New Texas Longhorns Lb Lands Inside Pff's Top 101 Players Of 2025

The 2026 transportation portal rhythm was a fruitful 1 for nan Texas Longhorns, astatine slightest connected paper.

According to 247Sports, it classed arsenic nan third-best people successful nan nation, headlined by prima additions for illustration wide receiver Cam Coleman and moving backmost Hollywood Smothers.

However, 1 of nan champion additions nan Longhorns made will thief amended nan linebacking unit, arsenic he comes disconnected consecutive All-ACC seasons. After a profession year, he was recognized by PFF arsenic 1 of nan 101 champion players successful assemblage shot successful 2025.

Texas Transfer Rasheem Biles Ranks 90th successful PFF's 101 Best Players of 2025

Texas' newest summation to nan mediate of its defense is linebacker Rasheem Biles, a standout linebacker for Pittsburgh. He spent nan past 3 seasons pinch nan Panthers and turned down a imaginable Day 3 action successful nan 2026 NFL Draft; instead, he opted to return for his elder season, entering nan transportation portal.

In 2025, Biles group career-high marks successful full tackles (101), tackles for nonaccomplishment (17.0), interceptions (two), and forced fumbles (two). He besides added 4.5 sacks and a fumble recovery. Biles recorded a PFF defense people of 78.7 and stood retired arsenic a tally defender, logging 36 tally stops and a PFF run-defense people of 85.3.

Among Power Four linebackers pinch a minimum of 100 protect snaps played, Biles tied for 15th successful defense people and tied for 21st successful tally defense grade, making him 1 of nan apical returning backers successful nan country. He besides tied for 30th successful tally stops.

Rounding retired his game, Biles was besides coagulated successful walk defense and erstwhile rushing nan passer. He recorded PFF grades of 73+ successful some attributes while signaling 15 pressures and allowing conscionable 181 yards each play successful coverage. Biles besides did not concede a touchdown successful nan passing game.

What Does Biles' Addition Mean for Texas' Defense?

Biles should beryllium a cardinal summation to Texas' defense successful an area that needs replenished juice. Texas mislaid Anthony Hill Jr. and Trey Moore to nan 2026 NFL Draft, while Liona Lefau and Elijah Barnes near successful nan transportation portal.

Alongside Florida State transportation Justin Cryer and Akron transportation Markus Boswell, nan Longhorns will person a caller corps successful nan mediate of nan defense. Hill and Lefau led nan squad successful container snaps successful 2025, though nan team's No. 3 — Ty'Anthony Smith — is returning for 2026.

Texas preferred to play successful nickel successful 2025 nether Pete Kwiatkowski, but Will Muschamp is taking complete arsenic protect coordinator successful 2026 aft a fewer seasons astatine Georgia. The Bulldogs person tally a much accepted defense, and Biles should beryllium a contributing personnel correct distant successful Austin, Texas. However, it is not yet clear precisely what Texas' protect strategy will beryllium — aliases really its players will beryllium deployed.

Smith and Biles will apt lead nan squad successful snaps wrong nan container successful 2026, pinch Cryer and Boswell serving arsenic cardinal contributors arsenic well. Biles' domiciled versatility arsenic a defender should beryllium beneficial to nan Longhorns' defense, helping to replenish a portion that vanished 28th successful points allowed per crippled (20.3).

Additionally, Biles demonstrated a tenacity for making scatter plays successful 2025, taking 3 turnovers (two interceptions and 1 fumble recovery) backmost for touchdowns. The Longhorns were tied for 5th successful nan FBS successful turnover separator (+14), a look for sustained occurrence successful a convention for illustration nan SEC.