AUSTIN (KXAN) — Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian sure is glad Ryan Niblett didn’t transfer.
It’s a term used more to describe a baseball player, but Niblett is a true utility player for the Longhorns. He played receiver, running back, defensive back, and was a member of special teams during his two years in the program.
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Texas quarterback Arch Manning, 16, and defensive back Michael Taaffe, left, celebrate after defeating Oklahoma in an NCAA college football game Saturday, Oct. 11, 2025, in Dallas. (AP Photo/Jeffrey McWhorter) -
Texas quarterback Arch Manning, 16, and defensive back Michael Taaffe, under center, celebrate with fans after defeating Oklahoma in an NCAA college football game Saturday, Oct. 11, 2025, in Dallas. (AP Photo/Jeffrey McWhorter) -
Texas quarterback Arch Manning, center, celebrates with fans after defeating Oklahoma in an NCAA college football game Saturday, Oct. 11, 2025, in Dallas. (AP Photo/Jeffrey McWhorter) -
Texas quarterback Arch Manning, center, throws a pass during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Oklahoma, Saturday, Oct. 11, 2025, in Dallas. (AP Photo/Jeffrey McWhorter)
He showed his value by making the biggest play of the 2025 Red River Rivalry, a 75-yard touchdown run that drained the energy from Oklahoma and half the stands in the Cotton Bowl on Saturday, swinging all the momentum toward the Longhorns. Texas went on to win its third Gold Cap in the past four seasons 23-6, keeping the Sooners out of the end zone for the second straight game.
But Sarkisian had to convince Neblett to stay. The head coach told reporters Monday that Niblett was considering leaving Austin before the season, but Sarkisian’s plan to re-recruit a guy deeply rooted in the team’s identity worked. And he’s happy about that.
“I fought hard to keep him here because one, the player he is, and two, I think he’s a glue guy when it comes to our culture,” Sarkisian said. “Culture wins. As much as talented people matter, culture matters even more. He’s one of those people who is loyal to our culture, and it’s great to see him having some of the success he’s had.”
Niblett is the leading kick returner this season, covering kickoffs, along with lining up at receiver and running back. It’s a Swiss Army knife, so to speak, because it does almost everything. That’s what Sarkisian saw in him when he was recruiting Niblett out of Eisenhower High School in northwest Houston.
“He was a versatile player in high school. He was a running back, a Wildcat quarterback, a receiver…so when we brought him here, we were just trying to figure out what his role was,” Sarkisian said. “He’s a two-man running back and receiver, kick returner and punt returner, and he’s an elite special teams player in kickoff coverage. It’s that unselfish nature he has; he’s a great teammate.”
It’s another example of a player who decided to stick with the program he started at and found success, rather than entering the transfer portal to pursue the path of least resistance to get more playing time. Going back to Quintrevion Wisner is another example of this, and Sarkisian said it all comes down to the culture of the program.
“He is a great role model for young players to stay the course and work,” Sarkisian said. “Younger players see that and see that it’s not always about whether you’re a front-line starter or not right away. They can find a role on special teams and then develop into that role.”