Life at the top is precarious for the top 5 Texas wide receivers, suddenly the deepest and most talented position group on the roster. It’s a far cry from 2022 when the Longhorns rarely showed the ability to stretch defenses. Head Coach Steve Sarkisian now has a receivers room booming with proven talent. Under his watch, the Longhorns have developed their young players and made judicious use of the transfer portal. Texas is about to embark on its final year in the Big 12, and the Longhorns are the conference favorite.
The core of last year’s group returns with a year of valuable experience. There were injuries at that position that gave younger players time on the field. The Longhorns have made it through Fall camp so far with a full roster of healthy receivers. For the top 5 Texas wide receivers, maintaining their spot on the depth chart might be their biggest competition with so much talent in the room.
5. Johntay Cook and DeAndre Moore, Freshmen – Tie
Freshmen Johntay Cook and DeAndre Moore hit the ground running as soon as they arrived on campus. Both early enrollees showed how well they could play in the Spring game. Fall camp was even better for the pair of freshmen. They’ve been getting rave reviews from coaches and fellow teammates. They should be in the two-deep depth chart every weekend.
Cook was one of the top wideouts in the nation last year while playing at DeSoto High School in Texas. He has a background in track and field and it shows, as opposing defenses are going to find out this season. His 79-yard touchdown catch in the Spring game was the highlight of the day.
Moore was a highly rated wideout from California who chose Texas over a long list of other schools. He played well in the Spring game with five catches for 44 yards. Like Cook, Moore is getting the benefit of practicing every day against a deep and talented Texas defensive secondary. The Longhorns will be counting on their two youngest wideouts to deliver this season.
4. Isaiah Neyor, Senior
Texas fans are hoping to see vintage Isaiah Neyor. He burst onto the scene in Wyoming in 2021 and was named second-team All-Mountain West Conference. Then he transferred to Texas and missed all last season with an injury.
The Longhorns have brought Neyor along slowly. He’s healthy again and ready to pick up where he left off in 2021 when he had 44 receptions for 878 yards and 12 touchdowns for Wyoming. He’s one of the tallest wideouts on the roster and provides a big target for Texas quarterback Quinn Ewers. Neyor’s return to action hasn’t gone unnoticed, as he was named to the preseason watch list for the Senior Bowl.
3. Jordan Whittington, Senior
Jordan Whittington has been on the field since his freshman year in 2019. Last year he was honorable mention All-Big 12 in a poll of league coaches after grabbing 50 passes for 652 yards and a touchdown. There’s more to the fifth-year wideout than statistics. He’s a genuine team leader on and off the field.
The only red flag on Whittington is his history of injuries. When healthy, he’s a spark plug for the Texas offense, like when he had a season-high seven catches for 64 yards last year against Alabama. He brings a ton of experience to the wide receiver room. He will be putting up numbers as long as he’s on the field.
2. AD Mitchell, Junior
AD Mitchell appears to have no trouble adjusting to life away from two-time National Champion Georgia. He has been impressive since arriving in Texas in the Spring, and why wouldn’t he be? Sarkisian nabbed Mitchell in the transfer portal, and the acquisition looks like it’s about to pay off for the Longhorns.
Mitchell started in 15 of the 21 games he played in with Georgia. He’s used to facing major competition for playing time and fits in well at Texas, where the situation is similar. “We have a very talented room,” he said of the Longhorns’ wideouts. “We all compete to make each other better. It’s not just one guy or two guys.”
1. Xavier Worthy, Junior
There’s a reason why Xavier Worthy is on the watch list for every individual award under the sun. He’s the difference maker. Word coming out of the Longhorns Fall camp is that he is, at times, unguardable. The slithery junior will draw the attention of defensive coordinators every weekend.
Worthy has 21 career touchdowns in 25 starts. He has hauled in numerous awards every year he’s been a Longhorn. Seated with Mitchell at a recent press conference, Worthy repeated his teammate’s opinion of the Texas wideouts as a group. “We strive to be the best in the room. We all compete against each other every day.”
