AUSTIN, Texas — The grass is turning green, the fragrance of mountain laurel is carried on the breeze, and the Texas Longhorns opened spring practice on Monday at Frank Denius Fields on a foggy Austin morning as head coach Steve Sarkisian took a rebuilt roster featuring large high school and transfer portal classes through the program’s first practice since preparing for December’s Citrus Bowl.
Burnt Orange Nation was among the outlets allowed to view an open window during practice that lasted for
approximately 40 minutes.
One of the most notable developments was the status of redshirt junior quarterback Arch Manning, who is still recovering from foot surgery following the bowl game. Manning was not wearing any obvious brace or support on his surgically-repaired foot and was dressed for practice, but did not participate in any drills during the open portion of practice.
“He’s right on path with where we thought he would be. Again, we’re not in a rush to get him out there. He did some throwing today, not when you guys were there, obviously, but he’s right on course, we’re just not in a rush,” Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian said during a post-practice availability.
What Manning did do was stay close to star transfer wide receiver Cam Coleman while reporters were observing practice, including hanging close to the former Auburn standout when he was standing catching passes from the other quarterbacks on the south end of Denius Fields. Manning’s foot surgery has impacted their ability to develop chemistry throwing and catching the football, but it seems clear that the two are doing everything they can to build rapport in one of the most important offseason storylines around college football.
In routes on air, Coleman looked as advertised — he has an effortless fluidity that belies that hard work that Sarkisian has spoken so glowingly about during his two recent media availabilities, looked natural catching the ball outside the framework of his body, and flashed the ball skills and body controls that made him one of the most coveted players in the country when he entered the portal.
With juniors Ryan Wingo and Emmett Mosley also recovering from offseason surgeries, it wasn’t the cleanest day for the wide receivers overall — there were a lot of balls that hit the grass turf on the Forty Acres on Monday, impacted by foggy drizzle that produced wet conditions.
Manning’s absence didn’t help as the young quarterbacks and newcomer MJ Morris are still working to develop their timing with the wide receiver corps, which includes freshman Jermaine Bishop, who signed with Texas out of Willis at the nation’s No. 3 athlete in the 247Sports Composite rankings.
Listed at 6’0, 165 pounds, Bishop operates with a level of smoothness as a route runner that catches the eye, and he’s part of a group of young pass catchers who are trying to take advantage of the opportunities provided by the absences of Wingo and Mosley.
“They’re doing their best right now to take advantage of it. I love that room. I think that room, from top to bottom, is probably as talented as we’ve had in my time here. Again, that’s a quick snapshot of one day, but that room is very talented, and we get those two guys back, we’re gonna be we’re in good shape,” Sarkisian said.
Redshirt freshman quarterback KJ Lacey took the first reps with Manning out and showed improved velocity on intermediate routes — he’s listed as three pounds lighter than he was last season, but appears to have better juice. Freshman Dia Bell also looked impressive with his arm talent.
At 6’3, 212 pounds, Bell looks more physical than Lacey, who is 25 pounds lighter.
Texas also showed off its rebuilt running back room headlined by Arizona State transfer Raleek Brown, North Carolina State transfer Hollywood Smothers, and blue-chip signee Derrek Cooper.
Even in drills on air, the explosiveness of Smothers and Brown are apparent, and Cooper doesn’t look like a freshman at 6’1, 210 pounds.
“I think you can feel the experience of Hollywood and Raleek. Those guys have played a lot of football,” Sarkisian said.
The most impressive running back physically may be redshirt freshman Michael Terry III, who is now listed at 227 pounds after gaining 10 pounds of muscle during the offseason. After starting the 2025 season at wide receiver, Terry moved to running back, which is now the only position he’s listed at.
Whether Terry can position himself for playing time at running back is another storyline to monitor during spring practice.
If the Alamo Heights product keeps stacking muscle on top of muscle, it’s possible that he could end up in Jeff Banks’ position room, which now features Michigan State transfer Michael Masunas, a 6’5, 257-pounder who is known for his blocking ability. In watching Masuna in blocking drills, his powerful lower body gives him a violence that Texas hasn’t had with its in-line blockers in recent years — there’s a pop to it that sounds different.
And although Masuna moves more like redshirt junior tight end Spencer Shannon than former standouts like Gunnar Helm and Jack Endries, Sarkisian did say that Masunas made a play in the passing game on an over route during the closed portion of practice.
The newcomer who does move extremely well is early enrollee Charlie Jilek, a 6’5, 240-pounder from Michigan who was a late addition to the 2026 recruiting class. Considered a mid three-star prospect, Jilek projects as a developmental player for the Longhorns, but has significantly more upside than his rankings suggest.
Along the offensive line, the developmental trajectory of early enrollee John Turntine continues to look on track — he’s listed at 284 pounds and doesn’t look out of place among his teammates like he would have five or six months ago.
Unsurprisingly, the offensive line newcomer who absolutely looks the part is Wake Forest transfer right tackle Melvin Siani at 6’6 and 313 pounds.
At the edge position, sophomore Lance Jackson is now listed at 272 pounds after playing last year at 254 pounds. Inside, redshirt freshman defensive tackle Josiah Sharma looks much better physically after dropping from 356 pounds to 336 pounds.
One defensive tackle who could stand to drop some weight is senior Ian Geffrard, who is listed at 6’5, 378 pounds and looks every bit of it. He’s a massive human.
During position drills, senior Brad Spence was taking reps with the linebackers, as was early enrollee Kosi Okpala, who is listed at 6’3. Spence is listed as an edge, but spent time at both positions last year and should play a versatile role once again for the Longhorns.
Less physically impressive is freshman linebacker Tyler Atkinson at 6’1 and 216 pounds, but that’s a function of body type — Atkinson is physically developed, a credit to a work ethic that Sarkisian described as “tenacious.”
Put Pitt senior transfer linebacker Rasheem Biles in a similar category physically at 6’1, 220 pounds.
On the back end of the defense, the two familiar faces back in Austin are defensive coordinator Will Muschamp, going through his first practice on the Forty Acres in more than 15 years, and defensive passing game coordinator Blake Gideon, who spent one year at Georgia Tech as the defensive coordinator.
Some of Muschamp’s trademark coaching style was on display with early enrollee cornerback Hayward Howard, who wasn’t able to come up with an interception in a drill working on developing ball skills.
“You can’t do that, you can’t play,” Muschamp barked at Howard.
In that group, redshirt sophomore cornerback Wardell Mack looked noticeably leaner, listed as seven pounds lighter than last season at 177 pounds.
