Texas football kicks off summer camp Wednesday with a talented roster and the highest of expectations.
The Longhorns missed last season’s College Football Playoff for the first time in three years despite a 10-3 record, but head coach Steve Sarkisian and his staff loaded up on multiple starters in the portal with a transfer class that ranks third in 247 Sports’ offseason team rankings.
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On paper, Texas seems to have addressed the issues that nagged the squad a year ago. The Longhorns revamped their offensive line with several signings, they surrounded star quarterback Arch Manning some new playmakers, and Sarkisian brought in Will Muschamp from Georgia to replace defensive coordinator Pete Kwiatkowski.
But will those moves help Texas return to the CFP? And what other concerns must the Longhorns address in summer camp?
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Here are nine questions Sarkisian will want to answer before the season kicks off Sept. 5 at Royal-Memorial Stadium against Texas State.
Are Raleek Brown and Hollywood Smothers really co-starters at running back?
Sarkisian said so at the SEC’s media days a couple of weeks ago in Tampa, Fla. The program paid big money to transfers Raleek Brown and Hollywood Smothers to replace departed backs Tre Wisner and CJ Baxter and rejuvenate its ground game. Last season, Texas had its worst running game in five years under Sarkisian. As a team, they set Sarkisian-era low marks in total rushing yards, rushing yards per game and yards per carry. But are Brown and Smothers interchangeable in the offense? If not, what roles will each back fill? We’ll start to find out this month.
What impact will Cam Coleman have on passing game?
Based on the undisclosed millions that Texas is paying former Auburn wide receiver Cam Coleman, a lot. The 6-foot-3, 205-pound wideout proved a downfield threat as a true freshman in 2024 but averaged just 12.6 yards a catch last season with Auburn, one reason he transferred to Texas. He’ll go vertical early and often for Texas, but what does this mean for Ryan Wingo and Emmett Mosley V, two Texas starters back from a year ago? Coleman will likely draw lots of safety help all season, which could mean lots of room underneath for the other Texas receivers.
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Texas Longhorns quarterback Arch Manning (16) talks to receiver Cam Coleman (8) during practice on fan day at Darrell K Royal–Texas Memorial Stadium on Saturday, Aril 18, 2026 in Austin.
Aaron E. Martinez/Austin American-Statesman
Can the offensive line interior keep up with the tackles?
The return of left tackle Trevor Goosby and the arrival of right tackle Melvin Siani from Wake Forest give Texas arguably the best offensive line bookends in the nation, considering both earned all-conference honors a year ago. But how will a revamped interior shake out? Former right tackle Brandon Baker moves inside to right guard, center Connor Roberston has started just eight games in his previous four seasons, and portal arrivals Laurence Seymour and Dylan Sikorski could contend with fourth-year Jaydon Chatman for snaps at left guard. Oh, and former starting guard Cole Hutson looks close to getting a fifth year of eligibility after a recent court ruling. That’s a lot of things to think about for offensive line coach Kyle Flood.
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Who will back up Arch Manning?
After signing veteran MJ Morris in the portal, Sarkisian has options if Manning had to — knock on wood, Texas fans — miss any time. Morris has played in 20 games over four years at three different schools, including last season at Coastal Carolina. But second-year quarterback KJ Lacey drew plenty of praise in the offseason for his grasp of the offense and seems like the frontrunner for second-team snaps. If Lacey carries that momentum into the summer, he’ll likely secure the No. 2 job over Morris and five-star true freshman Dia Bell.
What impact will Will Muschamp have on the defense?
Sarkisian has said on multiple occasions this offseason that he wants a “more aggressive defense” after the Longhorns allowed 20.3 points per game under former coordinator Kwiatkowski in 2025, which ranked sixth in the SEC. What does that mean for the Texas defense? Basically, less cover-four schemes designed to limit big plays and more press coverage designed to stop the easy, short completions. Texas fans remember “Coach Boom” from Muschamp’s time as a defensive coordinator under former Longhorn coach Mack Brown during the 2000s heyday. Now, they’ll get to see how that in-your-face approach works in a new era.
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Texas Longhorns defensive back Kade Phillips (11) celebrates a play in the third quarter of the Citrus Bowl against the Michigan Wolverines at Camping World Stadium in Orlando, Florida, Dec. 31, 2025.
Sara Diggins/Austin American-Statesman
Who will rush the passer opposite Colin Simmons?
Texas knows what it has in Colin Simmons, a whirling dervish of an edge rusher who will likely get picked in the first round of next year’s NFL draft. But what about the other side of the line of scrimmage? Second-year Lance Jackson seems poised to seize the early-down work, but he’s better against the run than the pass considering he ranked last among the seven Longhorn edges when it came to Pro Football Focus’s 2025 pass-rushing grades. Is Zina Umeozulu ready for a breakout role in his third season? Can Colton Vasek stay healthy and provide a steady pass rush? Will five-star freshman Richard Wesley have an immediate impact? We’ll start to find out when camp opens.
Which LB will step up alongside Rasheem Biles?
Rasheem Biles, an All-ACC player at Pittsburgh last season, looks like a fill-in for the departed Anthony Hill Jr. at inside linebacker. But who will step up alongside Biles? Third-year player Ty’Anthony Smith has 76 tackles and three interceptions in his first two seasons while rotating in as a backup, but his slight, 214-pound frame will take more of a beating with more snaps? Brad Spence is transitioning from edge to an outside linebacker spot, like Trey Moore did last season. And five-star true freshman Tyler Atkinson probably has too much talent to keep on the sidelines. Muschamp has some tough lineup decisions.
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Is Kade Phillips set at one cornerback spot?
Malik Muhammad now plays for the Chicago Bears after starting the past two seasons at corner for Texas. Bo Mascoe arrives from Rutgers as a veteran replacement, but the other outside corner spot could be up for grabs between Kade Phillips, Kobe Black and perhaps even Warren Roberson. Phillips looks like a rising star after earning three starting nods a year ago as a true freshman, but he’ll be pushed in camp. If Phillips solidifies the starting job in the summer, this position could change from a question mark to a strength for the Texas defense.
Who are these guys in the kicking game?
Fans will get to know a whole new set of kicking specialists considering punter Mac Chiumento, kicker Gianni Spetic and long snapper Trey Dubuc all arrived in the offseason in the portal. Sarkisian and special teams coach Jeff Banks have shifted their philosophy about the kicking game over the past couple of seasons after some failed experiments with highly touted freshmen; Chiumento started all last season for Florida State, Spetic enters his fourth year as a starter after spending his first three seasons with Ohio and Memphis, and Dubuc spent 2025 as the starter for New Mexico. Let’s see if picking veterans again pays off for the Longhorns.
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