OTF Premium Rasheem Biles is starting to make noise as Texas enters the second half of spring practice

[Jeff Howe]

AUSTIN, Texas — I’ve been waiting for Steve Sarkisian’s status report on Rasheem Biles. He finally delivered one after Tuesday’s practice.

It can be tough to gauge a linebacker’s performance in non-padded practices, so patience was required while waiting to hear feedback on how the Pitt transfer was adjusting to life in a Texas uniform and his role in Will Muschamp’s defense. When Sarkisian was rattling off players he’d consider pleasant surprises through seven practices, he described how the All-ACC linebacker has been more of a complete player than what the staff anticipated.

“I had an idea we were going to get a flashy player,” Sarkisian said of Biles, who recorded 101 tackles, 17 tackles for loss, 4.5 sacks, six pass breakups, two interceptions (both returned for touchdowns), two forced fumbles and one fumble recovery in 2025. “He's a very good pass rusher. He's physical. He's smart.”

Biles didn’t come to the Forty Acres with the kind of hype that accompanied Cam Coleman. The impact Biles has made hasn’t been as intense or felt as quickly as what the Longhorns have gotten from Bo Mascoe (whose versatility was touted by Sarkisian on Tuesday).

Still, what can’t be overstated is Biles’ importance to the defense.

Every notable Texas defense since Mack Brown’s first season on the job has had a strong heartbeat from the inside linebacker position, including Muschamp’s units (2008-10). Whether it was Rashad Bobino, Emmanuel Acho, Roddrick Muckelroy or Keenan Robinson, Muschamp’s defenses had dependable, productive linebackers playing between an attacking front and a ballhawking secondary.

Biles has the kind of skills Muschamp can weaponize. But the only way he can become a chess piece for Muschamp is if Biles gives the Longhorns the same down-to-down consistency he gave Pat Narduzzi’s Panthers during his sophomore and junior seasons.

From that standpoint, Biles could give Muschamp the same kind of presence he expected to get when he recruited Jordan Hicks to Texas in 2010.

Although Muschamp only coached Hicks for one season, the 10-year NFL veteran left the Forty Acres as an All-American and a third-round pick in the 2015 NFL Draft. Hicks’ last season as a Longhorn (147 tackles, 13 tackles for loss, 3.5 sacks, two interceptions and four pass breakups in 2014) mirrors the line Biles posted last season.

The two seasons also produced eerily similar Pro Football Focus grades:

Biles — 83.7 overall, 89.3 run defense, 84 tackling, 82.9 pass rush and 74.4 coverage

Hicks — 78.5 overall, 72.1 run defense, 89.8 tackling, 71.8 pass rush and 83.4 coverage

Even though Hicks played 13 games in 2014 compared to Biles' 10-game season in 2025, they finished their respective campaigns neck and neck in total pressures (18 for Biles and 16 for Hicks), stops (51 for Biles and 47 for Hicks) and NFL passer rating allowed (66 for Biles and 66.3 for Hicks).

Biles is arguably the most accomplished transfer Texas landed during the portal window. With spring practice heading down the home stretch, we should start to hear more reports from behind the scenes that jibe with Biles’ résumé.

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[Tuco Ramirez]

I wouldn’t mind another Jordan Hicks.

[Jeff Howe]

3 minutes ago, Tuco Ramirez said:

I wouldn’t mind another Jordan Hicks.

As far as I could find, what Biles did last year at Pitt would’ve been the best PFF-graded season by a Texas linebacker since Hicks in 2014.

[Roy Hinojosa]

My goodness 😲

[Alex Butler]

I like it. Maybe he and TyAnthony will be able to use their athletic abilities in coverage while Cryer is thumping inside with the big backs. 

[Califashorn75]

Coleman is going to be a monster for us! 

[THookem]

Here’s Okpala

 

 

[Jeff Howe]

Take this for what it's worth, but I looked at the outgoing snaps at linebacker (Anthony Hill to the NFL and Liona Lefau and Bo Barnes to the portal) with the incoming snaps Texas added from the portal (Biles, Markus Boswell and Justin Cryer). According to Pro Football Focus, what I found is that between those three outgoing and the three incoming players, the Longhorns added more snaps from the 2025 season than they lost.

Hill (563) + Lefau (462) + Barnes (43) = 1,068 snaps

Biles (620) + Cryer (381) + Boswelll (199) = 1,200 snaps

The outgoing total jumps to 1,554, but only 283 of Moore's snaps were played off the line of scrimmage (bringing the total to 1,351).