Speedy depth back with big-play upside for Texas State
Taji Atkins enters the 2026 season as a redshirt sophomore RB for Texas State after a 2024 Rice season that was cut short by injury but still showed juice: 158 rushing yards on 24 carries, a 6.6 yards-per-carry clip, and two touchdowns in 2024. He’s a compact, bursty back with proven open-field explosiveness from high school and enough versatility to threaten defenses if his health holds. The fit? Interesting depth piece with upside — not yet a finished product, but the kind of low-center-of-gravity runner who can sneak into a bigger role fast.
