Rasheem Biles Has 67 Tackles, 3 Picks and 3 Forced Fumbles—LSU Must Find Him
LSU can account for a premier edge rusher with a protection call. A linebacker who can blitz, erase a run, close a throwing lane and steal the football is a different kind of problem. That is the challenge Rasheem Biles brings into Tiger Stadium on Saturday night.
Quick Answer
Texas linebacker Rasheem Biles enters the November 14, 2026 game at LSU with 67 tackles, 10 tackles for loss, four sacks, three interceptions, three forced fumbles and 10 quarterback hurries through nine starts. Those numbers make Biles the player LSU must identify before every snap. His range affects the run game, short throws and protection plan, especially when the Tigers try to keep quarterback Sam Leavitt on schedule.
Who is Rasheem Biles?
Biles is a 6-foot-1, 225-pound junior linebacker from Columbus, Ohio. Texas lists him as a starter in the middle of a defense built to create pressure without sacrificing speed in coverage. He transferred to Texas after two seasons at Pittsburgh, and his 2026 production has turned him into one of the most active defenders in the SEC.
The clearest evidence of his impact came Wednesday when Texas announced Biles as one of 15 semifinalists for the Walter Camp Player of the Year award. That is a national award covering every position, not a linebacker-only honor. The announcement also confirmed that Biles has started all nine games and leads the Longhorns with 67 tackles.
Why do 67 tackles tell only part of the story?
Tackle totals show that Biles consistently reaches the football. The rest of his production shows how many ways he can change a possession. Ten tackles for loss mean he is not merely cleaning up plays downfield. Four sacks and 10 quarterback hurries show that Texas can send him through an interior gap or use his threat to alter LSU’s protection. Three forced fumbles and three interceptions make every late or careless decision expensive.
That combination matters because LSU cannot solve Biles with a single matchup. A running back may need to scan for him in pass protection on one snap, then avoid him as the cutback defender on the next. A tight end may have to occupy him in the run fit before releasing into the flat. Leavitt must decide whether Biles is rushing, spying or dropping underneath a route.
How should LSU identify Biles before the snap?
The first job is location. LSU’s center and quarterback need to find Biles before setting the protection, particularly when Texas presents multiple defenders near the line. If Biles walks into an A-gap, the Tigers must determine whether he is the fourth rusher, an extra blitzer or bait designed to force the line in one direction while pressure comes from somewhere else.
Motion can help. Moving a back, tight end or receiver before the snap may reveal whether Texas is in man coverage and whether Biles is responsible for a specific player or a zone. LSU can also use formation width to make him declare. Spreading the field creates clearer pictures, although it can also leave Leavitt with fewer bodies in protection.
The best answer is not always throwing away from Biles. Sometimes it is making him choose. Run-pass options, play-action and routes crossing behind him can punish an aggressive first step, but only if Leavitt reads the same picture as his receivers and releases the ball on time.
What does Biles mean for Sam Leavitt?
Biles compresses the margin for hesitation. LSU already knows Texas can generate edge pressure, and the Longhorns expect Colin Simmons back for this matchup. If the offensive line widens too aggressively toward Simmons, Biles can attack the space inside. If LSU keeps extra protection in the box, Texas can drop Biles and squeeze the middle of the field.
For Leavitt, the practical rule is simple: avoid giving Biles two chances on the same play. A quarterback who holds the ball allows the linebacker to threaten the rush and then recover into a throwing lane. A late checkdown can become an interception. A scramble without two hands on the ball can become a forced fumble. Decisive reads are LSU’s best defense against a player whose value comes from arriving everywhere.
Why first down and ball security matter most
LSU does not want Biles dictating obvious passing downs. Second-and-long and third-and-long allow Texas to disguise him more aggressively because the offense has fewer believable run answers. Staying ahead of the chains keeps play-action alive and gives LSU a chance to use tempo before Texas can build its preferred pressure package.
Ball security is just as important. Three forced fumbles are not a random footnote. Biles attacks the football when he arrives, and his three interceptions show that he can finish plays in coverage as well. LSU’s backs and receivers must expect contact from angles they do not immediately see. Leavitt must protect the ball when he climbs or escapes the pocket.
What should LSU fans watch Saturday night?
Watch where Biles aligns on the first two LSU possessions. If he is frequently stacked behind the defensive line, Texas may be prioritizing clean pursuit against the run. If he is walking into gaps or hovering near the edge, the Longhorns may be trying to stress LSU’s protection communication. Also watch whether LSU uses early motion, quick throws and play-action to force him to process instead of attack.
The matchup is not about eliminating Biles from the box score. A player this active will make tackles. LSU’s goal is to prevent those tackles from becoming drive-killing losses, sacks or takeaways. If the Tigers can keep him reacting instead of anticipating, the offense has a path to staying balanced.
Rasheem Biles FAQ
How many tackles does Rasheem Biles have in 2026?
Rasheem Biles has 67 tackles through nine starts for Texas in the 2026 season, according to Texas Athletics.
How many takeaways has Rasheem Biles created?
Biles has three interceptions and three forced fumbles in 2026. Those are separate categories, so he has directly produced three picks while also knocking the ball loose three times.
What position does Rasheem Biles play?
Biles plays linebacker for Texas. The Longhorns list the junior at 6-foot-1 and 225 pounds.
When is the LSU–Texas game?
LSU hosts Texas on Saturday, November 14, 2026. Kickoff is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. Central on ABC from Tiger Stadium in Baton Rouge.
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