Hollywood Smothers Led Texas Rushing Early in 2026

The running back established himself as a key offensive contributor for the Texas Longhorns early this season.

Updated on Sept. 18, 2026 in Football

Expressive editorial sports illustration of a running back in orange and white uniform surging forward, embodying athletic momentum. — Transfer running back Hollywood Smothers has emerged as the focal point of the Texas Longhorns' offense early in the 2026 college football season. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

Live Poll

Do you believe transfer portal acquisitions are the best way for local college teams to succeed?

Hollywood Smothers, a transfer from North Carolina State, led the Texas Longhorns in rushing through the first two games of the 2026 season. The coaching staff utilized Smothers as the primary option to revitalize a backfield that struggled with production in 2025.

Why it matters

The team prioritized Smothers to address offensive shortcomings from the previous year. His role as the primary running back is part of an effort to provide reliable production and stability for the Austin-based program.

Smothers recorded 144 rushing yards and two touchdowns through two games, including 21 of the 41 total team rushing attempts against Ohio State. He currently holds the number 28 ranking for elusiveness and number 20 for breakaway percentage per PFF.

The players

Hollywood Smothers

He is a running back who transferred to the Texas Longhorns from the North Carolina State Wolfpack.

Texas Longhorns

This is the college football team based in Austin that plays at the University of Texas.

Raleek Brown

He is a running back who rotates with Smothers in the Texas backfield.

The details

Smothers operates in a rotation with Raleek Brown after being designated as the primary backfield option by the coaching staff. His contributions have become a focal point for the Texas offense early in the 2026 campaign.

The 2025 season was marked by a lack of offensive production from the Texas backfield.
Hollywood Smothers has played for the Texas Longhorns throughout the 2026 season.

Football
Sept. 20
Texas Receiver Ryan Wingo Returned After Injury
Football
Sept. 18
Texas Will Host UTSA for Non-Conference Finale
Football
Sept. 22
Dylan Sikorski Posted Career-Best Blocking Grade

Season Trajectory

The emergence of Smothers as a primary back signals a shift in the Texas offensive strategy compared to the 2025 season. His performance in the rotation directly influences how the Longhorns approach the remainder of their competitive schedule.

Smothers accounted for more than half of the team carries in the matchup against the Ohio State Buckeyes. This workload distribution confirms his status as a key asset for fantasy rosters and offensive efficiency metrics moving forward.

The takeaway

Smothers serves as the primary offensive engine for the Longhorns following his transfer from North Carolina State. His ability to maintain high elusiveness rankings will be critical for the team to sustain consistent scoring drives throughout the season.