OTF Premium Three lingering concerns about the Longhorns in 2026

If anyone has lingering concerns about Arch Manning’s postseason foot surgery impacting his availability or effectiveness as QB1 for the Texas Longhorns in 2026, Steve Sarkisian set the record straight on Tuesday.

“People are overreacting way too much to this,” Sarkisian said during a live radio interview with Craig Way on Austin’s AM 1300 The Zone. “The guy had a foot issue that we had to get fixed that we didn’t want to do last year, obviously, right before the season and/or during the season. So we waited until after the season. He could’ve been back in spring practice, probably, in week three. But, again, he’s in year four in our system. So him throwing 7-on-7, him throwing routes on air, and that getting KJ (Lacey) and Dia (Bell) and MJ (Morris) more opportunities to get accustomed to playing systematically for us…

“Rest assured, Arch Manning is fine,” he added. “He looks great.”

While Manning’s status heading into the summer doesn’t seem to be in doubt, there are three lingering concerns about Texas with spring practice in the rearview mirror.

1. The running game

Between Manning’s running ability (specifically, the advantage he gives the offense with a run threat the defense has to account for), the elite weapons the Longhorns have on the perimeter spreading opponents out and a deeper, overhauled running back room capable of maximizing runs (picking up yards when the play isn’t blocked perfectly), the conditions are ripe for the Texas running game to leave last season’s lackluster performance in the dust. Still, until we see the offensive line take the field with all of its top hands in the lineup, including Trevor Goosby making a full return from shoulder surgery and Laurence Seymore arriving in the summer as a possible answer at left guard, there should be a shred of doubt regarding the running game’s ceiling in 2026.

Even if Derrek Cooper, Michael Terry III and James Simon had their way with Will Muschamp’s defense in the end-of-spring open practice, the fact that it wasn’t done in a game against an opponent in a different colored uniform would’ve required taking it with a grain of salt. The effectiveness of the offensive line and the ability to establish and play with a physical, hard-nosed mentality on offense (one that allows the Longhorns to move the football on the ground when opponents know it’s coming) will remain a question mark until proven otherwise on the field.

2. Safety depth

If Manning is the player Texas can least afford to lose, a case can be made for Jelani McDonald over Colin Simmons as the next most valuable Longhorn in 2026. At least the edge room has capable players behind Simmons. McDonald headlines a safety group that exited spring practice with more questions than answers when looking at the big picture.

With Xavier Filsaime, Zelus Hicks and Jonah Williams working their way back from surgery, Blake Gideon’s room will look and feel different whenever Texas is back on the field. Although Jonathan Cunningham and Toray Davis flashed throughout spring practice, and Derek Williams Jr. finally looks back to his pre-injury form, the Longhorns need a lot more competition within a position group that didn’t have enough of it during the spring.

3. Special teams unknowns

Ryan Niblett’s presence and prowess in the return game are the only proven commodities to speak of on special teams. Texas went into the transfer portal for help at placekicker, punter and long snapper, but we know as much about those acquisitions at the beginning of May as we did in January.

Gianni Spetic and Mac Chiumento didn’t make an impactful first impression during the open practice on April 18. They’ve both got a decently high bar to clear to give the Longhorns what they had in the steady, reliable legs of Mason Shipley and Jack Bouwmeester.

Special teams can’t be considered a strength or a weakness right now. Like the running game, Jeff Banks’ unit will be under the microscope in the season opener, which is probably the next best glance the public will get of the new-look kicking game.