The Texas Football Roster for 2026 combines established starters with major additions at running back, receiver and linebacker. Arch Manning and Colin Simmons return as central figures, while Raleek Brown, Hollywood Smothers, Cam Coleman and Rasheem Biles enter roles that could shape the Longhorns’ early-season identity.
Key Takeaways
- Arch Manning returns after starting all 13 games in 2025, giving Texas continuity at quarterback.
- Raleek Brown and Hollywood Smothers arrive after productive seasons at Arizona State and NC State.
- Cam Coleman joins Ryan Wingo in a receiver group built around size and experience.
- Colin Simmons leads a defense replacing seven players invited to the 2026 NFL Combine.
- Texas opens against Texas State on September 5 and hosts Ohio State on September 12.
The official roster, player biographies, NFL Combine announcement and 2026 schedule confirm those developments.
Texas Football Roster Keeps Manning at the Center
The central story in the Texas Football Roster is not a quarterback change. It is the amount of movement around Arch Manning as Texas reshapes key position groups before another SEC season.
Manning started all 13 games in 2025 and ended the season with one of his strongest all-around performances. In the Citrus Bowl against Michigan, he passed for 221 yards and two touchdowns, then added a career-high 155 rushing yards and two more scores.
The quarterback room also includes senior MJ Morris, redshirt freshman KJ Lacey Jr. and freshman Dia Bell. Morris adds previous college experience, while Lacey and Bell give Texas younger options behind the established starter.
Continuity at quarterback matters because the offensive line is also being reorganized. Trevor Goosby returns after earning first-team All-SEC recognition from the conference’s coaches in 2025. Brandon Baker remains in the group, while transfer linemen Laurence Seymore III, Dylan Sikorski, Paris Patterson, Melvin Siani and Jonte Newman add experience and competition.
The program enters the season with statewide attention extending across Texas athletics, including the Longhorns basketball legacy. For football, the immediate questions involve protection, timing and how quickly the revised lineup settles around Manning.
New Transfers Reshape the Backfield and Receiver Rotation
Running back carries the most visible change. Raleek Brown transferred from Arizona State after rushing for 1,141 yards on 186 attempts in 2025, an average of 6.1 yards per carry. His season included 255 rushing yards in a road win over Colorado, an Arizona State record for an away game.
Hollywood Smothers brings a different profile. The NC State transfer started 11 games in 2025, rushing for 939 yards and six touchdowns while catching 37 passes. His receiving production gives Texas another option on passing downs and could help the offense vary its personnel.
The roster also lists Derrek Cooper, Michael Terry III, James Simon and other running backs. That depth creates one of the clearest preseason competitions as the staff determines how carries and passing-down work will be divided.
At receiver, Cam Coleman is the leading new addition. He started all 12 games for Auburn in 2025 and led the Tigers with 708 receiving yards and five touchdowns on 56 catches. His 6-foot-3 frame adds another large target beside Ryan Wingo, who earned second-team All-SEC recognition from the coaches in 2025.
Emmett Mosley V, Kaliq Lockett, Daylan McCutcheon and freshman Jermaine Bishop Jr. add further options. Like other high-visibility football roster competition in Texas, limited roles place a premium on consistency during camp.
The Longhorns must identify combinations that complement Manning rather than depending on one featured target.
Defensive Experience Becomes the Main Roster Test
The defensive changes are concentrated at linebacker and in the secondary. Seven Texas players received invitations to the 2026 NFL Combine, including Anthony Hill Jr., Trey Moore, Jaylon Guilbeau, Malik Muhammad and Michael Taaffe. Their departures remove experience from multiple defensive levels.
Colin Simmons gives the unit a proven edge presence. He finished the 2025 season as the SEC leader with 12 sacks and recorded a sack in each of the final five regular-season games. His return allows Texas to build the pass rush around an established starter.
Rasheem Biles is the most notable linebacker addition. He transferred from Pitt after leading the Panthers with 101 tackles, including 17 tackles for loss and 4.5 sacks, in 10 games during 2025. Texas also added defensive back Bo Mascoe.
The incoming class adds another layer of depth. Texas signed 24 players, including linebacker Tyler Atkinson, defensive back Samari Matthews, edge rusher Jamarion Carlton and defensive tackle Elijah Ali. The secondary also retains Derek Williams Jr., Jelani McDonald, Kobe Black and Xavier Filsaime.
Texas will have limited time to settle the revised depth chart. The Longhorns host Texas State at 2:30 p.m. Central on September 5, followed by Ohio State at 6:30 p.m. Central on September 12. The second game creates an early test for the new combinations.
The Texas Football Roster presents a clear balance between continuity and turnover. Manning, Simmons, Goosby and Wingo provide established leadership, while Brown, Smothers, Coleman and Biles address major personnel changes. The key preseason issue is how quickly those groups operate together.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who Is the starting quarterback on the 2026 Texas roster?
Arch Manning returns as the established starter after starting all 13 games in 2025. The roster also includes MJ Morris, KJ Lacey Jr. and freshman Dia Bell.
Which running backs joined Texas for 2026?
Raleek Brown transferred from Arizona State, and Hollywood Smothers arrived from NC State. Both produced more than 900 rushing yards during the 2025 season.
Who are the leading receivers on the Texas football roster?
Ryan Wingo returns after earning second-team All-SEC recognition in 2025. Auburn transfer Cam Coleman joins the group after leading the Tigers with 708 receiving yards.
Which defender leads the returning group?
Colin Simmons is the most established returning pass rusher after leading the SEC with 12 sacks in 2025. Linebacker Rasheem Biles also arrives after recording 101 tackles for Pitt.
