3 emergency transfer RB options for Texas this fall
The depth situation in Texas football's running back room a few weeks into preseason camp has caused the coaching staff to look for other options from other position groups to add bodies to the backfield. Texas is down to just three scholarship running backs about halfway through fall practice, along with a handful of walk-ons who have started taking more reps in team drills.
Where could Texas football look for an emergency running back in the portal, if necessary, this fall?
Texas and head coach Steve Sarkisian have lost two scholarship running backs to season-ending lower-body injuries in the past 10 days of preseason camp. Sophomore running back CJ Baxter Jr. suffered a torn PCL/LCL in full-contact drills in practice last week that will cause him to miss the 2024 season.
Another scholarship running back fell for the Longhorns earlier this week in practice when true freshman Christian Clark suffered a torn Achilles on a non-contact play in team drills.
With the depth situation being so dire for the Longhorns in the running back room this fall, players from other positions like senior tight end Juan Davis and redshirt freshman wide receiver Ryan Niblett have taken more backfield reps in practice this week.
Inside Texas's Paul Wadlington and Ian Boyd also pitched the idea of Texas looking into some "off-roster" options from the transfer portal if they potentially need to add another emergency running back this fall.
Here are three possibilities for Texas to potentially look into among the transfer running backs from this offseason who are still available in the portal.
Sqwirl Williams
Former school: Louisiana Tech
A name that Longhorns fans are probably familiar with from Texas's days playing in the Big 12 from a few years ago against Baylor is former Bears running back Sqwirl Williams. After transferring out from the Baylor program last offseason, Williams sat out the 2023 season with the Louisiana Tech Bulldogs roster in Conference-USA.
Williams played the first five years of his collegiate career at Baylor (from 2018-2022). In four seasons actually playing for the Bears, Williams registered 804 rushing yards, 80 receiving yards, six yards per carry, and eight total touchdowns.
He was the second-leading rusher for head coach Dave Aranda and Baylor in 2022, with over 500 rushing yards and four rushing touchdowns (also one receiving touchdown).
At 5-foot-8 and 175 pounds, Williams is one of the more undersized running backs who the Longhorns could possibly go after in the portal. But he is a speedy back with good quickness and reliable hands out of the backfield.
Among the players who are still available in the portal at running back this late in the offseason and in the midst of fall camp around the country, Williams is one of the most proven guys who has experience playing against and preparing for Texas's defense and playing in the P5.