​On Saturday afternoon, the Texas Longhorns continued their undefeated season with a 30-6 win over UTSA. While everyone on the roster contributed, one player who stood out was  Derek Cooper. The highly regarded running back who was returning from injury made the most of his opportunities. Against UTSA, the Florida native recorded 44 yards on 11 carries and found the end zone once. He finished with the third-most rushing yards on the team, behind Hollywood Smothers and Arch Manning. While it wasn’t Texas’s best performance of the season, Cooper was a bright spot. Many more to come 🤘🏾 https://t.co/xOVKo8TKHG— Derrek Cooper (@DerrekCooper80) September 20, 2026Although Cooper is ranked third on the depth chart behind Smoothers and Raleek Brown, Longhorns head coach Steve Sarkisian made it a priority to get Cooper in the game. He had been dealing with an ankle injury but that was not an issue on Saturday as Cooper averaged four yards a carry. Following the Longhorns win, Sarkisian had high praise for his talented freshman.”It was great having Derek back,” Sarkisian said to reporters postgame. ” I thought he was effective. He is not 100 % yet. But I needed him to play tonight knowing what is coming down the road in SEC play. I was proud of him for working the way he worked to get himself ready to play this week. I think there is more out there for him as we continue to go.” Sarkisian on Derrek Cooper 🤘 pic.twitter.com/taXf5lCM7L— Inside Texas (@InsideTexas) September 20, 2026Through two games this season, Cooper has recorded 50 yards on 13 carries. With the season far from over, the Longhorns’ running back has plenty of time to build on those statistics. As Sarkisian alluded to, Cooper will be relied on heavily once conference play starts. That will give Cooper the chance to shine against some of the best players in the country. If Cooper meets expectations, the Longhorns’ running attack could be one of the most potent in college football. Contact/Follow us @LonghornsWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Texas news, notes and opinions. Follow Jamie Gatlin on X: @Gatlinsports.This article originally appeared on Longhorns Wire: Texas RB Derrek Cooper makes impact in return to Longhorns lineup