TAMPA, Fla. — When Texas football kicks off its summer practices Aug. 5, battles for a handful of starting jobs will fully begin.
But those tussles won’t include the offensive backfield, which will feature new running backs Raleek Brown and Daylon “Hollywood” Smothers.
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“We didn’t bring Raleek and Hollywood here for one of them to be a backup,” Texas coach Steve Sarkisian said Thursday at the SEC’s media days. “They’re both going to play a lot of football for us.”
They better produce a lot, too, if Texas wants to rediscover its running game and provide balance for an offense expected to lean on quarterback Arch Manning. Last season, the Longhorns averaged just 137.8 yards a game on the ground compared to 250.7 yards through the air. That’s the biggest discrepancy in Sarkisian’s five-year tenure as well as the lowest rushing production.
In Sarkisian’s first season, Texas averaged 199.3 yards rushing per game. The Longhorns put up 188.0 yards a game on the ground in 2022 and 2023 before dropping to 158.8 yards in 2024, when starting running back CJ Baxter gave way to Tre Wisner after going down with a season-ending knee injury in summer camp.
Last season, both Baxter and Wisner battled injuries before transferring out of the program.
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But their departure in the portal opened up some spots on the roster, and Sarkisian and his staff took advantage by signing Brown from Arizona State and Smothers from North Carolina State. Smothers and Brown ranked No. 3 and No. 6, respectively, in 247 Sports’ positional rankings.
“We think they fit exactly what we’re trying to accomplish in the run game and where we’re trying to go with ourselves as an offensive football team,” Sarkisian said. “Being more explosive, being more productive on a consistent basis in the run game, utilizing them out of the backfield.”
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Texas Longhorns running back Raleek Brown (0) runs the ball 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
Hollywood Smothers, Raleek Brown share traits
The backs share some similarities when it comes to their frame as well as their ability to play a big role in the passing game. The 5-foot-11, 195-pound Smothers rushed for 939 yards and six touchdowns on 160 carries for the Wolfpack in 2025. He also tallied 56 catches for 452 yards and three touchdowns in two seasons at North Carolina State, which followed a redshirt freshman season at Oklahoma in 2022. The rising redshirt junior has two remaining seasons of eligibility.
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The 5-9, 195-pound Brown, who’s dubbed “Band-Aid” by his teammates, will be a fifth-year senior with one remaining season of eligibility. He enjoyed a breakout 2025 season at Arizona State while rushing for 1,141 yards and four touchdowns on 186 carries and adding another 34 catches for 239 yards.
Last season, Baxter and Wisner combined for just 34 catches and 187 receiving yards.
“They’re really good players,” Texas quarterback Arch Manning said. “They’re good people, too. Love them both. We’re excited to have them. They can make some serious plays.”
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Texas Longhorns running back Hollywood Smothers (2) celebrates after a run 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
Derrek Cooper: Freshman could play role in 2026
Sarkisian also credited freshman Derrek Cooper for a strong offseason. The four-star recruit from Florida brings more size to the backfield at 6 feet, 1 inches and 212 pounds and could also factor into the backfield rotation with converted receivers Ryan Niblkett and Michael Terry as well as James Simon.
“Derek’s had a great start to his career,” Sarkisian said. “Winter conditioning, spring ball, summer.”
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But Sarkisian also cautioned that “we got a long way to go” with the true freshman.
“He’s never jogged out of the tunnel in front of 105,000 people, so we got a ways to go, but we’re fortunate,” he said.