Texas quarterback Arch Manning will probably be throwing to one of the crucial proficient receivers in faculty soccer in 2026.
Former Auburn large receiver Cam Coleman — arguably essentially the most coveted goal within the switch portal — is heading to Austin, he introduced Sunday afternoon.
Texas coach Steve Sarkisian and the Longhorns had been anticipated to be a significant participant for Coleman from the second the portal opened on Jan. 2, and the Longhorns had been the primary amongst packages to host Coleman on an official go to. He later took visits to Texas A&M, Texas Tech and Alabama earlier than committing to the Longhorns, the place he’ll be part of Ryan Wingo to make up one of the crucial proficient receiving duos within the nation.
“Finest participant within the portal,” a Energy 4 common supervisor mentioned of Coleman, who has two years of eligibility remaining. “He’s a freak. The numbers aren’t what you’d anticipate due to (Auburn’s) quarterback play, however he’s an absolute distinction maker.”
If touchdown Coleman wasn’t sufficient, Texas made one other huge splash on Sunday when the Longhorns flipped NC State operating again switch Hollywood Smothers from Alabama, in line with program sources.
Smothers, The Athletic’s No. 1 operating again within the portal, initially dedicated to Alabama on Tuesday. Smothers will give Texas a top-tier operating again duo in 2026 because the Longhorns additionally just lately landed Arizona State switch Raleek Brown, one other prime switch.
Smothers was a first-team All-ACC choice in 2025. In 11 video games, he rushed for 939 yards and 6 touchdowns, averaging 5.9 yards per rush. He was additionally a weapon within the passing recreation, catching 37 passes for 189 yards and a rating. He averaged 85.3 speeding yards per recreation, tops amongst ACC operating backs. Smothers has two years of eligibility remaining.
The 6-foot-3, 197-pound Coleman was one of many solely vivid spots on a 5-7 Auburn workforce that struggled mightily in 2025. Coleman completed the 12 months with 56 catches for 708 yards and 5 touchdowns regardless of quarterback Jackson Arnold struggling for a lot of the season earlier than issues improved when Auburn benched Arnold for Ashton Daniels.
Coleman was nearly definitely a prime precedence for brand new Auburn head coach Alex Golesh to retain, however rumors began to flow into practically two months in the past that Coleman could be on his method out. As a real freshman, Coleman completed with 37 receptions for 598 yards and eight touchdowns.
Coleman first dedicated to Auburn in December 2023 after he flipped to the Tigers from Texas A&M. He’s nonetheless Auburn’s second-highest rated recruit and highest-rated receiver of the fashionable period, courting again to 2000, and was anticipated to command seven figures within the portal market. In response to a supply aware of Auburn personnel, Coleman was provided round $2 million to stick with the Tigers. A Energy 4 common supervisor mentioned he anticipated $2 million to be the ground for groups keen on Coleman, contemplating how well-funded all of the groups within the race for his companies are.
With this addition, Texas must be a direct Faculty Soccer Playoff contender in 2026, presumably even a stylish decide to win the nationwide championship. The Longhorns opened the 2025 season because the nation’s No. 1 workforce however took their lumps early as Manning wanted time to get accustomed to his duties as QB 1. A expensive loss to Florida in October finally saved the Longhorns out of the Playoff this 12 months. However Manning solely received higher because the season progressed, capping issues off with arguably his greatest efficiency of his profession when he threw for 221 yards and two touchdowns with no interceptions and rushed for a career-high 155 yards with two extra scores in a win over Michigan within the Citrus Bowl.
Manning, who’s already confirmed to be returning to Texas in 2026, can have no scarcity of weapons within the passing recreation with Coleman becoming a member of Wingo and Emmett Mosley V. Even with Parker Livingstone and DeAndre Moore Jr. getting into the portal, the Longhorns ought to subject an elite receiver group, and Coleman may go down as their most vital acquisition of the offseason.
What lacking out on Coleman means
Texas A&M is getting the speedy Mario Craver again in 2026, and snagging Coleman would have given the Aggies among the best receiver duos within the nation for the second consecutive 12 months. They had been hopeful to get a high-level portal receiver similar to they did a 12 months in the past when signing KC Concepcion, who’s on his technique to the NFL after declaring for the draft in December.
For Alabama, two of the Crimson Tide’s prime three receivers are departing, Germie Bernard (eligibility) and Isaiah Horton (switch portal). Including Coleman would have been an enormous enhance to the passing recreation for its subsequent beginning quarterback, whether or not that’s Keelon Russell or Austin Mack. There’s nonetheless expertise on the receiver depth chart, with Ryan Williams and Lotzeir Brooks, however Coleman would have helped elevate that group to a different stage.
Texas Tech had been trying so as to add an affect receiver on this portal cycle, however the Pink Raiders have already landed commitments from three transfers at that place: Kenny Johnson (Pitt), Donte Lee (Liberty) and Jalen Jones (Alabama State). Touchdown Coleman would have been enormous for Tech — particularly to pair with No. 1 QB switch Brendan Sorsby — however the Pink Raiders have already finished nicely to deal with that place to this point.
What Smothers’ flip means for Alabama
Dropping Smothers after getting his dedication is a significant blow to the Crimson Tide, particularly this deep into the portal cycle. Smothers was the signature acquisition for Alabama at a significant place of want: operating again. The Alabama run recreation struggled mightily on the finish of the 12 months, and it’s the highest precedence that must be addressed.
With lower than per week remaining till the portal closes, the choices at operating again are dwindling, at the very least when it comes to the extent of again that will be in the identical stratosphere as Smothers. May Michigan operating again Justice Haynes return to Alabama, the place he started his profession? Former Texas operating again CJ Baxter is accessible, however Indiana is in heavy pursuit. Exterior of these two, the Tide might need to attempt to poach somebody from elsewhere who isn’t at the moment within the portal, however time is operating brief to take action, as a result of the portal closes on Friday.
