Texas football is coming into 2026 as one of the most highly-regarded teams in college football. The Longhorns fell short of expectations in 2025 in Arch Manning’s first season as the starting quarterback, but Manning and his offense played better and better as the season went on.
In the offseason, in order to aid Manning’s growth, Steve Sarkisian and his staff went out and got the young quarterback a No. 1 option at wide receiver. Texas added one of the best players in the transfer portal in Auburn wide receiver Cam Coleman. Coleman is very talented, but didn’t always get the chances to explode onto the major college football scene during his two seasons with the Tigers.
On Wednesday, he alluded to as much. On Wednesday, Coleman gave a very simple answer when asked how he was being used differently at Texas than he was at Auburn, via CJ Vogel of On Texas Football.
“Running more routes, for sure,” Coleman said bluntly.
While what Coleman said could be taken as a dig at Auburn and former head coach Hugh Freeze, his claims don’t come without backing. Despite clearly being one of the most talented pass-catchers in the country, Coleman caught just 96 balls over the last two years. On those receptions, he had 1,306 yards and 13 touchdowns for an Auburn offense that struggled mightily when he was not involved.
Ryan Wingo will be back in the Texas wide receiver room, giving Manning one of the fastest targets in the country to throw the ball to. Coleman is a perfect complement to what Wingo does, as the former five-star recruit is long and lanky at 6-foot-3 and is a freak athlete with a massive catch radius. Coleman has the ability to be one of the best contested catch players in the country, which will make Manning’s life much easier.
Texas will enter the season more than likely as a top five team in the country, and the addition of Coleman is a big part of that. If Texas unlocks his highest potential, the Longhorns will be very difficult to stop this fall.
Texas football is coming into 2026 as one of the most highly-regarded teams in college football. The Longhorns fell short of expectations in 2025 in Arch Manning’s first season as the starting quarterback, but Manning and his offense played better and better as the season went on.