How Texas plans to replace star WR Xavier Worthy

A five-star recruit in the 2023 recruiting class and a portal addition are the front-runners to replace one of the greatest wide receivers in program history.

Texas’s Austin Texas Longhorns wide receiver Xavier Worthy announced less than a day after the Sugar Bowl defeat to the Washington Huskies that he will forgo his final year of college eligibility in order to enter the 2024 NFL Draft. Worthy, a native of Fresno, has been on this path since he had an incredible rookie campaign on the Forty Acres.

The Longhorns will be losing one of the greatest wide receivers in program history with Worthy’s departure. Despite playing through injuries to his hand in 2022, his ankle in 2023, and his inconsistent quarterback play as a freshman, Worthy ranks sixth in receptions (197), fourth in receiving yards (2,755), third in touchdown receptions (26), and third in consecutive games with a reception (39).

Worthy had 1,014 receiving yards this season, of which 571 came after the catch, or an average of 7.6 yards after the catch per reception, despite his average depth of target being 10.3 yards, split 60/40 between lining up out wide and in the slot.

With a 74-yard touchdown return against BYU, another touchdown called back in the victory over Iowa State due to a dubious ruling, and a season average of 16.9 yards per return—second in school history—Worthy had a breakout season as a punt returner this year.

Thus, in addition to having to replace its most explosive danger after the catch and a competent depth chart, Texas’ special teams coordinator Jeff Banks also needs to develop a new punt returner.

The Longhorns intend to replace Worthy in the following manner.Transfer to Houston Golden Matthew
Upon Golden’s departure from Houston in December, Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian immediately saw him as the clear top target for the wide receivers coach post in the NCAA transfer portal. Golden was one of the major recruiting misses early in Sarkisian’s career. As it turned out, Golden visited Forty Acres and made his commitment to the Longhorns just a few days after he had formally entered the portal.

Upon meeting and conversing with Golden and Clemson transfer safety Andrew Mukuba on Early Signing Day in December, Sarkisian stated, “They’re made of the right stuff and so they fit in pretty seamlessly for us and so that’s the key if we’re gonna go to the portal.”

Regarding portal transfers, Sarkisian poses three queries. Do they possess the necessary skills to improve us? Could they meet a demand? Would their way of thinking fit into our culture?

“There’s no doubt those two guys do that.”

Sarkisian had two goals in mind for the wide receiver position when the Longhorns assessed players through the portal.