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Countdown to Kickoff: Texas will have four special teams TDs in 2026
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- Countdown to Kickoff: Texas will have four special teams TDs in 2026
Countdown to Kickoff: Texas will have four special teams TDs in 2026
The countdown to Longhorns football rolls on and we've made it back to "Prediction Saturday". Today, I want to focus on the third phase of the game, special teams. Ryan Niblett has proven to be a special playmaker in the return game but I believe that unit will take another step forward in 2026. Last season, Texas had two return TDs, both punt returns by Niblett. This season, I expect that number to at least double.
Among the disappointments of last season, the improvement of the special teams was slightly overlooked. Jeff Banks brought in Mason Shipley and Jack Bouwmeester and it immediately improved the kicking game. That would've been enough but Ryan Niblett added a special return game to the equation. One could argue his returns against Oklahoma, Mississippi State and Kentucky saved the Longhorns CFP hopes at the time.
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This upcoming season, Ryan Niblett has returned as the best returner in the country. The difference is the group that's joined him. Raleek Brown, Jermaine Bishop Jr., Michael Terry and others could factor into the kickoff return game. Brown was prolific as a returner in his freshman season, tallying over 500 kickoff return yards. I believe that group combined with Niblett's chances on kickoff return increasing, I expect bigger numbers.
The main roadblock for this prediction could be Ryan Niblett himself. He will be at the top of every special teams gameplan for Longhorns opponents. There will be a number of punters that decide to "take their medicine" and kick it into the stands instead of to #21. That being said, he'll get chances and he has a chance to score any time the ball touches his hands.
The Longhorns special team is, in my opinion, their separator. It's the unit that I feel could turn Texas from a great team to a championship team. It starts with Niblett and it's fair to assume he'll make his fair share of plays, but I believe the additions of Brown and Bishop Jr. could take the group over the edge. I'm not sure if it'll be via punts or kickoffs but the Longhorns will take at least four returners back to the house for six.
This article originally appeared on Longhorns Wire: Countdown to Kickoff: Niblett, return game will notch four TDs in 2026
