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Xavier Worthy hasn't let up

Joe Cookby: Joe Cook08/09/22josephcook89
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Xavier Worthy (Will Gallagher/Inside Texas)

Texas wide receiver Xavier Worthy re-wrote several pages in the Longhorn record books last year. No freshman in school history caught as many passes, touchdowns, or recorded as many receiving yards as Worthy did in year one on the Forty Acres.

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In the spring, Worthy cited trust in Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian and his offense as the reason why he chose Texas after his release from a National Letter of Intent to Michigan. That trust boosted Worthy to a 62-catch, 981-yard, 12-touchdown season in which he started all 12 games as a true freshman.

After already achieving plenty in year one, has there been any drop-off in the effort from the Longhorns’ freshman All-American? Not at all, Sarkisian said Monday.

“This guy works like he’s got something to prove every day,” Sarkisian said. “For example, we track our Catapult numbers from how much yardage a guy runs, high velocity yardage, explosive movements, all those things, top-end speed. We’ve got I think 18 receivers in camp right now. He was at the top of every one of them.”

Worthy was the main target for either Casey Thompson or Hudson Card during the 2021 season. After a pedestrian first couple of games, Worthy burst onto the regional scene with a strong showing versus Texas Tech then became a national name with his 267-yard performance against Oklahoma.

His level of play stayed close to elite all season. He finished 2021 with an overall offensive grade of 79.2 according to PFF College, and had a receiving grade above 95 for all of his targets on routes 10 yards or further down the field. Perhaps most importantly, he was charged with only three drops on 103 targets.

Even with portal additions like Isaiah Neyor and the return to health from Jordan Whittington, Worthy likely will remain a leading receiver for Card or transfer quarterback Quinn Ewers. With that group of wideouts, Texas could claim to have one of the top receiving corps in the Big 12, and possibly the nation. However, Worthy and others are doing everything in their power during camp to earn that title rather than hope it comes their way.

“I think that (Worthy) and Jordan Whittington really set the tone in that receiver room for what it takes from a work-ethic standpoint not only physically, but mentally,” Sarkisian said. “They both sit in the front row. They both take notes at every installation, and for them, this installation is the sixth time around. They’ve got a really good understanding of our offense.”

Both players have a lot to prove in 2022. Whittington has to prove he can stay healthy. For Worthy, he has to prove he was not a one-year wonder, especially with pro scouts keeping an eye on him for the 2024 NFL draft.

The draft process is still a ways away for Worthy. The process in front of him is 2022 Texas Longhorns preseason training camp. Just as he attacked opposing defenses in 2021, Worthy is attacking each day of the current process with an effort that has his head coach beaming.

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