Texas, the interest is obvious. Sarkisian and his staff have chased elite in-state talent aggressively, and Williams-Callis sits near the top of that board as the No. 3 running back in the country. His announcement will be carried live by Dave Campbell's Texas Football, adding another layer to a decision that already feels like a major swing moment for the Longhorns' 2026 recruiting picture. [Read more 🡒]
Texas Just Got An Unexpected Late Offseason Roster Opportunity
A late offseason roster wrinkle has opened up for Texas, and it could give the Longhorns another look at a group of familiar names from the 2022 recruiting class. A federal ruling in Colorado created the possibility that players who used their final year of eligibility last season can be eligible again, which immediately put a few Texas veterans back into the conversation as the program continues sorting out its 2026 depth picture.
For Texas, the practical impact is simple: there are several players who could wind up back in Austin if their pro paths do not stick. Burke, Hutson, Guilbeau and Finkley are among the Longhorns whose situations are worth tracking, especially since some have already signed undrafted free agent deals and may still choose the NFL route if they make final rosters. It is not a certainty, but it is the kind of late-summer development that can quietly change a teams roster math in a hurry. [Read more 🡒]
Texas Roster Crunch Leaves Former Contributor In A Brutal Spot
Chendall Weavers path back to Texas has hit a hard roster wall. The former Longhorns guard was granted an extra year of eligibility, a development that would normally create a chance to continue where he left off, but the numbers on the roster have already closed that door. Texas has moved on from that possibility as Sean Millers team fills out its scholarship chart for the upcoming season.
The final spot went to Marcus Spears Jr., whose accelerated arrival gave Texas the last available opening on a 15-scholarship roster. With that in place, Weaver has to look elsewhere even after his previous contributions to the program, a reminder of how quickly roster management can change in the modern game and how little margin there is once a team is full. [Read more 🡒]