Ty’Anthony Smith did not participate in Saturday’s preseason scrimmage, a development that matters for a Longhorns defense reshaping its linebacker room ahead of the season. Smith’s absence follows missed practice time earlier in the week and arrives after his breakout showing in the Citrus Bowl.
According to local reports in Burnt Orange Nation, head coach Steve Sarkisian said Smith was among several players who missed the scrimmage due to the flu that affected the roster. That single-week availability hiccup has immediate ramifications because Texas added two experienced transfers to the linebacker group this offseason.
Key Takeaways
- Ty’Anthony Smith did not participate in Saturday’s scrimmage as he missed practice time earlier in the week.
- Head coach Steve Sarkisian linked Smith’s absence to a flu that impacted multiple players during camp.
- Smith posted a breakout performance in the Citrus Bowl, finishing with a team-high nine tackles and two interceptions.
- Texas supplemented the room by adding Rasheem Biles and Justin Cryer from the transfer portal to compete for snaps.
Ty’Anthony Smith practice absences and Citrus Bowl production
Smith’s availability has been uneven through this week of camp, with the missed practice time preceding Saturday’s absence. The coaching staff linked his status to an illness impacting several players rather than a disciplinary or structural roster move.
On the field, Smith provided a standout moment in the Citrus Bowl, recording a team-high nine tackles, one tackle for loss, one quarterback hurry and two interceptions. That game elevated expectations for his role in 2026 and put a brighter spotlight on any availability issues this summer.
Smith’s recruiting profile remains part of the context for expectations; he entered the program as a consensus four-star recruit in the 2024 class and was a late flip from Texas A&M on Early Signing Day. Those background details help explain why his current absence draws attention from staff and fans alike.
How transfer additions change the linebacker room
Texas’ decision to bring in Rasheem Biles and Justin Cryer from the NCAA transfer portal shifts the room’s competitive balance. Both players arrived with expectations that they will compete for high-volume roles, creating a deeper and more experienced rotation than the unit fielded earlier this spring.
Coaches framed the signings as ways to add proven college production and immediate options while continuing to evaluate the younger pieces on the roster. The timing — directly after Smith’s breakout bowl performance and concurrent with his recent absence — raises practical questions about day-to-day depth chart decisions.
Projecting official starters this early remains speculative; the staff will sort through practice availability and who best fits the defensive calls in live reps. What is definite is that the linebacker room will face a short-term competition that could affect rotation patterns once games begin.
Linebacker status comparison
| Player | Current status | Verified background and recent production |
|---|---|---|
| Ty’Anthony Smith | Missed Saturday scrimmage and practice time earlier in the week; absence linked to the flu | Breakout Citrus Bowl performance with nine tackles, one tackle for loss, one quarterback hurry and two interceptions; consensus four-star 2024 recruit who flipped from Texas A&M |
| Rasheem Biles | Added from the NCAA transfer portal and positioned as a projected starter in preseason projections | Former Pitt player brought in to add immediate collegiate experience and depth to the unit |
| Justin Cryer | Added from the transfer portal and expected to compete for major snaps | Florida State transfer with prior Power Five experience expected to provide rotational or starting options |
Longhorn linebacker depth and College Football Playoff implications
Any multi-week absence from a promising young linebacker amplifies the importance of depth for a team with national title aspirations. The 16-team College Football Playoff era increases the margin for error; availability over the long season matters as much as single-game production.
For Texas, adding transfers with immediate starter profiles protects the defense against short-term availability issues and gives the staff more flexibility schematically. That increased depth also changes how the staff might deploy linebackers on early down packages, nickel situations and special teams.
From a recruiting and roster-construction angle, Smith’s case underscores the balance between developing homegrown talent and supplementing the roster through the portal, and the staff’s moves reflect a dual approach: reward internal development when available, while hedging with experienced additions who can step into critical roles. According to local reports, the absence was first reported in the coverage linked above and remains an item the staff will clarify as camp progresses.
