Jeff Howe

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.

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. View full news story

With the new-look infield and without Rodriguez, this was the first series of in-game changes Schloss made: — He had Maddox Monsour pinch-hit for Livingston in the sixth inning. Monsour flew out to left field, but Schloss liked his approach. — For the top of the seventh, Monsour went to right field, Jayden Duplantier went to second base, Casey Borba went back to first base, Ethan Mendoza went to shortstop and Temo Becerra went back to third base. — Duplantier's seventh-inning double brought Monsour up again. Schloss let him hit, with Monsour striking out after a 7-pitch at-bat. For the eighth inning, however, Schloss lifted Monsour and put Dariyan Pendergrass in right field as a defensive replacement. Pedergrass' spot in the order (No. 9) didn't come up in the bottom of the eighth. Regardless, Schloss likes having Pendergrass available for the late innings since, as he put it, the team's outfield defense "is still, yet, a work in progress."

Texas shortstop Adrian Rodriguez’s hand procedure was successful, Jim Schlossnagle said after Tuesday’s 10-8 win over Texas State at UFCU Disch-Falk Field. Rodriguez, who underwent offseason hand surgery, had a staple removed that was used in the initial procedure. According to Schlossnagle, it was discovered that Rodriguez was allergic to cobalt and nickel, which were the materials used to manufacture the staple. The negative reaction caused the inflammation, pain and discomfort Rodriguez has experienced throughout the season. Performed by Dr. Steven Shin, the surgeon for Rodriguez’s initial surgery, who also operated on Oklahoma quarterback John Mateer’s broken thumb during football season, Rodriguez’s latest procedure lasted roughly 20 minutes. “According to Dr. Shin, it went absolutely as well as it possibly could,” Schlossnagle said. Now, the wait begins for when Rodriguez can return to the diamond. Once Rodriguez is 10 days removed from the procedure, Schlossnagle said, he’ll get his stitches removed. Schlossnagle didn’t want to say when he expects Rodriguez back in the lineup, but it sounds like the initial timeframe of a 2-3 week absence is likely how long Texas (24-4, 7-2 SEC) will be without one of its most significant players. On Tuesday, Schlossnagle moved Temo Becerra from third base to shortstop to fill the void. The corresponding moves were Casey Borba going across the diamond to third base and Josh Livingston filling in for Borba at first base. “More than likely, that’s what it’ll be to start the game,” Schlossnagle said of the interim lineup. “Then, we’ll figure it out as we go." The new-look lineup is subject to change based on the Longhorns’ opponents. Additionally, Schlossnagle wants to see how the infield moves hold up when the playing surface switches from artificial turf to grass and dirt over the next two weekends. Texas begins a three-game road series against South Carolina (14-16, 1-8) on Thursday and will travel to Texas A&M (23-5, 5-4) next Friday for a three-game series in College Station. Founders Stadium and Olsen Field at Blue Bell Park both feature natural playing surfaces. Schlossnagle, who once again praised the Round Rock Express for allowing the Longhorns to practice on the grass and dirt at Dell Diamond before Texas played three games at Houston’s Daikin Park earlier this season, said there wasn’t enough time for the Texas infielders to get to Round Rock before the team flew out on Wednesday. Nevertheless, Schlossnagle is confident the Longhorns “will be ready to go” against the Gamecocks on Thursday (6 p.m., SEC Network) after Wednesday’s onsite practice in Columbia. View full news story

Snapping the midweek losing streak against a top 25 RPI opponent is a good start to the week!

Cozart works a 1-2-3 ninth to slam the door. Texas wins!

Sam Cozart is on the mound for the ninth.

End of 8: Texas 10, Texas State 8

Pack grounds out to end the inning.

Back-to-back strikeouts by Tinney and Robbins. Two down in the bottom of the eighth.