Running back Raleek Brown is one of a slew of transfer portal additions who are expected to be absolute stars for the Texas Longhorns this season.
And that season is just a couple of days away from starting.
Up first: the Texas State Bobcats, and the best news is that Brown has actually already faced this opponent. Twice, in fact.
When Brown was still suiting up for the Arizona State Sun Devils, he went 2-0 against the Bobcats and truly put on a clinic in his second showing against Texas State.
In 2025, Brown rushed for 144 yards and one touchdown against the 'Cats, tacking on an 11-yard reception as the cherry on top. At that point, it was a career-high for Brown, and what should have Texas fans sitting on the edge of their seats is the fact that he had nowhere near the same weapons around him as he does now.
Texas's O-Line and triple-threat backfield will overwhelm the Bobcats
Of course, Brown isn't the only star in the Longhorns' backfield, joined by starting quarterback Arch Manning, who presents his own threat on the ground, and fellow running back Hollywood Smothers.
Additionally, head coach Steve Sarkisian spent this offseason perfecting his offensive line, bringing in much-needed talent from the transfer portal and pushing returners like left tackle Trevor Goosby and center Connor Robertson to take that next step.
Simply put, when Brown or Smothers is handed the ball, the offensive line protecting them is unlike anything either running back has had before, and it will allow them to put on even more impressive performances than the ones that caught Sarkisian's attention.
While 144 yards and one touchdown may already sound like a magical performance, Texas should expect more from both Brown and Smothers, no matter who is in the backfield.
Not to mention the fact that Manning is known to tack on a few dozen rushing yards in a game or two (or even 155 rushing yards as he did against Michigan in the Citrus Bowl).
As the Horns prepare to take on the Bobcats in Week 1, Brown may arguably have the best experience in the room, and Sarkisian should tap into that even if Smothers gets the nod as the starter.
In other words, if given the chance, Brown should have the game of a lifetime against Texas State, and the rest of the Longhorns could too.
Texas and Texas State are scheduled to kick off at 2:30 p.m. CT on Saturday, Sept. 5 (yes, it is going to be a hot one, but that's yet another reason we could see Sarkisian tap into as much depth as possible), and the game will be broadcast on ESPN.
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