Social media reacts to Texas’ newest WR coach hire Chris Jackson

If Chris Jackson develops Worthy, Neyor and Mitchell, recruiting could take care of itself.

Texas has hired a new wide receiver coach. After going big game hunting, Steve Sarkisian poached an NFL receivers coach, Chris Jackson.

Last week, Jackson coached Christian Kirk and company in the divisional round of the NFL playoffs. Now, the former Jacksonville Jaguars position coach is a member of the Texas Longhorns’ staff.

As you can imagine, some have found ways to nitpick the hire. The majority of criticism revolves around Jackson’s lack of experience as a proven recruiter. It’s too early to grade the hire, but concerns about his ability to recruit are premature.

At his disposal, Jackson has four receivers with strong potential for NFL futures. Xavier Worthy is the most proven of the group. Worthy is all but guaranteed to be drafted in the first three rounds of the NFL Draft with a strong season this year.

Isaiah Neyor and AD Mitchell each project to become NFL players with which Texas can take pride. Jordan Whittington also has the ability to make an NFL roster.

Here’s a look at how Twitter took the news of Jackson’s hire.

A look at Texas’ wide receiver room following the addition of AD Mitchell

AD Mitchell makes Texas’ wide receiver group one of the best in the nation.

Texas added a key piece to its 2023 roster on Friday with the commitment of Georgia wide receiver AD Mitchell.

The standout pass catcher wasted no time in making a decision after entering the transfer portal on Wednesday. Mitchell took a visit to Texas on Thursday and announced his signing with the Longhorns on Friday night.

Mitchell has a knack for coming up in big moments. He caught a touchdown in all four of Georgia’s playoff games over the past two seasons. Mitchell hopes to make more clutch plays in the burnt orange and white this fall.

He brings physicality and a much-needed vertical threat to the Texas offense. Texas quarterback Quinn Ewers will have one of the more talented wide receiver corps in the nation to work with this season with Xavier Worthy, Jordan Whittington and Mitchell leading the charge.

Here is a complete look at Texas wide receiver room following the addition of AD Mitchell.

Georgia transfer wide receiver AD Mitchell commits to Texas

The addition of AD Mitchell means Texas has three No. 1 caliber receivers.

It’s time to make room in the trophy case. The addition of Georgia transfer wide receiver Adonai Mitchell means Texas is a Big 12 championship contender.

The Longhorns made Mitchell’s inclusion for the 2023 roster official as of Friday evening as he signed to join the team. In making the move Texas takes away the Georgia Bulldogs’ No. 1 receiver.

As it stands, Steve Sarkisian will now have three No. 1 caliber receivers including Xavier Worthy and Isaiah Neyor. In addition, the team has an elite No. 2 caliber option in Jordan Whittington and the Big 12’s best tight end, Ja’Tavion Sanders.

The move says a couple things for Texas. First, the team is intent on team building regardless of how good it is presently. Secondly, it gives credence to the notion that Sarkisian and company will spend plenty of time passing the ball.

The biggest takeaway is, Texas is all but injury proof at the position. Now Quinn Ewers can focus on simply getting the ball to the open man rather than forcing it only to his top target.

The Longhorns got better today. You can expect Texas to run empty formation with the five receivers listed above. Mitchell is a significant addition and should make an impact right away.

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Texas Football: Transfer WR AD Mitchell visited Austin on Thursday

Adonai Mitchell would free up Xavier Worthy, Isaiah Neyor and Jordan Whittington to be themselves in the offense.

AD Mitchell took in what the Forty Acres has to offer on Thursday. This comes just one day after the Georgia transfer wide receiver entered the portal.

It’s unclear whether or not he’s made up his mind, but Texas is clearly at the forefront given his actions so far.

Mitchell was set to become Georgia’s No. 1 receiver after capping a strong freshman season with a clutch touchdown in the national championship game against Alabama. A high ankle injury had other plans.

Despite the injury, you can expect the alpha receiver to be a matchup problem Texas didn’t have outside of Xavier Worthy and Jordan Whittington at receiver. Mitchell is a route running technician in the red zone and a home run threat downfield.

Adding the dynamic pass catcher would do a number of things for Texas. Perhaps the biggest improvement Mitchell would bring is allowing himself and other receivers on the roster to play to their strengths.

