Steve Sarkisian aims to develop Texas defensive secondary depth

Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian and defensive coordinator Will Muschamp face a pressing challenge through seven games of the 2026 college football season: developing reliable depth in the defensive secondary.

The Longhorns’ coaching staff has leaned heavily on a small core of defensive starters. Only seven players across the entire roster have logged more than 400 defensive snaps thus far. That reliance stems from a combination of injuries, developmental growing pains among younger players, and tight games that have left little margin for error.

The Snap Count Disparity on the Back End

The defensive workload distribution highlights a reliance on starters. Senior linebackers Justin Cryer and Rasheem Biles, senior safety Jelani McDonald, junior nickel back Graceson Littleton, sophomore cornerback Kade Phillips, and senior cornerback Bo Mascoe have shouldered the vast majority of the defensive burden.

Jeremiah Smith vs Warren Roberson pic.twitter.com/qUDt6Pfprl

— https://x.com/GrantReacts1/status/2098954214697296366

Sarkisian acknowledged the issue during his weekly media availability, noting the team’s ongoing search for rotational pieces. I think we’re still trying to find the depth at star or the depth at corner, so we can move Bo to star, Sarkisian said. We just need more bodies that can guard people and cover people.

The absence of rotational depth forces the starters to play nearly every snap. While the grueling early-season heat in Central Texas has cooled down as the SEC schedule rolls forward, the physical wear and tear remains a concern for the coaching staff.

Health and Development at Safety

Health has complicated the secondary rotation. Senior safety Kobe Black missed the wins over UTSA and Ole Miss, though he isn’t listed on the injury report this week. Getting Black back at full strength is expected to be big for the team alongside McDonald.

Behind the starters, younger options are working to earn trust. Jonah Williams has logged nearly 90 snaps on special teams as a core contributor on kick coverage and returns, but he has yet to see defensive action beyond the two non-conference games. Sarkisian noted that Williams and Toray Davis have been making strides in practice, but breaking into the defensive rotation remains an uphill battle.

Williams primarily backs up McDonald, the team leader on the back end whose high level of play makes him difficult to remove from the field.

Cornerback Options and the Trust Factor

At cornerback and the Star position, the Longhorns are seeking answers to allow veteran flexibility. Moving Bo Mascoe inside to the slot requires high confidence in his backups. Freshman Smoke Matthews has begun carving out a role on special teams coverage units, earning increased trust from the coaching staff after making his first appearance on both coverage units since the season opener in a recent game.

Meanwhile, junior Xavier Filsaime spent the offseason recovering from shoulder surgery and has yet to make his 2026 debut, delaying his anticipated emergence as a backup at the nickel position.

Steve Sarkisian aims to develop Texas defensive secondary depth — Photo: sports.yahoo.com

Senior cornerback Warren Roberson represents an experienced option, but coverage lapses have strained his standing with the defensive staff. Roberson struggled against Ohio State and allowed a 36-yard gain against Ole Miss after giving too much cushion and missing a tackle. According to Pro Football Focus, Roberson has allowed eight completions on 12 targets for 122 yards.

Sarkisian emphasized that game situations dictate rotation opportunities, noting that tight contests have prevented the coaching staff from cycling younger players into the lineup.

Sometimes the games dictate when we can roll guys in there more, Sarkisian said. We haven’t had that luxury — we’ve been in so many tight games this year, but we’re going to have to find a way and a time to get some of these guys in there.