The Texas Longhorns just got slammed with some brutal news, because junior linebacker Ty’Anthony Smith is officially no longer with the team. This isn’t just a player being “away from the program” like initial reports suggested; head coach Steve Sarkisian himself dropped the bomb Saturday, confirming Smith’s outright dismissal from Texas. And the reason? “Conduct detrimental to the team.” Coach Sarkisian didn’t mince words, stating flat out, “I didn’t like it. It’s an unfortunate situation.” You just know that hits different when the coach speaks like that.
A Lone Star Performance, Now A Massive Hole
Man, this stings, especially when you think about what Smith brought to the field. He played in 28 games over two seasons, which is solid, but it was his lone start that really showed his potential. We’re talking about the Cheez-It Citrus Bowl last December, a huge victory over the Michigan Wolverines, where Smith absolutely went off. He racked up nine tackles and snagged two crucial interceptions. That’s the kind of playmaking that you build a defense around, the kind of big-game performance that makes you optimistic for the season ahead. To lose that kind of proven talent, that game-changing ability, right before the regular season kicks off? It’s a massive hit to the linebacker depth, no doubt about it.
Who Steps Up Now? The Pressure Is ON
So, what happens now in that linebacker room? The plan was already to center the corps around transfer Rasheem Biles, who came over from Pittsburgh. He’s the guy, but Smith’s dismissal means the load just got way heavier for Biles. And it’s not just him. New defensive coordinator Will Muschamp is gonna need even more, a *lot* more, from the rest of the position group. That means senior Justin Cryer, a Florida State transfer, absolutely has to step up. And talk about pressure on a youngster: true freshman five-star Tyler Atkinson is now going to be under a microscope. These guys were expected to contribute, but now their roles just expanded exponentially. It’s a make-or-break situation for these players and the new defensive scheme.
This is a gut check, for real. The Longhorns are opening their 2026 regular season against the Texas State Bobcats on September 5. Kickoff is set for 2:30 p.m. CT on ESPN. That first game? It just became an even bigger deal to see how this linebacker group responds. Every single snap is going to tell us a story about who’s ready to fill those shoes and how Coach Muschamp plans to patch up this unexpected hole. You can bet everyone will be watching.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by The Sporting News.
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