OTF Premium Why Texas and OTF 5-star RB Derrek Cooper would be an ideal pairing

[Jeff Howe]

Texas coach Steve Sarkisian and the Longhorns have a lot of reasons to push their chips to the middle of the table for OTF 5-star running back Derrek Cooper (Fort Lauderdale, Fla./Chaminade-Madonna).

The need for a running back was a high priority before Ezavier Crowell (Jackson, Ala.) made the call for Alabama in late June on the heels of Carthage’s KJ Edwards committing to Texas A&M. While the cupboard is stocked for the 2025 season, the Longhorns could be without Quintrevion Wisner and CJ Baxter in 2026 if things break the right way for the program’s running back tandem from the 2023 signing class.

The 2026 class could be a one-back haul for Texas, which would make it a recruiting coup of sizeable proportions if Sarkisian and Chad Scott can land arguably the nation’s best runner in the 6-foot-1-inch, 205-pound Cooper. Florida State, Georgia, Miami and Ohio State are the competition the Longhorns face for Cooper, who’s scheduled to announce his college choice on July 20.

While 247Sports has Cooper ranked as an athlete (the second-best in the nation, according to the 247Sports Composite), the On3 Industry from On3/Rivals has Cooper ranked as the country’s No. 3 running back. He’s an elite prospect who could play on either side of the ball in college, but Texas and the other schools pursuing Cooper would rather hand him the football or throw it to him rather than ask him to tackle opposing ball carriers.

According to Chaminade-Madonna coach Dameon Jones, that’s the right call when it comes to Cooper’s future.

Jones told The Athletic last summer that teams had stopped recruiting Cooper to play defense ahead of his junior season. He recorded 46 tackles, 10 tackles for loss, four sacks, two forced fumbles and an interception while helping his team claim Florida’s Class 1A state championship, but he can change the game even more on offense.

“When you see him run the ball, you’ll see why,” Jones said of Cooper, who ran for 905 yards (7.3 yards per carry) and 13 touchdowns in 15 games. “He killed it in the spring. He’s not an easy tackle. He’s big, fast and strong.”

How Sarkisian showcases running backs in his offense is arguably the biggest reason why the Longhorns are a tremendous fit for Cooper.

According to Pro Football Focus, Wisner was one of seven FBS running backs to finish the 2024 season with at least 200 rushing attempts (226) and 50 targets (57, the eighth-most among running backs nationally). Wisner’s 283 intended touches (combined rushing attempts and targets) are the second-most in the Sarkisian era, slightly behind the 286 intended touches for Bijan Robinson in 2022 (257 carries and 29 targets).

Wisner was used a lot once he emerged as the bell-cow in the backfield. Still, his intended touches paled in comparison to how often usage was funneled to Boise State’s Ashton Jeanty (408 intended touches, including 375 rushing attempts), Arizona State’s Cam Skattebo (346), North Carolina’s Omarion Hampton (324) and Texas Tech’s Tahj Brooks (321).

Even in a 16-game season, one football was enough for Wisner to rack up almost 1,400 yards from scrimmage (1,064 rushing and 311 receiving) and for Jaydon Blue to record 193 intended touches (135 carries and 58 targets, which ranked seventh among FBS running backs, according to PFF). Gunnar Helm also caught more passes (60) than any tight end in any season in school history, and Matthew Golden’s 58-catch season further exemplified how Sarkisian’s offense can feature a running back without running them into the ground.

Although one Longhorn running back has recorded 200 or more intended touches in each of Sarkisian’s four seasons, a second Texas running back has had 100 or more intended touches in those campaigns. Jonathon Brooks (216 intended touches) and Baxter (164) crossed those thresholds in 2023, while Robinson and Roschon Johnson did it in 2022 (286 intended touches for Robinson and 115 for Johnson) and 2021 (226 for Robinson and 108 for Johnson).

With the Longhorns on the hunt for a game-changing running back and Cooper searching for a program that can help him maximize his football future, one of the finest football prospects in America choosing to play in an offense from which five running backs have been picked over the last three NFL drafts could be a match made in heaven.

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[Jeff Howe]

It was fun to crunch the numbers on Sark's recent history with running backs. The backs Texas has sent to the NFL in the last few years were productive college players who got to the league with plenty of tread left on their tires.

[Jeff Howe]

Also, we're one week away from Cooper making the call. As we've said, Texas is in it. To what extent, we'll see.

[HornsRUs]

orange house?

[NothinButDaHorns34]

IF we can land cooper and atkinson going into the season that would be a nice way to end the summer. 

[Joe Zura]

Oregon or Tech lock got it 

[SuperDave0805]

I'm not too proud to beg

 

[FatherofMinky]

Great read @Jeff Howe 

 He’s trending Texas it appears, but December is a lifetime away in recruiting. Gird thy Loins.

[Burnt Orange Horn]

I think Cooper can see a path to being a featured RB at Texas by year 2, if not before.  He also sees 5 Texas RB in the last 3 drafts.  He sees the Texas QB and the Texas OL.

Finally, he sees Sarkisian's pro style offense.

🤘🏻🤘🏼🤘🤘🏽🤘🏾🤘🏿

 

[bourbasted]

That’s a long article for someone who isn’t a lock. My Spidey-senses are tingling. 

[Rick]

O State is apparently our primary competition for him now. Can they tell a similar story? 

[Sundancekid]

Asking recruiting fanatics to gird their loins is hilarious.

[Jeff Howe]

47 minutes ago, Rick said:

O State is apparently our primary competition for him now. Can they tell a similar story? 

No homegrown running backs drafted between JK Dobbins (2020) and TreVeyon Henderson (2025). Texas has had a better run of late (Trey Sermon and Judkins were both portal additions).

[UT92]

13 hours ago, NothinButDaHorns34 said:

IF we can land cooper and atkinson going into the season that would be a nice way to end the summer. 

Why not throw in fall flips of Lee and Keys while we are at it🤷‍♂️

[tmataya]

Any thoughts on having Bijan make a call? Seems his input would be valuable and well received.