Steve Sarkisian evaluates play of Texas wide receivers

Texas was a two-man tandem at wide receiver, for the most part, this season, rocking with Xavier Worthy and Jordan Whittington. The room has been thin, from a top-level talent perspective, ever since Steve Sarkisian took over two years ago. Injuries have not helped but this year, it’s been slim pickings for quarterback Quinn Ewers.

Sarkisian was asked about his wide receiver room on Monday and began by praising Worthy and Whittington. He called the former of the two the best wide receiver in the Big 12, citing the amount of touchdown passes after his sophomore season.

“In my opinion, we arguably have the best receiver in our conference,” Sarkisian said. “I think so. Xavier led the conference in touchdown receptions again for the second year in a row. He’s caught 21 touchdown catches, had another nine this year. To me, we’ve got an elite player there.”

As Sarkisian mentioned, Worthy had nine receiving touchdowns and led the team. He finished the year with 676 yards on 53 receptions.

Looking at Whittington, the huge storyline throughout his time on the 40 Acres has been his health. He was able to play in all 12 games this year and Sarkisian called it a “positive.”

“I thought Jordan had a really good year,” said Sarkisian. “Stayed healthy — as healthy as he could for the first time of his career, which I thought was a positive.”

Whittington caught 45 passes on the year, having 608 yards and a touchdown. He was a reliable target as usual for Texas and was even more valuable on the edge when blocking for other skill position players.

Steve Sarkisian looking to make wide receiver room ‘stronger’

Sarkisian now has the offseason to retool the room, as Whittington is on his way out. He admitted a solid third guy is needed heading into the year so players such as Worthy are not being double-covered.

“We need the depth of that room to be stronger,” Sarkisian said. “That third wideout has got to come on. We got to make sure that we’re versatile enough. Threatening people to where one guy is not getting doubled, one guy is not getting all these intricate coverages and we’re not hurting people somewhere else.”

Isaiah Neyor was brought in from the transfer portal last offseason but wound up tearing his ACL. He is a candidate to come back for another year. Sarkisian also has two receivers committed in their 2023 class. The transfer portal will likely be hit for a more experienced talent to add alongside Worthy.