Texas Longhorns Wide Receivers: Finding No. 4, Then Five
Texas has the best starting wide receivers in the league. Xavier Worthy is a star who rewrote the Longhorn freshman receiving records, transfer Isaiah Neyor has already exceeded high offseason expectations and has a proven track record at a lower level of FBS play and, if healthy, Jordan Whittington will be a very good chain-moving complement to the two aforementioned. That trio will guarantee defensive respect, but what about upside and reliability beyond them?
At least two other wide receivers need to step up enough to provide adequate depth and spell the starters in-game. Texas also needs someone to emerge to exploit the potentially ripe opportunities at #4 receiver while also finding an insurance policy for Whittington in the slot.
Why would this be a big deal? Seems peripheral to write about given Texas isn’t sure who their left tackle is yet.
Because it’s the offseason and I want to discuss it. Because it’s not that peripheral if Texas wants to go 10-2 and win the Big 12. Because Texas has the potential to be one of the most formation diverse Longhorn squads in decades. Because when Texas spreads the field with four wide and Bijan Robinson in the backfield, any defense that can’t get to the QB immediately should be in trouble. Worthy demands double coverage, Neyor and Whittington are legit threats and Robinson out of the backfield on a linebacker means we should get Texas Fight ready to play. The #4 receiver is going to be covered by the worst man defender in the secondary or he will find himself negotiating zone coverages slanted towards others. In Man Scenario, Texas wants a #4 who can abuse that exposed defender. In Zone Scenario, they need a fourth option who can understand the coverage, run to open space, and catch the ball for a new set of downs. Ideally, Zone Buster and Man Buster would be the same receiver, but he doesn’t have to be.
As for Whittington insurance, can the athlete play in the slot? Or, conversely, if Worthy moves to the slot, can they present a serious threat elsewhere?
Enter the five most intriguing candidates: Troy Omeire, Tarique Milton, Agiye Hall, Brenen Thompson and…wait for it…Jahleel Billingsley. The five most likely athletes to provide what Texas needs behind Worthy-Neyor-Whittington.
Troy Omeire is coming off two knee injuries that derailed both his freshman and ensuing redshirt season before they started. Offseason word about his speed recovering is encouraging and his big body and strong hands remain unchanged. If he’s fully rehabbed, confident in his knee, and can move laterally out of his breaks, Omeire could pull a Shipley. He’s unlikely to be slot insurance unless his knee is really good, but the idea of Neyor and a healthy Omeire lining up outside is pretty scary for Big 12 corners.
Tarique Milton is a (Cyclone) program guy with a ton of experience. A savvy veteran potential #4, he’s a fit for the “make the smart read, run to easy space, make the catch” scenario posited above. His best football was played as a freshman and sophomore and injuries have plagued him and degraded his athleticism over the years. Is it back? Will a lighter load help keep him preserved? There’s no way to know until Fall Camp begins in earnest. Milton was brought here specifically as slot insurance.
Agiye Hall is a X factor. Any season prediction about him is in the realm of possibility. Dealing with the fat part of the bell curve, If the Alabama transfer is dialed in mentally, has grown up, and will accept that he has to prove himself to earn his snaps, this is the athlete you want matched up on the other team’s worst man pass defender in four wide. To the tune of potentially averaging 20 yards a catch and scoring a touchdown on every 3 or 4 receptions. I don’t see him as a slot replacement.
Brenen Thompson is small, hasn’t developed yet physically, and is inexperienced. May not matter. Because as the potential #4 receiver, his job is to apply his 10.22 100 meter speed on a defender who runs a 4.6+ 40 and see what happens. Thompson can fly and the #4 role shields him from physical press coverage that might exploit his lack of strength. He also has real potential in the screen game, particularly when in trips with effective and willing blockers like Neyor and Whittington. Worthy by himself on the other side guarantees there won’t be an overload. Adds interesting potential on reverses and jet sweeps.
Jahleel Billingsley plays tight end! What’s he doing here? And this guy had the gall to write a Longhorn preview book? Billingsley is here because if you want to narrowly classify a 219 pound athlete whose best use is split out without a hand on the ground, cool. He’s basically the same size as Neyor and Omeire. Billingsley has played a lot of football and could actually be an intriguing big body de facto slot replacement. Not doing quick slot things. Doing big body shielding a smaller defender things. Texas would prefer a true wide receiver breaking out, but coaches don’t mind a 6-4 guy with good hands moving the chains.
Texas fans should be excited about the potential of the starting wide outs, but there’s some fascinating boom/bust potential behind them. There may be more season upside attached to their development than one may think.
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