Which Texas stars are among the best at their position across college football?
The preseason No. 4-ranked Texas Longhorns begin their journey toward what could be their first national title in over two decades by receiving plenty of early recognition and accolades.
After several players were named to preseason watch-lists for individual awards at their positions, five Longhorns in particular were named to ESPN's preseason All-America first team: wide receiver Cam Coleman, offensive tackle Trevor Goosby, edge rusher Colin Simmons, linebacker Rasheem Biles, and kick returner Ryan Niblett.
Five players named to the first team is more than any other team in college football. No other team has more than two.
Offensively, Coleman and Goosby represent the dual strengths head coach Steve Sarkisian has in recruiting through the transfer portal and in the high school circuit.
Coleman was widely regarded as the No. 1-ranked transfer portal prospect upon announcing his move from Auburn to Texas after catching 93 passes for 1,306 yards and 13 touchdowns with the Tigers.
The other first-team wide receiver is Ohio State's Jeremiah Smith, setting up a must-see matchup between the two pass-catchers in the second week of the season.
"Expect lots of acrobatic catches and highlight-reel moments out of Coleman as he looks to take the next big step in his career with Texas' loaded offense."
Acrobatics, you say? Coleman has given us a glimpse of that already at fall camp. Watch here.
On the opposite side of the coin, Goosby is a home-grown talent who has taken the place of All-American and NFL first-rounder Kelvin Banks Jr. as well as Texas could've ever imagined.
He'll protect the blindside of quarterback Arch Manning as a veteran of the unit to put together an NFL Draft resume of his own.
Simmons enters his third season with the Longhorns as another NFL-ready talent rushing the passer. The Duncanville native led the SEC a season ago and enters 2026 as the active leader in career sacks (21) across all FBS.
"Operating under new Texas defensive coordinator Will Muschamp, Simmons will once again have the attention of opposing offensive coordinators and NFL scouts alike in 2026 as the face of a potentially fearsome Longhorns defense," ESPN writes.
Behind him, Pitt transfer Biles is playing with a chip on his shoulder, especially considering the remarks he made this week about facing his hometown Buckeyes in Week 2.
"I ain't trying to be a Buckeye," Biles told reporters about Ohio State contacting him when he entered the transfer portal following 101 tackles and three defensive touchdowns last year for the Panthers.
Despite growing up near Columbus, Biles says he was never recruited by Ohio State during high school. The preseason top-ranked Buckeyes come to Austin on Sep. 12.
Niblett earned All-American status last year with 738 total return yards, the second-most in FBS.
The speedy self-proclaimed "gadget" player will get snaps as a running back and wide receiver in addition to his kick return duties. Niblett said Sarkisian and the offensive staff are "definitely trying to put me in there a lot more."
