Tag: Isaiah Neyor

Xavier Worthy and Isaiah Neyor named to Biletnikoff Award watch list

Texas’ wide receiver duo of Worthy and Neyor has the chance to be special.

Texas wide receiver duo Xavier Worthy and Isaiah Neyor have been named to the 2022 Biletnikoff Award watch list. An honor given to the best pass catcher in college football.

Worthy is entering the new season with tons of expectations after establishing himself as one the nation’s best wide receivers in 2021. The Calif. product had the best freshman season a Longhorn wideout has ever had. He hauled in 62 passes for 981 yards and 12 touchdowns, writing his name in Texas record books.

A major goal for Texas heading into this offseason was finding another talented pass catcher to pair with Worthy. Former Wyoming standout Isaiah Neyor is ready to fill that role.

Neyor is back in his home state of Texas after a breakout season with the Cowboys a year ago. It felt like every time he touched the ball it was an explosive play. Neyor totaled 878 yards and 12 touchdowns on an impressive 19.95 yards per catch clip.

Worthy and Neyor are already being tabbed as one of the best wide receiver duos in the country. They have the opportunity to take the Texas offense to the next level.

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Which transfer players are the safest bets to contribute in 2022

This transfer class seems different than any group of transfers to Texas in recent memory.

Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian was active in improving the team through the transfer portal in 2022. Adding transfer players is not a new practice, but this class seemed different than any group of transfers in recent memory.

First off, Sarkisian brought in a number of proven players. In fact, nearly every player has contributed significantly to their past team.

In past years, Texas fans bought into the transfer hype for more than one player who showed promise on the field. Tarik Black was lauded for his high school upside and early production, but it never translated to the field at Texas.

Heading into the 2022 season, let’s take a look at which players you can expect to contribute immediately on the Forty Acres, on a scale of 1-10.

The most difficult formations for Texas’ opponents to defend in 2022

Football is a chess match, and Steve Sarkisian is starting with more pieces than most of his opponents this year.

The Texas Longhorns will win games by creating matchup problems in 2022. They have built a team to exploit any opponent’s deficiencies.

Football is a chess match, and Steve Sarkisian is starting with more pieces than most of his opponents this year.

Each of his offensive weapons brings varying abilities to the table. Tarique Milton, Brenen Thompson and Jordan Whittington should rack up yards after catch with their elite speed and quickness. Xavier Worthy, Isaiah Neyor and Agiye Hall are dangerous home-run threats as downfield targets.

At tight end, Ja’Tavion Sanders and Jahleel Billingsley have exceptional athleticism and catching ability for their position.

Texas’ four running backs are all difficult to bring down. The group has strength, speed or a combination.

Let’s look at which formations will bring out the best from Texas’ skill positions.

Texas Football: Picking one breakout player at each position

These Longhorns have the potential for monster 2022 seasons.

Steve Sarkisian and the Texas staff have their eyes set on a bounce-back 2022 season.

A rebuilt roster with an influx of talent via the transfer portal and high school ranks has people around the program feeling confident major improvement is coming.

Texas signed the No. 5 recruiting class for the 2022 cycle along with a strong list of exciting transfers, including quarterback Quinn Ewers and wide receiver Isaiah Neyor. The fresh faces on the team hope to establish themselves as premier players in the Big 12 Conference in 2022.

Wide receiver Xavier Worthy and defense back Anthony Cook enjoyed breakout seasons for the Horns in 2021. Texas needs multiple players to step up in a similar way if they want to reach their goal of competing for a Big 12 title this fall.

Here is a look at one breakout candidate for each position group entering the 2022 season. Big seasons from these Longhorns would go a long way towards getting the program headed in the right direction.

WATCH: Experts preview Texas’ 2022 football season

Ja’Tavion Sanders might be a more complete player than many believe.

Bobby Burton and Paul Wadlington of Inside Texas shared their thoughts on the Texas Longhorns upcoming 2022 season in their podcast, On Texas Football.

The two shared interesting takeaways from spring game performances and overall feel for the 2022 roster. Among the takeaways, Wadlington details how Ja’Tavion Sanders might be a more complete player than many believe.

Additionally, Burton and Wadlington discuss where the running back and receiver rooms rank among past Texas teams. They go in-depth discussing the impact that newcomers Isaiah Neyor, Tarique Milton and Agiye Hall could have on the Longhorns 2022 campaign.

They don’t shy away from concerns along the offensive line and defense.

Perhaps the most significant and encouraging takeaway is the emergence of Ja’Tavion Sanders. The second-year tight end could finally showcase his five-star ability in meaningful games this year. Paired with Neyor, the two receivers could take the offense to a different level than we have seen.

