AUSTIN, Texas — Rasheem Biles forced a fumble and intercepted a pass in his first game for Texas, and coach Steve Sarkisian said afterward that the forced fumble was an elite play.
Texas beat Texas State 59-7 on Saturday at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium. Biles finished with 5 tackles, half a tackle for loss, a forced fumble, and an interception, the fourth of his career.
With 6:06 left in the first half, Biles punched the ball away from Taji Atkins at the Texas 41 as he made the tackle. Graceson Littleton picked it up and returned it 59 yards for a touchdown.
Steve Sarkisian Details What Separates Rasheem Biles
Sarkisian said most defenders in that spot are worried about getting the runner on the ground.
“I think when you see him you think athletic, versatile,” Sarkisian said. “I think the one thing that he probably doesn’t get enough credit for is the physicality of which he plays the game. He’s a violent player. Like, the play he makes to cause that fumble is elite. Most guys just are worried about getting the guy on the ground, and he’s coming through with a six-inch punch as he’s tackling him to knock the ball out. The savviness, the intent, like, that’s hard to coach.”
“But he has those instincts about him and we’ll see it throughout this season,” Sarkisian continued. “His ability in pass coverage, his ability to rush the passer. He’s definitely a very versatile player for us, and we’re definitely lucky to have him.”
Biles intercepted Brad Jackson at the Texas State 40 with 6:08 left in the third quarter. Texas scored three plays later on a 21-yard run by Raleek Brown.
Biles Committed To Texas On Jan. 10 After Three Seasons At Pittsburgh
Biles transferred from Pittsburgh, where he had 101 tackles, 17 tackles for loss, 4.5 sacks, 2 interceptions, and 2 forced fumbles in 10 games last season. Both interceptions went for touchdowns, and he was a second-team All-ACC selection. He committed to Texas on Jan. 10 and was a preseason All-American this summer.
Sarkisian named Biles first among the new faces who showed up Saturday, ahead of Cam Coleman, Hollywood Smothers, and Brown.
“I thought some of the new faces that showed up, I mean, what a punch out by Rasheem Biles to cause a turnover,” Sarkisian said. “Obviously, Cam’s impact on the game, Hollywood’s impact on the game. Raleek Brown scores two touchdowns. And so that’s just to name a few.”
Texas forced three turnovers. Maraad Watson had a sack-fumble that Colin Simmons recovered with 12:04 left in the third quarter.
Sarkisian said Biles and Smothers go against each other every day in practice.
“Hollywood and Rasheem go at it every day,” Sarkisian said. “They gotta compete with each other and at the level they compete at, it’s so high in practice that when the game comes I just feel like there’s a real sense of confidence for them knowing, man, if he’s as good as that guy I go against every day, I’m still going to be okay.”
Texas hosts No. 1 Ohio State on Saturday, Sept. 12, at 6:30 p.m. CT on ABC.
