Steve Sarkisian has the confidence necessary to lean on WR Xavier Worthy, regardless of classification.
Wondering where the Texas offense would be without true freshman wide receiver Xavier Worthy would be easy.
After his historic performance in the Red River Shootout against Oklahoma, he leads the team in receptions (25), receiving yards (531), and receiving touchdowns (6). Only Bijan Robinson has a competing case if there were to be an MVP for the first half of the season.
But Worthy almost did not end up in Austin.
The Fresno, CA native’s recruitment was coming down to Alabama and Michigan. He became familiar with the Crimson Tide’s program thanks to Steve Sarkisian before he accepted the Texas job. However, even with an Iron Bowl weekend visit, Michigan ended up being the choice.
Worthy signed his national letter of intent in December, intending to enroll early and join John Harbaugh’s squad for spring ball. Four months passed and the wide receiver was still not practicing for the Wolverines. Due to “circumstances beyond” Worthy’s control, he asked to be released from his NLI on April 15.
Nine days later, he was committed to Texas and became the second highest-rated recruit in the 2021 class per the 247Sports composite.
“I just wanted to come and build with Sark,” Worthy said. “We had that relationship before I committed to Michigan. I just wanted to come and build with him from the start.”
When you look at the game logs, Worthy has stayed true to his word of building with the head coach. His performances have gradually gotten better throughout the first six games, capped by a nine reception, 261 yards, and two touchdown performance last week.
Explosive plays downfield were the only thing missing but against Oklahoma, there are plenty to choose from. Whether it be the 75-yard touchdown on the opening play or bailing Casey Thompson out on third down, things finally clicked.
“Sark said every week ‘We are gonna hit these big plays, it’s going to come’ and this weekend it just ended up happening and ended up connecting,” Worthy said. “It’s perfect timing.”
All of the success still comes with a couple of bumps in the road. For Worthy, a costly one, where he fumbled on a kickoff — something he called “a mental error.” Oklahoma had just tied the ball game up and with the turnover, easily took the lead from deep in the red zone.
Most freshmen would have to keep their heads low and sulked on the bench. But not Worthy. Sarkisian came up to the receiver and made sure he was good to go. Texas was going to need him on the next drive.
“Sark came up to me first and told me ‘Give me a smile. We’re gonna come back at you and give you a chance to make that up,'” Worthy said.
Bijan Robinson quickly followed, encouraging his travel hotel roommate. He told Worthy to keep his head up and another big play was going to be needed from him.
“He’s a big role model to me and a leader on the team too,” said Worthy. “Him just saying that helped keep my head in the game.”
Sarkisian (and Robinson) backed up his word immediately, drawing up plays for Worthy three times on the next drive, including a game-tying 31-yard score with under two minutes to go. The head coach proved he has all the trust in the world with his freshman receiver.
“[Sarkisian] builds up your confidence,” he said. “When he told me that, I knew he was going to come back to me and just had to make the play when it came to me.”
Despite the loss, experiencing Red River weekend was something special for Worthy. Between his big-time performance, the Cotton Bowl, and playing against Oklahoma, the entire atmosphere was “crazy.”
“I feel like our team is going to be really good in the future,” he said. “We just want to take it week by week and get to the Big 12 championship.”
Getting to AT&T Stadium was always the goal for Sarkisian’s squad. But six more conference games are left on the schedule. Trips to Baylor, Iowa State, and West Virginia are on tap but it all begins with a crucial home game against undefeated and No. 12 Oklahoma State on Saturday.
Worthy will be doing it without one of his fellow receivers, Jordan Whittington. He suffered a clavicle injury in Dallas that will require surgery and keep him out for a disclosed amount of time.
Next man up is the mentality Texas coaches have been pushing. On paper, Marcus Washington is going to take over. He was the one blocking for Worthy on the opening play touchdown.
Anybody could line up next to Worthy and he feels confident the job will still get done.
“All of our receivers are prepared and ready to step up,” the freshman said. “I feel like we are all gonna have a big game.”
Expecting another record-breaking performance against Oklahoma State would lead to disappointment. However, Thompson and the passing game is going to rely on Worthy more than ever — something rarely said about a true freshman wide receiver.
Sarkisian has the confidence necessary to lean on him, regardless of classification.
