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Rasheem Biles, a transfer linebacker from Pittsburgh, is poised to start for Texas football in 2026 after a strong spring performance. He is considered a potential All-SEC candidate as the team adjusts to significant defensive departures.
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Rasheem Biles, Texas football’s new thumper at linebacker, was once on the verge of stardom as a running back. **TEXAS TRANSFERS: WHO'LL START?** Texas signed 20 players in the portal and more than half seem to have a good chance at starting next season: • Rasheem Biles, LB: The Pitt transfer seems set at one of the linebacker spots based on past achievements as well as an impressive spring. He seems like a preseason All-SEC candidate. • Laurence Seymour, G: He hasn’t officially joined the program yet, but has been cleared by the NCAA for a sixth season. His starting experience at Miami and Western Kentucky makes him a favorite to win the left guard spot. • Melvin Siani, OT: The Wake Forest transfer started all 13 games at right tackle last season and will likely do the same at Texas after a strong spring. • Cam Coleman, WR: One of the highest-paid transfers this season has met all of Texas' expectations this spring and looks poised for a monster season. • Raleek Brown, RB: He had an All-Big 12 season at Arizona State and is expected to share the backfield load with fellow transfer Hollywood Smothers. • Hollywood Smothers, RB: The former North Carolina State star joins Brown in the revamped backfield. • Bo Mascoe, CB: The former Rutgers starter has drawn praise from teammates and coaches and seems locked in as one of the starting cornerbacks entering the summer. • Michael Masunas, TE: Masunas started this last season for Michigan State and helps fill a void left by the early draft entree of Jack Endries. He has one remaining year of eligibility. • Gianni Spetic, K: After three years as a starter at Ohio and , he replaces the graduated Mason Shipley and has one remaining year of eligibility. • Mac Chiumento, P: Chiumento arrives for one season at Texas after starring last year at Florida State; he's the only punter on the spring roster. • Trey Dubuc, LS: Dubuc played at the past two seasons and replaces four-year starter Lance St. Louis. Dubuc has two remaining years of eligibility. Don’t believe it? Just ask the incoming senior, an All-ACC player at in 2025 who will spend his final season as a Longhorn. Biles played on both sides of the ball at prep powerhouse Pickerington Central High School in the Columbus, Ohio, suburbs. But former NFL linebacker Lorenzo Styles Sr., a coach at Central, saw a spark in him. Move full time to that side of the ball, Styles told Biles, and you could eventually start drawing NFL pay. “He was like, ‘I feel like you’re a way better defensive player,’” Biles told reporters after one of Texas' earlier this week. “He started putting me at strong safety and free safety. He just moved me around the field. He was like, ‘Bro, I like you on defense. I feel like you have a future.’ I really just listened to him. Ever since then, I’ve just been on the defensive side of the ball.” , one of Lorenzo Styles’ sons, will soon become an NFL linebacker since he’s a projected first-round pick in next week’s NFL draft. Biles, his former high school teammate, will likely join him next year. Rasheem Biles gestures to the crowd while playing for the in the GameAbove Sports Bowl against the Toledo Rockets at Ford Field on Dec. 26, 2024, in Detroit, . Biles is one of several transfers that will likely start for Texas this upcoming season. (Photo by Aaron J. Thornton/Getty Images) (Aaron J. Thornton/Getty Images)
Rasheem Biles is a linebacker transfer from Pittsburgh who is expected to start for Texas football in 2026.
Biles is anticipated to be a versatile player, helping to fill the gaps left by seven departed defensive starters, including three linebackers.
Before transferring, Biles was an All-ACC player at Pittsburgh and showcased his skills at linebacker during his time in high school.
Texas football signed 20 players from the transfer portal, with several expected to start, including Biles.

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But between now and then, Biles has some high expectations for himself and a Texas squad that has lost seven defensive starters from a year ago, including a trio of linebackers in Anthony Hill Jr. (NFL draft), Trey Moore (NFL draft) and Liona Lefau (transfer portal). The 6-foot-1, 215-pound Biles may not be a like-for-like replacement for any of those departed players, but his ability to line up at various spots makes him a dangerous weapon for new defensive coordinator Will Muschamp. “I feel like I'm a versatile linebacker, like I can do anything,” Biles said. “I can stop the run, blitz, play in coverage, pass rush, I feel like I can do a lot of that.” But Biles has one goal that looms bigger than any other, and it goes back to his days of playing ball in Pickerington. “My biggest thing is always trying to get the ball out,” he said. “I just want the ball. I played offense all throughout high school and all throughout Little League. So, whenever I get a chance to get my hand on the ball, get close to the ball, I'm trying to do that.” That’s evident from his play last season. In addition to totaling 101 tackles with 17 tackles for a loss and 4½ sacks, Biles forced two fumbles and grabbed two interceptions. Oh, and the former Pickerington Central Tiger — who had 301 yards from scrimmage as a senior in 2022, by the way — showed off his old high school form by returning both interceptions for touchdowns. “Rasheem Biles is a fantastic football player,” Texas coach Steve Sarkksian said. “He’s a real playmaker. He's got great ball skills, he's got great instincts in pass coverage, and his ability to rush the passer shows up.”
That’s why Sarkisian, Muschamp and the Texas staff recruited Biles out of the portal. But he brings a lot more than highlight plays, as the coaches found out this spring. “We had an idea we were going to get a flashy player,” Sarkisian said. “He's very good pass rusher, he's physical, he's smart; he’s a complete player.” Ty’Anthony Smith, the lone returner as linebacker for Texas, said he’s already learned things from Biles, one of the handful of transfers who will likely start for Texas. “I love his authenticity, and he's a funny dude,” Smith said. “He’s a real athletic, rangy linebacker off the edge. Some of his pass-rushing moves, they’re good to learn from him.” So, even with all the accolades and awards on the defensive side of the ball, does Biles still think he would have made it as an all-conference type at running back? “I think so, to be honest,” Biles said, flashing a grin. “That’s for real.”