Linebacker Ty’Anthony Smith is officially out at the Texas Longhorns football program, a move that hit the wire thanks to Anwar Richardson from Orangebloods. This isn’t just some minor roster tweak, y’all. Smith was heading into his third year with the team, and he’d been a consistent presence on the field, playing in 28 games over the past two seasons, including one start in 2025. It makes you scratch your head a bit, right?
The Numbers Tell a Story, But Not the Whole Story
Looking at Smith’s 2025 stats, this departure feels pretty unexpected. The dude racked up 60 tackles, which is serious work. He also brought the pressure with 5.5 tackles for loss and 2.0 sacks. But wait, there’s more: two interceptions, three pass breakups, and two forced fumbles. That’s a playmaking linebacker, plain and simple. He wasn’t just filling space; he was getting after it. As a true freshman in 2024, he played in all 16 games, recording 16 tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss, one interception, and a pass breakup, immediately seeing the field on special teams and in the linebacker rotation. He signed as a three-star recruit back in 2024, so the talent was clearly there. So, with those kinds of numbers and that consistent early playing time, you gotta wonder what truly went down here.
Muschamp’s New Vision Means New Faces for Texas
The real story behind Smith’s exit seems to be all about the new defensive coordinator, Will Muschamp. Texas brought him in this offseason, and he’s clearly got a plan to change things up on defense. Apparently, Muschamp is looking for “different things” from his linebackers, and that put Smith in a straight-up battle for playing time. When a new coach comes in, sometimes a change of scenery is inevitable for some players, even productive ones. Adding to that pressure, the Longhorns pulled in four transfer linebackers this offseason: Rasheem Biles from Pittsburgh, Justin Cryer from FSU, Markus Boswell from Akron, and Darius Snow from Michigan State. That’s a lot of new talent coming in to compete, and it tells you everything about the kind of revamp Muschamp is orchestrating. Sources told Richardson that Smith’s practice participation had been “fluid” in recent weeks, so maybe this wasn’t a total shocker behind the scenes, but for fans, it’s definitely a jolt.
Now, Texas is set to kick off their 2026 season against the Texas State Bobcats on Saturday, September 5th. That game’s at 2:30 p.m. CT and will be broadcast on ESPN. You just know all eyes will be on that linebacker corps. How will Muschamp’s new crew perform without Smith, and how will those transfers integrate right out of the gate? The season starts fast, and these guys better be ready.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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