Texas football: Did Steve Sarkisian, Longhorns answer their key questions this spring?

**What impact did Will Mushchamp, new defensive coaches have?**

Sarkisian revamped his defensive staff by replacing defensive coordinator Pete Kwiatkowski with Will Muschamp and secondary coach Duane Akina with Blake Gideon. But how will "Coach Boom" — a moniker earned by the emotional Muschamp during a three-decades career that included a previous stint as Texas' coordinator from 2008-10 — change the Longhorns’ defensive system? Texas keeps such schematics under wraps in the spring, but players and staff have bought into Muschamp’s energetic style, which contrasts with the more cerebral Kwiatkowski's. Muschamp showed up at his one news conference with a black T-shirt that read "NT=NP." “No Thud equals No Play," Muschamp joyfully explained while bestowing the virtues of getting physical.

**What players missed spring football with injuries?**

Manning never fully participated in practice, although he insisted that he’s 100%. “We're kind of taking it slow, but if we had a game today, I'd be playing,” he said leading up to the open workout. Receivers Emmett Mosley V and Ryan Wingo, defensive back Xavier Filsaime, left tackle Trevor Goosby and linebacker Ty’Anthony Smith each underwent what team officials called minor procedures prior to spring ball and missed at least some time. Sarkisian said all should be ready to go by the time summer workouts start in late July or early August.

**How did Arch Manning's injury affect the QB rotation?**

Manning's postseason foot surgery meant more snaps for youngsters like redshirt freshman KJ Lacey and true freshman Dia Bell, a five-star recruit and the prize of theLonghorns' 2026 recruiting class. Lacey apparently won his battle with veteran portal arrival MJ Morris as Manning’s top backup while Bell seems poised for a redshirt. Sarkisian and the staff praised both Lacey and Bell for their quick development during the spring, but the coach said Lacey worked primarily with the No. 1 offense.

**Who opened spring as starters on the rebuilt offensive line?**

The offensive line won’t be complete until the summer when Goosby is fully cleared from his offseason injury. But Sarkisian and offensive line coach Kyle Flood seemed to have settled on the starting roles. Portal signee Melvin Siani took over the starting spot at right tackle while Brandon Baker, last season’s starter at right tackle, moved to right guard. Connor Robertson remains the center and Oregon State transfer Dylan Sikorski received plenty of work with the No. 1's at left guard. Western Kentucky transfer Laurence Seymore has a wealth of starting experience in the interior and will likely get a chance to start at left guard once he joins the program after getting a waiver for a sixth year of eligibility by the NCAA. Tackle Jaydon Chatman emerged as one of the spring’s pleasant surprises. He impressed while working as the No. 1 left tackle in place of Goosby and may have played his way into the Longhorns’ top backup swing tackle.

**How did Texas use new RBs Hollywood Smothers and Raleek Brown?**

The envisioned one-two punch of Quintrevion Wisner and CJ Baxter never materialized the last two years, and both left via the portal. But the program quickly rebuilt its backfield by signing two all-conference running backs in North Carolina State's Hollywood Smothers and Arizona State's Raleek Brown. Based on how Sarkisian and running backs coach Jabbar Juluke discussed the pair, the two backs will deliver interchangeable roles while splitting the majority of the carries. Neither tops 195 pounds, but both can run effectively inside, Juluke said. “Last I checked, holes open like this,” Juluke said, spreading his hands wide before raising them up and down. “Not like this.” Oh, and does Juluke have a catchy nickname for dynamic backfield duo? “They’re not thunder and lightning,” he said. “Maybe thunder and hurricane.”

**What new faces did we watch on defense?**

Pittsburgh's ball-hawking middle linebacker Rasheem Biles arrived as one of the most coveted transfers in the nation, and he didn’t disappoint while establishing himself as one of the alphas on the defensive side of the ball. Rutgers transfer Bo Mascoe entered the spring in the thick of the battle for a starting cornerback spot and seems to have all but locked down one starting spot. That pair stood out as the two newcomers on defense that earned starting roles.

**Who started at the edge opposite Colin Simmons?**

With Brad Spence in line to get snaps at Muschamp’s Buck position as a hybrid outside linebacker, Texas needs a reliable pass rusher to keep pressure off All-SEC player Colin Simmonswhile still holding the edge against the run. Lance Jackson impressed as a freshman, and the 6-foot-5 sophomore bulked up to almost 20 pounds to 272 pounds in the offseason. Zina Umeozulu, a 6-5, 265-pound redshirt sophomore, also drew praise from Sarkisian, Muschamp and the coaches. Expect that pair to handle plenty of snaps at defensive end in the Longhorns’ base defense.

**Which players lined up in a rebuilt secondary?**

Graceson Littleton, an All-SEC freshman player in 2025 as a slot corner, and safety Jelani McDonald are the only regular starters back and both solidified that status in the spring. In particular, McDonald looks poised for a monster senior season under Muschamp. Mascoe seems to have locked down one starting cornerback role, but the opposite spot seems set for a summer battle between Warren Roberson, Kade Phillips and Kobe Black. With Filsaime missing time with an injury, veteran safety Derek Williams Jr. impressed at the other safety spot alongside McDonald. That pair looks poised for a camp battle, too.

**Who are these guys in the kicking game?**

Texas lost its kicker (Mason Shipley), punter (Jack Bouwmeester) and longtime long snapper (Lance St. Louis) to graduation. In a philosophical shift away from high school recruits and toward the portal, the Longhorns signed Memphis kicker Gianni Spetic, Florida State punter Mac Chiumento and New Mexico long snapper Trey DuBuc as the replacements. Special teams coach Jeff Banks cited Spetic for showing off a bigger leg and more range than Shipley during the spring. “Hopefully, he’s as accurate,” Banks said. He also praised Chiumento and DuBuc, saying “we hit a home run with these guys. Obviously, we’ve got to get on a bigger stage, but these guys have all come from a Division I program.”