Following the departure of four running backs to the transfer portal, Steve Sarkisian’s running back room grew thin. Quintrevion Wisner, Cedric Baxter, Jerrick Gibson and Rickey Stewart Jr. all decided to pursue opportunities elsewhere, leaving Christian Clark and James Simon as the only returners with in-game carries.
A big answer to Sarkisian’s challenges at the position came on Thursday in the form of former Arizona State running back Raleek Brown.
Brown, a 5-9, 195 lb. native of Santa Ana, California, was a four-star prospect out of Mater Dei High School. He was the third-ranked running back in the class of 2022 and initially enrolled at USC before entering the transfer portal the following year, committing to the Sun Devils. He held an offer from the Longhorns out of high school.
His breakout year in Tempe came last season as he eclipsed the 1,000-yard mark, rushing for 1,141 yards on 186 carries for four touchdowns.
Brown was the fourth best running back in the transfer portal, according to the 247Sports Transfer Portal Player rankings.
With Clark and Simon returning in the Texas backfield, and heralded prospect Derrek Cooper Jr. making his way to Austin, the explosive Brown is set to be the team’s starting running back with talented, capable backups.
