Game log · Week-by-week
2026 season · 1 game
| Wk | Opp | CAR | YDS | AVG | TD | LONG | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wk 1 | W 59-7vs Texas State | 2 | 6 | 3.0 | 0 | 5 | Season-high 6 yds |
| Total | 2 | 6 | 3.0 | 0 | 5 |
#5
Derrek Cooper
Derrek Cooper keeps submitting exhibits like No.109 4★, national recruit, and the Texas fanbase keeps asking for one more week.
6′1″ · 212 lb · Lauderhill, FL · Chaminade Madonna Prep
Returning to Texas for 2026
The numbers
6
rushing yards · 2026
3 per carry
1 game into 2026 so far -- Best game: 6 rush yds, vs Texas State
His career numbers, season by seasonThe story
1 running back for Texas. 2026: 1 game with a box-score line.
- Signed as a 4-star recruit to Texas in 2026.
Buzz vs Tape
Rivals warmer than fans
The rival fanbase is unexpectedly warm on him relative to his own.
25own fans
70rival fans
Also worth knowing:
In Their Words
222 windows · 2026 fan posts
derrek×593.3smothers×81.3terry×56.7michael×17.1
Derrek Cooper
On Trialas of 2026-09-15
Derrek Cooper is on trial in Texas's fan jury — the eye test against the résumé.
6RUSH YDS0RUSH TD2CARRIES
4★ · NATIONAL RECRUIT
No.109
recruiting national rank
Texas fans can't agree whether the tape backs the reputation.
medium confidence15 sources
Minority viewA vocal minority sees it the other way.
Read the story so far
AI-generated narrative · may contain errors · not journalism · updated 2026-09-15
His career
2026
- Signed with Texas4-star out of Chaminade-Madonna
Career arc
HS
Recruit
★★★★
CFB
College
Texas
NFL
NFL Draft
—
2026 snapshot
Season context · Team result + system
2026Texas2-0HC: Steve Sarkisian · Balanced
Where this profile ranks vs the RB cohort
Box-score percentiles
Concern: rush yards (0th percentile).
Box-score rates (5)
Percentiles versus same-position peers with enough snaps this season, based on box-score rates.
Splits & context
Splits
Per-game splits
Through 1 game: 6.0 YDS/g, 3.0 YPC, 0.0 TD/g — splits start at 3 games.
Supporting cast · Scheme
Staff and system around the player
Head Coach
Steve Sarkisian
Scheme reads (pass share, tempo, sack rate) need at least 3 team games — 2 games in so far.
Awards
Player standing · 2026
Backup
On the two-deep and pushing for snaps.
Roster2-deepStarterRecognizedEliteApex
Career stats
| Season | Team | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Texas | 2 | 6 | 3.0 | 0 | -- |
| Career | 2 | 6 | 3.0 | 0 | -- |
Game log
How he plays
2026 Outlook
Texas
2026 Depth chart
Projected starter
Running back · Texas
Returning around him
- 72% of 2024 offensive production back (Strong continuity)
- 6 Texas players drafted to NFL
- Transfer portal: -6 net (22 in / 28 out)
2026 Award watch
No preseason watch lists yet (most drop June 15 – July 15)
Texas · Last season: 10-3 (AP #14) · Talent rank #2 · 2026 recruiting class #7
Background
A first-year running back from Lauderhill, Fla. HIGH SCHOOL A five-star recruit by ESPN … rated a four-star prospect by 247Sports and Rivals … rated the No. 1 running back recruit in his class by ESPN … rated the No. 4 running back recruit and No. 74 overall recruit in his class by Rivals … rated...
The backfield · Texas
- Raleek Brown1,141 rushing yards · 2025
- #2Daylan Smothers939 rushing yards · 2025
- #31James Simon122 rushing yards · 2025
- #21Ryan Niblett15 rushing yards · 2025
- #5Derrek Cooper1 game · 2026
3 more on the roster · Texas team page
Stats from CFBD · ESPN · fan discourse. Every figure computed from source tables — not invented. Methodology