Hollywood Smothers was still listed as questionable for Saturday’s game at Tennessee on the Thursday night SEC availability report, Rocky Top Insider reported, and Sports Illustrated’s account of that report said a Pete Thamel post on Sept. 25 still had him in the same category.
Smothers is Texas’ lead back. The Texas game notes list him at 41 carries for 198 yards through three games, and he had 10 carries for 54 yards in the 30-6 win over UTSA. Rocky Top Insider, citing On3’s Pete Nakos on Wednesday night, said Smothers was working through a lower-body injury. Sports Illustrated described it as a lower-leg injury and said Nakos reported Smothers missed practice on Thursday, the second straight day he had missed.
Who is available if he is limited
Rocky Top Insider listed the other backs this way through three games: Raleek Brown, 31 carries for 129 yards and two touchdowns, and Derrek Cooper, 13 carries for 50 yards and one touchdown. Sports Illustrated, writing about the UTSA game, said Cooper had 11 carries for 44 yards and a touchdown in that win. The Texas notes had the same UTSA line for Cooper, 11 carries and 44 yards.
Sports Illustrated also reported that edge rusher Colin Simmons no longer appeared on the availability report. The same story said Smothers and Brown have combined for 72 carries, 372 yards and four rushing touchdowns this season, plus 14 catches for 76 yards and another score.
Steve Sarkisian, in comments carried by Sports Illustrated, said: “Hollywood Smothers and Raleek Brown are really tough, and they love football.” He said the two were competing at a high level in the UTSA game.
Rocky Top Insider noted that a Friday night report and a Saturday morning report were still due before the 11 a.m. CT kickoff. This note does not say Smothers is out. Television and radio details are in how to watch Texas at Tennessee.
Photo: Neyland Stadium by KamrynsMom, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
Sources: Rocky Top Insider, Sept. 24, 2026; Sports Illustrated; Texas game notes, Sept. 21, 2026.