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Theo Wease and Marvin Mims ranked as No. 5 WR duo by 247Sports

Sooners WRs Theo Wease and Marvin Mims have been ranked as the No. 5 WR duo for this upcoming season.

The wide receivers that stuck around in Norman could be in for a big season with Dillon Gabriel throwing them the ball. Theo Wease and Marvin Mims are projected to be the fifth most productive WR duo by 247Sports.

After missing the entire 2021 season due to injury, Wease stuck around through the regime change and is ready to start making plays once more. He hasn’t done much in a Sooners uniform yet, but the former 5-star has the talent to make secondaries sweat.

There were reports that Mims was considering entering the transfer portal, but the Sooners’ 2021 receiving yards leader is back as well. While his numbers don’t jump off the page, OU fans remember this catch during the Red River game last year:

Crawford projects the Sooners duo to go for 115 receptions, 1,870 yards, and 20 touchdowns combined. Here’s what 247Sports’ Brad Crawford had to say about Wease and Mims:

This might be a surprising pick to some in the No. (5) spot for best receiving duos (projected) following the exit of former Oklahoma quarterback Caleb Williams to USC. Marvin Mims and Theo Wease decided to stick around and new starter Dillon Gabriel, a transfer from UCF, couldn’t be happier. Mims averaged a Big 12-leading 22 yards per reception last season as the Sooners’ primary deep threat, reaching the end zone five times. Wease is fully-healed from a foot injury last season that kept him on the shelf. His upside is tremendous and this pairing should take the top off of opposing defenses when they come to Norman. – Crawford, 247Sports

Having not one but two guys who can threaten deep will be big for the Sooners this season. For whatever reason, getting the ball downfield seemed to be a challenge for the OU offense in 2021.

Wease, fully healthy, and Mims, more involved, should run wild on the lackluster secondaries of the Big 12 in 2022.

Coming in at No. 3 are the duo that Oklahoma will face in the Red River Showdown, Xavier Worthy and Isaiah Neyor. Oklahoma’s secondary will be tested by the Texas duo with Quinn Ewers throwing the ball.

At No. 2 are USC transfer additions Jordan Addison, formerly of Pitt and former Oklahoma WR Mario Williams.

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Texas Football: Ranking each position group from strongest to weakest

Taking a look at which position units inspire the most confidence on the Texas roster this season.

Texas’ offseason featured a high influx of talent for Steve Sarkisian’s team. The Longhorns will now feature a more potent roster with stronger depth than last season.

The roster improved most at skill positions by adding Isaiah Neyor, Agiye Hall, Jahleel Billingsley, and Tarique Milton.

Linebackers coach Jeff Choate improved defensive depth by adding Diamonte Tucker-Dorsey. Dorsey may compete for and win a starting job at inside linebacker prior to the 2022 season.

Much of the conversation this offseason revolves around what they did not add through the portal. Offensive tackles and edge rushers underwhelmed last season, perhaps due in part to new technique and strength and conditioning routines. With Texas unable to bring in elite edge transfers, they may have to manufacture their pass rush.

Here is how I would rank my confidence in each of the position units.

Xavier Worthy, Isaiah Neyor land on 247Sports’ top WR duos for 2022

247Sports released their top 10 WR duo projections for 2022. Where did Worthy/Neyor land?

Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian completely revamped the wide receiver room this offseason. Continue reading “Xavier Worthy, Isaiah Neyor land on 247Sports’ top WR duos for 2022”

Texas tabbed the Big 12’s best wide receiver room for 2022

Bleacher Report recently projected every conference’s best wide receiver room for the 2022 college football season.

Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian certainly revamped the wide receiver room ahead of the 2022 college football season. Continue reading “Texas tabbed the Big 12’s best wide receiver room for 2022”

Texas Football: Predicting the Longhorns future NFL draft prospects

The 2022 Longhorns have a few potential NFL players.

Despite recent struggles in the NFL Draft, the Texas Longhorns have quite a few players capable of finding a roster spot in the NFL.

At linebacker, DeMarvion Overshown figures to be a player NFL scouts will keep an eye on. A move to the edge could help Overshown play to his strengths as an open field tackler and pass rusher.

On the defensive line, Texas hopes Alfred Collins and T’Vondre Sweat will have breakout seasons worthy of NFL recognition. The two defensive tackles have solid tools for defensive line coach Bo Davis to utilize this season.

D’Shawn Jamison has room to grow at corner, but his knack for the end zone as a kick returner should catch scouts’ eyes.

Those are a just handful of Texas players that could find roster spots in the NFL.

The offensive side is more promising. Here are five players who might be drafted over the next two seasons.