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Arch Manning was dressed and present at the first Texas football spring practice, but the Longhorns’ quarterback didn’t participate much.
Recovering from an offseason surgery on his foot, Manning did not partake in a drill that asked Texas’ quarterbacks to roll out and make a throw on the run. Later, he also stood off to the side during a more stationary throwing drill.
Throughout a media viewing period that lasted approximately 35 minutes, Manning didn’t do much — if anything — besides encourage his teammates.
Here’s what else we saw.
Texas Longhorns linebacker Ty'Anthony Smith (26) lifts the trophy with head coach Steve Sarkisianas the Longhorns celebrate after winning the Citrus Bowl 41-27 against the Michigan Wolverines at Camping World Stadium in Orlando, Florida, Dec. 31, 2025. (Sara Diggins/Austin American-Statesman)
Texas Longhorns quarterback Arch Manning (16) takes a break during practice on the University of Texas campus in Austin, Dec. 27, 2024 ahead of the second round playoff game against Arizona State in the Peach Bowl on the New Years Day. (Sara Diggins/Austin American-Statesman)
Steve Sarkisian said he hired Will Muschamp, Texas’ new defensive coordinator, to be the “head coach” of the Longhorns’ defense.
Muschamp floated around to two different units during the viewing period, which mostly included individual drills for position groups. It’s not uncommon for coordinators to stick around the position they specialize in during individual periods. For Muschamp, that’s the defensive backfield.
He began with the defensive line. Later, he moved over to the defensive backs, who were performing a drill that asked them to intercept a ball thrown by a staffer as they executed sideline coverage.
Muschamp demanded more from the players who didn’t come down with the ball on a slippery morning, reminding one freshman that he should expect to be in that position a lot during his career and must be able to make that play on the ball.
MORE: Jonah Williams dealt injury setback. What it means for Texas baseball, Longhorns football
Shortly before the end of the viewing period, Muschamp took Rutgers transfer Bo Mascoe, sophomore Graceson Littleton and redshirt sophomore Wardell Mack off to the side for individual instruction in a particular coverage technique.
Cam Coleman, the Longhorns’ prized acquisition in the transfer portal, looks every bit his listed size of 6 feet, 3 inches and 200 pounds.
The former Auburn star, who wears the same No. 8 for Texas, hauled in every pass his direction during a 35-minute media window for the Longhorns on a misty Monday morning at Denius Fields.
He also made a couple of catches while contorting his body and high-pointing the ball; for you Cowboy fans, think of George Pickens hauling in a jump ball.
The Longhorns bring back one of the nation’s top return men in Ryan Niblett, who led the SEC in punt return yards and found the end zone twice last season.
Based on Monday’s practice, the Longhorns could also be looking at Raleek Brown and Daylan McCutcheon as options behind Niblett in that role.
Brown, a running back, was USC’s primary kick returner as a freshman and dabbled in the return game at Arizona State last season. McCutcheon is a sophomore wide receiver who appeared in seven games for the Longhorns during his rookie year.
The Texas linebackers only went through drills during the open media session Monday, but five-star freshman Tyler Atkinson looked bigger than his listed 6 feet, 1 inch and 216 pounds on the Longhorns’ spring roster.
MORE: Texas football is spending a lot on its coaches. Why Steve Sarkisian says it's necessary
In general, the reloaded unit passed the eye test. The 6-2, 242-pound Brad Spence is roughly the same size as last season but looks more bulked up, which could help him play more edge in Muschamp’s scheme.
Some other linebacker observations: Newcomer Rasheem Biles, an All-ACC player at Pittsburgh last season, wears No. 3 for Texas, and returner Ty’Anthony Smith has dropped about 10 pounds and is now listed at 6-1, 205 pounds.
Continue reading...
Recovering from an offseason surgery on his foot, Manning did not partake in a drill that asked Texas’ quarterbacks to roll out and make a throw on the run. Later, he also stood off to the side during a more stationary throwing drill.
Throughout a media viewing period that lasted approximately 35 minutes, Manning didn’t do much — if anything — besides encourage his teammates.
Here’s what else we saw.
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Texas Longhorns linebacker Ty'Anthony Smith (26) lifts the trophy with head coach Steve Sarkisianas the Longhorns celebrate after winning the Citrus Bowl 41-27 against the Michigan Wolverines at Camping World Stadium in Orlando, Florida, Dec. 31, 2025. (Sara Diggins/Austin American-Statesman)
The first Texas football practice of Will Muschamp’s second tenure
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Texas Longhorns quarterback Arch Manning (16) takes a break during practice on the University of Texas campus in Austin, Dec. 27, 2024 ahead of the second round playoff game against Arizona State in the Peach Bowl on the New Years Day. (Sara Diggins/Austin American-Statesman)
Steve Sarkisian said he hired Will Muschamp, Texas’ new defensive coordinator, to be the “head coach” of the Longhorns’ defense.
Muschamp floated around to two different units during the viewing period, which mostly included individual drills for position groups. It’s not uncommon for coordinators to stick around the position they specialize in during individual periods. For Muschamp, that’s the defensive backfield.
He began with the defensive line. Later, he moved over to the defensive backs, who were performing a drill that asked them to intercept a ball thrown by a staffer as they executed sideline coverage.
Muschamp demanded more from the players who didn’t come down with the ball on a slippery morning, reminding one freshman that he should expect to be in that position a lot during his career and must be able to make that play on the ball.
MORE: Jonah Williams dealt injury setback. What it means for Texas baseball, Longhorns football
Shortly before the end of the viewing period, Muschamp took Rutgers transfer Bo Mascoe, sophomore Graceson Littleton and redshirt sophomore Wardell Mack off to the side for individual instruction in a particular coverage technique.
Cam Coleman: New Texas WR draws George Pickens comparison
Cam Coleman, the Longhorns’ prized acquisition in the transfer portal, looks every bit his listed size of 6 feet, 3 inches and 200 pounds.
The former Auburn star, who wears the same No. 8 for Texas, hauled in every pass his direction during a 35-minute media window for the Longhorns on a misty Monday morning at Denius Fields.
He also made a couple of catches while contorting his body and high-pointing the ball; for you Cowboy fans, think of George Pickens hauling in a jump ball.
A look at the punt returning options for Texas football
The Longhorns bring back one of the nation’s top return men in Ryan Niblett, who led the SEC in punt return yards and found the end zone twice last season.
Based on Monday’s practice, the Longhorns could also be looking at Raleek Brown and Daylan McCutcheon as options behind Niblett in that role.
Brown, a running back, was USC’s primary kick returner as a freshman and dabbled in the return game at Arizona State last season. McCutcheon is a sophomore wide receiver who appeared in seven games for the Longhorns during his rookie year.
Longhorn linebackers: Revamped unit passes eye test
The Texas linebackers only went through drills during the open media session Monday, but five-star freshman Tyler Atkinson looked bigger than his listed 6 feet, 1 inch and 216 pounds on the Longhorns’ spring roster.
MORE: Texas football is spending a lot on its coaches. Why Steve Sarkisian says it's necessary
In general, the reloaded unit passed the eye test. The 6-2, 242-pound Brad Spence is roughly the same size as last season but looks more bulked up, which could help him play more edge in Muschamp’s scheme.
Some other linebacker observations: Newcomer Rasheem Biles, an All-ACC player at Pittsburgh last season, wears No. 3 for Texas, and returner Ty’Anthony Smith has dropped about 10 pounds and is now listed at 6-1, 205 pounds.
Continue reading...