Xavier Worthy and Quinn Ewers simply weren’t on the same page on deep passes in 2022. Mitchell and Isaiah Neyor would figure to be the better deep ball options for Ewers, while Worthy would feast on passes fifteen to twenty-five yards downfield.

Texas will look to close on the game-changing recruitment.

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What to make of Texas’ 27-20 loss to Washington

Quinn Ewers completed 31 of 47 attempts for 369 yards.

The Texas Longhorns (8-5) fell to the Washington Huskies (11-2) in frustrating fashion, 27-20.

From early on in the game, the Texas offense looked out of sync. Quinn Ewers missed some passes early but greatly improved through the air. His struggles came forcing the ball to Xavier Worthy.

Worthy had a rough night on the field. He was productive and made plays but was not the type of performer that Texas fans hoped he would be on the night.

The Texas defense gave a strong first half performance, but struggled to get stops in the second half.

All in all, it was a forgettable night for the team. Here’s a look at what to take away from the game before punting it from memory.

Oklahoma Sooners vs. Texas Longhorns: Stream, injury report, broadcast info for week 6

Trying to figure out where to find the Sooners game on Saturday? Here’s how to watch, stream or listen to Oklahoma vs. Texas in the Red River Showdown.

Oklahoma will face off with Texas on Saturday, and if you’re wondering how you can watch the action live, you’ve come to the right place.

It all comes down to this. The Red River Showdown provides an opportunity for the Oklahoma Sooners to right a few wrongs from the last couple of weeks against their arch-rivals, the Texas Longhorns.

When the two sides meet in the Cotton Bowl on Saturday, the records and the record books get thrown out the window. All that matters is what happens between the lines.

The biggest storyline facing the two teams is the health of their quarterbacks. Quinn Ewers is expected to make his return for Texas, while Dillon Gabriel is not expected to play this week after suffering a concussion in last week’s loss to TCU.

Regardless of who plays quarterback for the Sooners, the Oklahoma defense has to be better than it has been in recent weeks. Texas poses several difficult matchups with Bijan Robinson, Xavier Worthy, and Ja’Tavion Sanders. If Oklahoma can limit some big plays and force Texas to drive the field, that will give them a better chance to make stops. And that’s what this game will come down for the Sooners. Making stops on defense. If they can’t do that, it’ll be difficult for the offense to keep up.

Here’s when you should tune in to see the game:

  • Date: Oct 8, 2022
  • Time: 11:00 a.m. CT
  • TV Channel: ABC
  • Live Stream: fuboTV (watch here)
  • Listen: Sreaming on the Varsity App

Oklahoma vs. Texas injury report:

Oklahoma

[autotag]T.D. Roof[/autotag], LB: Elbow (out for season).

[autotag]Shane Whitter[/autotag], LB: Shoulder (out for season).

[autotag]Dillon Gabriel[/autotag], QB: Concussion (questionable).

[autotag]Marcus Major[/autotag], RB: Ankle (questionable)

[autotag]Billy Bowman[/autotag], S: Lower Body Injury (questionable).

Texas

Quinn Ewers, QB: Shoulder (probable).

[autotag]Isaiah Neyor[/autotag], WR: Knee (out for season).

[autotag]Junior Angilau[/autotag], OL: Knee (out for season).

Players to watch:

Oklahoma

[autotag]Marvin Mims[/autotag] WR: 22 receptions for 438 yards, and 3 touchdowns.

[autotag]Eric Gray[/autotag], RB: 66 carries for 460 yards, 3 touchdowns at 7 yards per carry.

[autotag]Jovantae Barnes[/autotag], RB: 44 carries, 223 yards, 2 touchdowns, 5.1 yards per carry.

[autotag]Marcus Major[/autotag], RB: 33 carries, 164 yards, 4 touchdowns, 5 yards per carry.

[autotag]Danny Stutsman[/autotag], LB: 42 total tackles, 2 tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks.

[autotag]David Ugwoegbu[/autotag], LB: 44 total tackles, 4.5 tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks.

[autotag]Billy Bowman[/autotag], DB: 34 total tackles, 4 pass break ups, 2 fumble recoveries, 1 forced fumble.

[autotag]Reggie Grimes[/autotag], DE: 10 total tackles, 6 tackles for loss, 4 sacks, 1 forced fumble.

Texas

[autotag]Quinn Ewers[/autotag], QB: 69.4% for 359 yards, 2 touchdowns and 1 interception.

