Head coach Steve Sarkisian just pulled back the curtain on some Texas freshmen making moves behind the scenes, and honestly, one of the names he dropped is going to make you do a double-take.
Who’s Actually Playing (And Who’s Hurting)
Listen, in today’s transfer portal world, it’s brutal for true freshmen to even sniff playing time. The Longhorns, stacked with more experience than last year, are seeing that play out. Wide receiver Jermaine Bishop is the *only* freshman consistently getting snaps, and it’s tough out there. Running back Derrek Cooper’s been battling injuries, and edge rusher Richard Wesley just got sidelined with a high ankle sprain. Brutal.
But hey, wideout Kohen Brown? He’s a beast on special teams. After only playing kick coverage for the first two games of the season, Brown’s now a mainstay on kick coverage, kick return, punt coverage, and punt return. The dude has racked up 91 snaps there! Only seniors Ryan Niblett and Colton Vasek have played more special teams snaps. That’s a serious early contribution right there.
Sark’s Secret Sauce: The Hidden Freshmen Grinders
But here’s where it gets interesting. Sarkisian tossed out a few more names this week, calling them special teams contributors alongside Brown. He even mentioned wide receiver Chris Stewart, which is kinda wild because Pro Football Focus hasn’t tracked *any* snaps for him yet this season. Sark says he sees them every day, their work in practice, and he “loves what they’re bringing.” You gotta trust the coach on that, right?
Then we get to the defensive guys. Defensive linemen Jamarion Carlton and Brinley Tita, linebackers Tyler Atkinson and Rocky Cummings, and defensive backs Toray Davis and John Meredith III. This is where the real head-scratcher comes in: Brinley Tita. This 6’2, 252-pounder was a *late* addition to the 2026 class, undersized for his position, and his only other reported offer was from Henderson State. He was basically a developmental prospect, scout team duty was the expectation. Yet, Sarkisian is shouting him out? That’s a massive surprise, man. The Humble Summer Creek product is clearly grinding.
Carlton, a 6’5, 280-pound consensus four-star, ranked No. 64 nationally and No. 7 defensive lineman, is less surprising to hear. He’s got the pedigree, and after another offseason, he could definitely factor into that defensive line rotation next year. Then there’s linebacker Rocky Cummings, who was drawing buzz in preseason camp. But get this: five-star prospect Tyler Atkinson? He *didn’t* draw buzz in preseason. He hasn’t even earned a spot on special teams. Sarkisian always says development happens at different speeds, so maybe it’s not a full-blown crisis, but there’s a serious financial investment in that kid. The hope is he’ll be ready for a major role next season once Rasheem Biles heads to the NFL.
Same deal for defensive back John Meredith III, who re-classified from the 2027 class after being ruled ineligible for his senior season. Expectations were already lower for an early impact, especially after some early conditioning issues popped up. So, his inclusion on Sark’s list? That’s a good sign he’s adjusting. And Toray Davis, Sark mentioned him before the season as one of five freshmen impressing. Clearly, there’s a lot brewing behind the scenes.
So, while a few freshmen like Bishop and Brown are already making noise, it’s those hidden gems, especially a guy like Tita, that really get you thinking about next season. With guys like Carlton, Atkinson, and Meredith eyeing bigger roles, these behind-the-scenes strides could seriously shape the Longhorns’ future. Keep an eye on these names, because what’s happening now in practice is going to pay off big time down the road.
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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