Steve Sarkisian 'super pumped' with Texas WR corps, identifies 'budding star' in room

Steve Sarkisian thinks this year’s Texas receiving corps has a chance to be better than what many experts are predicting. It’s a group that certainly enters the season with some questions after losing the top three pass catchers from a year ago.

But based on what he’s seen through the spring and summer workouts, the Longhorns coach is excited with the young group he has. In particular, he identified sophomore Ryan Wingo as a player who is a “budding star” in the room.

“I would say the frontline three guys I’m super pumped about,” Sarkisian said on Always College Football with Greg McElroy. “I kind of like that people aren’t talking about our receiver corps like they have in the past. This year’s group is kind of flying under the radar.

“I think Ryan Wingo’s a budding star. He didn’t get the opportunities, maybe, that a couple of the other freshmen around the country got last year. But when he got his opps, man, he made some big-time plays for us in some big games. He’s big, he’s physical, he’s fast. So what is he gonna provide for Arch (Manning)? I think they’ve got great rapport.”

Wingo played every game for Texas last year as a true freshman. He finished the season with fourth on the team in receiving with 472 yards and two touchdowns on 29 receptions.

It seemed that Sarkisian is expecting an even bigger leap forward for the former four-star now that he’ll have more targets thrown his way. However, the coach also believes that the other two starting receivers will be equally important for keeping the passing game humming in Manning’s first season as starting quarterback.

DeAndre Moore is the most experience of the bunch and finished last season with 456 yards and seven touchdowns. Stanford transfer Emmett Mosely also enters the mix looking to build upon his impressive freshman year with the Cardinal.

“DeAndre Moore was a really good player for us last year and was a really big player for us in critical moments in big games,” Sarkisian said. “He had a huge touchdown in the SEC Championship Game. So in the slot, what he’s able to do. Then the addition of Emmett Mosely from Stanford. Here’s a guy who caught 50 balls as a true freshman in nine games at Stanford last year.

“So those three guys are all relatively young. Wingo and Emmett Mosely are both second-year players. DeAndre’s gonna be a third-year player. So we like what they bring.”

Steve Sarkisian also had high praise for redshirt freshman Parker Livingstone, who played he four games in 2024 but did not record any stats. The coach lauded his versatility, noting that he could fill in for all three positions as a reserve.

“I think Parker Livingstone had a great spring practice for us,” he said. “Is a guy that can play all three spots for us. Then we signed a heck of a receiver class out of high school. Kaliq Lockett, Jaime Ffrench, and Daylan McCutcheon. So I think the combination of all those guys in that room and what they can do, I feel great about that room. Probably better than most people do on the outside. That’s the beauty of being in the building every day with these guys and the rapport they have with Arch. So that’s a good room for us. …That room is poised for a really big season.”

Those comments from Steve Sarkisian certainly have to make Texas fans excited heading into 2025. They can get their first look at the passing game when the Longhorns kick off the season against defending national champion Ohio State on Aug. 30.