[autotag]Bijan Robinson[/autotag], RB: 88 carries for 515 yards, 8 touchdowns at 5.9 yards per carry. 18 receptions for 188 yards, 1 touchdown.

[autotag]Xavier Worthy[/autotag], WR: 21 receptions for 231 yards, and 3 touchdowns.

[autotag]Jordan Whittington[/autotag], WR: 21 receptions for 257 yards, and 0 touchdowns.

[autotag]Ja’Tavion Sanders[/autotag], TE: 20 receptions for 212 yards, and 3 touchdowns.

[autotag]Javion Ford[/autotag], LB: 51 total tackles, 4.5 tackles for loss, 1 sack, 2 forced fumbles.

[autotag]Demarvion Overshown[/autotag], LB: 38 total tackles, 4 tackles for loss, 1 sack.

[autotag]Anthony Cook[/autotag], S: 34 total tackles, 2 tackles for loss, 2 pass breakups.

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Steve Sarkisian provides an injury update following Saturday’s scrimmage

Steve Sarkisian provided some much-needed good news about the health of his team during his Monday press conference. 

Texas has been hit by the injury bug a couple of times during fall camp. Continue reading “Steve Sarkisian provides an injury update following Saturday’s scrimmage”

Is Jordan Whittington the most underestimated Texas football player?

It’s time to give Jordan Whittington his respect.

Texas wide receiver Isaiah Neyor went down with a knee injury last week. Lost in that news is the Longhorns have a very good alternative that could play on the outside.

Jordan Whittington is not receiving much credit as a downfield threat, but his history tells us he can stretch defenses.

Last year, Whittington made an acrobatic catch that helped Texas beat TCU. The year before he won a 50-50 ball on the sideline against UTEP for an impressive catch.

Despite popular opinion, the talented redshirt junior has shown he can posterize defenses downfield.

Whittington has the size, speed, strength and physicality to soften the loss of Neyor. While boundary receiver is not Whittington’s best position, Steve Sarkisian believes he is capable of moving around to accommodate the offense.

Despite his injury history, the Cuero High School product has gotten better, healthier and more productive in every consequent season. He could be in for a big year this year.

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Texas Football: Is offseason adversity a teaching opportunity?

Texas can build resilience with offseason adversity.

One offseason ago, Texas brought in transfer wide receiver Xavier Worthy. Much of the attention for the move went to what Texas gained and not what the team he transferred from lost.

The team he transferred from was Michigan, who had just come off a 2-4 “Covid Season” in 2020. The loss of Worthy only added to the angst in Ann Arbor, as the Wolverines started unranked in the preseason AP poll.

Michigan overcame adversity and made their first ever College Football Playoff.

I am not suggesting Texas is about to make a playoff run, but the precedent for a bounce back season after comparable disappointment is there.

Presently, Texas sits outside the preseason Top 25. For the first time since immediately after the Maryland loss in 2018, there is a case that Texas is being underestimated nationally. It’s an opportunity for the Longhorns to work outside the spotlight, without the hype.

Injuries to Isaiah Neyor and Junior Angilau have potential to unite the team around winning for their injured teammates.

Texas already had adversity built into their early schedule. The Alabama game looms large for Texas with a national audience figuring to watch. We will see if Texas uses that adversity to build resilience this season.

Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian adresses Agiye Hall’s recent suspension

“When the time is right, we’ll have him back on our team.”

Texas wide receiver Agiye Hall was suspended from the Texas football program after he was arrested by university police last Thursday.

Hall has been charged with a Class B misdemeanor of criminal mischief equal to or greater than $100 but less than $750. Hall’s arrest was a result of illegally removing a parking boot from his vehicle.

Steve Sarkisian was asked about Hall’s suspension in his postpractice press conference on Monday.

“We’re working with Agiye, we’re working with his family to get him in a situation where he can be a really functional part of this team and the goal for him, the goal for us, is to play great football at the University of Texas, graduating from the University of Texas, and be a great teammate and walk out of here an even better person than he was when he arrived. So we’re putting all the pieces in place to help him do that. When the time is right, we’ll have him back on our team.”

The coaching staff continuing to work toward getting Hall back is good news for the Longhorns. Texas’ wide receiver room took a major hit when Isaiah Neyor tore his ACL in practice over the weekend.

Hall is an exceptional talent who figures to be in the mix for playing time once his off the field issues are settled.

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