Sarkisian Praises Revamped Texas Running Back Room in Spring Camp
As the Texas Longhorns march deeper into their crucial 2026 spring practice schedule, head coach Steve Sarkisian took time during media availability to spotlight what might be the most significantly overhauled unit on the roster: the running back room.
Facing the necessity of replacing heavy production from previous seasons, Texas aggressively attacked the transfer portal to secure dynamic playmakers. The early returns on those investments are exceptionally promising.
An Injection of Shiftiness
Speaking to the press on March 24, Sarkisian specifically directed praise toward incoming transfers Raleek Brown and Hollywood Smothers. While Texas has traditionally relied on physical, bruising runners under Sarkisian, the coaching staff intentionally pivoted toward acquiring elite open-field agility.
“The ability to make defenders miss in space,” Sarkisian noted, has been a defining characteristic of the backfield’s performance in early spring drills. Both Brown and Smothers possess a rare blend of short-area quickness and breakaway speed, allowing them to turn broken plays into significant gains and excel in the screen pass game.
These newly acquired skill sets drastically alter the geometry of the Texas offense. With defenses already forced to account for Arch Manning’s arm and a deep receiving corps, the sudden ability to hand the ball to a genuinely elusive back adds a layer of complexity that defensive coordinators will struggle to game-plan against.
The Rivalry Arms Race
The tactical evolution of the Texas running game has profound implications for the Red River Rivalry. Historically, when Texas and Oklahoma clash in the Cotton Bowl, the team capable of generating explosive running plays late in the game generally secures the Golden Hat.
Oklahoma’s defense under Brent Venables is renowned for its speed, aggressive tackling, and complex blitzes. However, blitz-heavy schemes are inherently vulnerable to running backs who can break the first tackle and find open grass.
By actively recruiting and developing “make-you-miss” backs like Brown and Smothers, Sarkisian is specifically building an offensive roster designed to neutralize relentless defensive pressure. As spring camp progresses into April, the continued integration of this highly agile backfield remains one of the most vital storylines in Austin.
