RB Hollywood Smothers Flips from Alabama to Texas: Longhorns Land Portal's No. 2 RB
BREAKING: In a stunning turn of events that has sent shockwaves through the college football world, Hollywood Smothers has flipped his transfer commitment from Alabama to Texas. The former NC State running back, ranked as the No. 2 running back in the transfer portal, announced his commitment to the Longhorns following a weekend visit to Austin that proved absolutely decisive.
For young athletes following this story, this is exactly the kind of recruiting drama that shows why building your skills early matters. At Boardwalk Beasts Football Club, we've seen how proper development and exposure can create these game-changing opportunities for players at every level.
The Flip That Shocked College Football
Just days after committing to Alabama on January 5th, Smothers took what was supposed to be a routine visit to Texas on Saturday. What happened next was pure recruiting magic – Steve Sarkisian and the Longhorns staff secured his commitment before he even left campus.
Here's the wild part: Smothers had already enrolled in classes at Alabama and was literally packing to move to Tuscaloosa when he decided to take that visit to Austin. Talk about a last-minute game-changer! The fact that he never officially signed paperwork with the Crimson Tide left the door open for this dramatic flip.
This kind of recruiting flip demonstrates the importance of keeping your options open and making sure you find the right fit – lessons we emphasize with all our young athletes in our recruiting programs.
From Oklahoma to NC State to Austin: The Hollywood Journey
Smothers' path to Texas tells a story that many young players can learn from. He started as a three-star true freshman at Oklahoma in 2023, where he redshirted after appearing in just four games. Instead of getting discouraged, he transferred to NC State for the 2024 season – and that's where he absolutely exploded.
At NC State, Smothers became a legitimate star. He started for two seasons and earned All-ACC First Team honors in 2025. His 2025 stats are absolutely ridiculous: 939 rushing yards and six touchdowns on nearly six yards per carry, without fumbling a single time.
Let that sink in – zero fumbles for an entire season. That's the kind of ball security and attention to detail that separates elite players from the pack.
His performance ranked him in the top 20 among Power 4 running backs with over 100 carries in multiple categories:
- Yards per attempt
- Yards after contact per attempt
- Missed tackles forced
The dude averaged 3.84 yards after contact per attempt and racked up 614 total yards after contact during the season. Those numbers don't lie – this guy is special.
What Hollywood Brings to the Burnt Orange
Texas just landed a legitimate game-breaker. According to Pro Football Focus, Smothers is an "explosive, breakaway threat" with exceptional vision and the ability to change direction on a dime. His style is perfectly suited for zone running schemes, which happens to be exactly what Steve Sarkisian loves to run in Austin.
Here's what makes Smothers so dangerous:
Elite Vision and Balance: He reads blocks like a veteran and has that rare ability to find holes that other backs miss completely.
Shiftiness and Core Strength: This combination lets him stay upright through contact and turn potential tackles into big gains. His 3.84 yards after contact average proves this isn't just hype.
Breakaway Speed: When he hits the open field, defenders better catch him quick because he's gone. That's what you get with a true explosive threat.
Ball Security: Zero fumbles in 2025 shows he protects the rock like his life depends on it. Coaches love players they can trust in crucial situations.
With two years of eligibility remaining, Smothers gives Texas immediate impact and long-term stability. He joins Arizona State transfer Raleek Brown in what's becoming an absolutely loaded backfield for the Longhorns.
The Perfect Fit for Sarkisian's System
What makes this addition so brilliant for Texas is how perfectly Smothers fits into what Sarkisian wants to do offensively. The Longhorns love to use zone concepts that let their backs find creases and make explosive plays. Smothers' vision and cutting ability make him ideal for this system.
Both Smothers and Brown bring similar explosive traits rather than being power-oriented backs, but their skill sets actually complement each other beautifully. This gives Sarkisian incredible flexibility to deploy them in different packages and keep defenses guessing.
Think about it – you've got two dynamic backs who can both line up wide, catch out of the backfield, and break off huge runs. That's a defensive coordinator's nightmare right there.
Recruiting Implications and the Portal Era
This flip perfectly illustrates how wild the transfer portal era has become. Players are making decisions right up until the last second, and coaching staffs have to stay aggressive in their pursuit. Sarkisian and his staff showed exactly how to close when they got their shot with Smothers.
For young players watching this unfold, there are huge lessons here about the importance of:
- Building relationships with multiple programs
- Taking official visits seriously
- Keeping options open until you're 100% certain
- Developing skills that translate to any system
At Boardwalk Beasts, we teach these principles to our athletes from day one. The recruiting game starts earlier than ever, and having the right foundation matters tremendously.
What This Means for the Big 12
With Smothers' addition, Texas now has 11 portal additions and one of the most talented rosters in the Big 12. The combination of their offensive weapons, experienced coaching staff, and recruiting momentum makes them a legitimate threat to win the conference and compete nationally.
This move also shows other programs that Texas isn't messing around in the portal. When you can flip a top-ranked player away from Alabama at the last second, that sends a message throughout college football.
The Youth Football Connection
While we're talking about college transfers, the foundation for success like Smothers' is built much earlier. Young athletes who want to compete at the highest levels need to develop the same skills that make Hollywood special: vision, balance, ball security, and the ability to create after contact.
Our skill development programs focus on exactly these fundamentals. We've seen countless players elevate their games by mastering the basics early and building from there.
The recruiting process might look different at the youth level, but the principles remain the same. Players who demonstrate consistency, coachability, and explosive playmaking ability will always find opportunities.
Looking Ahead
Texas fans have every reason to be excited about what Smothers brings to Austin. His combination of proven production, remaining eligibility, and perfect scheme fit makes this one of the best portal additions of the cycle.
For Hollywood, this represents a chance to compete at the highest level with one of college football's premier programs. The Longhorns' offensive system should maximize his talents, and playing alongside elite weapons will only make him more dangerous.
This flip also reinforces something we always tell our young athletes: never stop working to improve your position. Smothers didn't settle for his initial choice – he stayed open to new opportunities and found a better fit. That's the kind of mindset that leads to success both on and off the field.
Ready to start your own football journey? Check out our comprehensive training programs and visit Boardwalk Beasts Football Club to see how we're developing the next generation of elite athletes. Your path to success starts today!
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