​AUSTIN, TX – SEPTEMBER 05: Wide receiver Jermaine Bishop Jr. #4 of the Texas Longhorns holds Horns Up toward the camera before the college football game the Texas Longhorns and the Texas State Bobcats on September 5, 2026, at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium in Austin, TX. (Photo by David Buono/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images Nearly half of the 27 first-year players for the Texas Longhorns saw playing time in the team’s 59-7 home opener victory over its I-35 rivals, the Texas State Bobcats. But of the 12 first-year players who saw playing time over the weekend, only four managed to record meaningful statistical entries — wide receiver Jermaine Bishop, running back Derrek Cooper, cornerback Samari Matthews, and linebacker Kosi Okpala. Bishop shone with breakout potential all afternoon, as the first-year hands-man recorded two catches for 25 yards alongside his older peers, Ryan Wingo and Cam Coleman, the latter of whom transferred into the program after leaving Auburn. Meanwhile, on defense, Matthews is emerging as a freshman to watch after he left fans with a strong first impression that included a half sack and half tackles for loss after earning a backup role to sophomore Kade Phillips at cornerback. Other first-year players such as Meredith, Carlton, Wesley, and Okpala also recorded solo and assisted tackles.WR Jermaine BishopTwo receptions on three targets with one drop, 25 yards receiving, 12.5 yards per catch, long of 18 yards in 10 snaps on offense after earning a co-backup role with sophomore Daylan McCutcheon in the slot. Bishop also played 10 snaps on kickoff coverage.Big time pass for @kjlacey7 🤘 pic.twitter.com/nuqfpI8MLI— Texas Football (@TexasFootball) September 5, 2026RBDerrek CooperTwo carries, six yards, 3.0 yards per carry, long of five yards in three snaps before leaving the game in the second quarter with an ankle injury. The Florida product will remain in a boot for the “foreseeable future.”CB Samari MatthewsTwo total tackles, one solo, one assist, half tackle for loss, half sack in 10 snaps on defense and three snaps on kickoff coverage.CB John MeredithOne solo tackle in 10 snaps on defense.LB Kosi OkpalaOne assist, one defensive stop, half tackle for loss in 10 snaps on defense and 10 snaps on kickoff coverage.First college game ✅First college tackle ✅ pic.twitter.com/VlwqunfrK7— Be Someone 7v7 (@BeSomeone7v7) September 6, 2026EDGE Jamarion CarltonOne assist and one missed tackle in 10 snaps on defense.Once 6-5, 280-pound Texas freshman Jamarion Carlton settles down and plays within himself … look out. High ceiling. pic.twitter.com/3VONSjG60b— Tyler Horka (@tbhorka) September 9, 2026EDGE Richard WesleyOne solo tackle and one defensive stop in 15 snaps on defense as the backup to junior Colin Simmons at the Jack end position.LBTyler AtkinsonSaw playing time but did not record any statistics in seven snaps on defense.DB Toray DavisSaw playing time but did not r