NC State Transfer RB Hollywood Smothers Reveals Texas Jersey Number

Smothers will wear No. 2 for the Longhorns next season after wearing different numbers at his previous schools.

Published on Feb. 12, 2026

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The Texas Longhorns have welcomed a number of new faces to their roster this offseason, including several transfers at the running back position. NC State transfer Hollywood Smothers is the latest to reveal his jersey number for the upcoming 2026 season, announcing he will wear No. 2 for the Longhorns.

Why it matters

The Longhorns' running back room has undergone a significant transformation, with Smothers joining fellow transfers Raleek Brown and Derrek Cooper as new additions. The competition for carries and the starting job will be fierce, as Texas looks to improve upon a 7-6 record from last season.

The details

Smothers wore No. 3 and No. 20 during his time at NC State, as well as No. 7 as a freshman at Oklahoma. The No. 2 jersey was previously worn by Texas wide receiver Jaime Ffrench, who has since transferred to Michigan. Current Texas safety Derek Williams Jr. has worn No. 2 on defense for the past three seasons, but there's been no indication he will be switching numbers.

  • Smothers announced his new jersey number on February 12, 2026.

The players

Hollywood Smothers

A running back who transferred to Texas from NC State, where he had a career-best season in 2025 with 160 carries for 939 yards and six touchdowns, along with 37 catches for 189 yards and one score.

Raleek Brown

A running back who transferred to Texas from Arizona State and will compete with Smothers for carries and the starting job.

Derrek Cooper

A five-star true freshman running back who is also joining the Longhorns' backfield.

Jaime Ffrench

The previous wearer of the No. 2 jersey at Texas, who has since transferred to Michigan.

Derek Williams Jr.

The current Texas safety who has worn the No. 2 jersey on defense for the past three seasons.

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What they’re saying

“NIL didn't play a big factor for me... I honestly just want to win. And I feel like we are in the best position to go win it all with the talent and depth at Texas.”

— Hollywood Smothers (On3)

What’s next

Smothers and Brown will compete for the starting running back job, with one likely to be the official starter in the season opener against Texas State, though the carries may be split between the two throughout the year.

The takeaway

The Longhorns have completely revamped their running back room, bringing in several high-profile transfers to compete for playing time and the chance to lead the offense. This influx of talent should provide a boost to the Texas ground game as the team looks to bounce back from a disappointing 7-6 season in 2025.