Tag: Isaiah Neyor

Texas WR Isaiah Neyor is one of Bleacher Report’s spring standouts

Bleacher Report listed 12 players that have been turning heads midway through spring practices.

Texas had major issues on both sides of the ball in 2021, but one of the biggest was the fact they didn’t have a consistent wide receiver option outside of freshman star Xavier Worthy.

Jordan Whittington looked like he could be the perfect counterpart to Worthy, but for the third straight year he was bit by the injury bug and missed significant time.

There were also hopes that Troy Omeire would return from knee surgery and showcase his huge catch radius we had seen in fall camp the year prior, but unfortunately suffered another season-ending injury before the season began. This left players like Marcus Washington, Kelvontay Dixon, and Joshua Moore to fill in.

While they all had flashes and showed potential at times, it was evident that the Longhorns needed to add a more consistent receiver that could take some of the attention off Worthy and also be a playmaker in his own right.

They added just that in Wyoming transfer Isaiah Neyor this offseason, as they were able to flip him from Tennessee shortly after his visit to Austin. The 6-foot-3 freak athlete has the ability to out jump and out run his opponents and has been shining during Texas’ spring practices thus far.

Neyor was mentioned on Bleacher Report’s list of 12 players that are turning heads during spring practice.

A season ago, Neyor was making plays all the way up in Laramie for the Cowboys as a second-year freshman following the COVID-19 season. He pulled down 44 passes for 878 yards and scored 12 touchdowns.

When he hit the transfer portal this spring, he committed to Tennessee but went ahead and visited Texas. Then, he flipped to the Longhorns. They’re thrilled.

“I really like Isaiah Neyor,” Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian told the Dallas Morning News‘ Chuck Carlton. “He’s probably got a little more speed than I gave him credit for when we got him. He’s a competitive guy. He’s a great learner. He’s dedicated to his craft is and what he’s doing. So, on that front, very impressed with him.”

With his long strides, big catch radius and explosive athleticism, Neyor has all the tangibles to be a star. He’s showing that quickly in his new home.

The initial hopes were that Neyor could serve as Worthy’s “Robin” but it is seeming more and more like Texas may have two Batman’s instead. This is a great problem to have, as the Longhorns will be starting a inexperienced quarterback in Hudson Card or Quinn Ewers, so the more weapons for them the better.

Positive notes from Texas’ spring practice on Saturday

Some players are helping themselves get ahead during spring practices.

The Longhorns are grinding this offseason with the mindset that they need to take that next step on the field come fall when the season begins.

After an embarrassing 5-7 record in his first season as the head coach of Texas, Steve Sarkisian has his back against the wall as another down season with this very much improved roster would be catastrophic for the Longhorns.

On the bright side, there is a sense around the program that some of the players from Tom Herman’s team weren’t all the way bought into the culture, and the players the new coaching staff brought in seem to have the right attitudes.

Now the only question is whether the new players along with the returners can lead to major improvements, and we are starting to see some of these questions addressed during spring practices.

247Sports’ Hudson Standish (exclusive content) was able to chat with a few sources in attendance of Texas’ most recent scrimmage on Saturday. Let’s dissect a few of the positive notes from practice.

An updated look at Texas’ WR depth chart

Steve Sarkisian has concerns about the depth at wide receiver.

Texas’ wide receiver room has the potential to be one of the best position groups on the roster in 2022.

Xavier Worthy is back for year No. 2 after establishing himself as one of the nation’s best pass-catchers in 2021. Worthy snagged 63 passes for 981 yards and 12 touchdowns as a freshman.

Finding another playmaker behind Worthy at wide receiver was a point of emphasis for the Texas staff this offseason. The Longhorns landed Wyoming transfer Isaiah Neyor via the portal. Neyor is known for the explosive play, averaging nearly 20 yards per catch with the Cowboys in 2021.

Jordan Whittington’s health may end up being the biggest X-factor for Texas’ wideouts this season. Whittington was having a career season before suffering a broken collarbone against Oklahoma. The Horns offense sputtered during Whittington’s absence last season.

Despite adding Neyor and getting other key players back, Steve Sarkisian is still concerned about the depth on the offensive side of the ball.

The majority of our mid years were on the defensive side of the ball. So I’m monitoring our offense as we go. We don’t have a great deal of depth at wide out. We don’t have a great deal of depth on the offensive line obviously right now, and then really at quarterback and not having Maalik. So that part we’ve just got to monitor now as we go and making sure we’re not just wearing these guys out.

Here is a look at where the Texas wide receiver depth chart stands this spring.

Three Longhorns mentioned on CFN’s All-Transfer Portal Team

Texas is expecting big things from these transfers this season.

At the end of the 2021 season, Steve Sarkisian essentially vowed to add over 30 new scholarship players in order to help turn Texas around after an disappointing 5-7 record.

The Longhorns were able to add a strong recruiting class that ranked No. 5 in the nation, and were also able to bring in a top-10 transfer portal class. A lot of these new faces are expected to push for a starting spot right away, or at the very minus contribute as a rotational player.

Texas’ incoming transfers are headlined by former Ohio State quarterback Quinn Ewers. They were also able to add some playmakers at other positions on both sides of the ball.

College Football News’ Rich Cirminiello released his 2022 All-Transfer Portal team, and three new Longhorns were featured on one of the two teams. Two Texas players were mentioned on the first team, and one player on the second team.

Here are the three Longhorns that made the All-Transfer Portal team.

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247Sports identified three new Longhorns expected to have a breakout season in 2022

These young players can help turn the program around.

Steve Sarkisian and his staff went all in on adding new talent to the roster for the 2022 season.

The second year coach at Texas made it clear that he wanted over 30 new scholarship players on the roster this season, and they reached that mark with flying colors, while it’s still possible to add more.

The excitement and expectations surrounding the new players in Austin are seemingly growing by the moment, as Texas added what could be their best quarterback since Vince Young and Colt McCoy in Quinn Ewers. They also went out and got help in the secondary and at wide receiver.

Some of the players who line up on the outside are expected to be the ones that impact the team the most, as 247Sports identified three players that are poised for a breakout season. The trio consisted of two cornerbacks and one receiver.

Wyoming transfer Isaiah Neyor, Ohio State transfer Ryan Watts, and four-star prospect Terrance Brooks were the three players that 247Sports firmly believes will have huge impacts next season. Here is what Chip Brown said about the new Longhorns:

I’m hearing enough good things about 6-foot-3 Ohio State transfer cornerback Ryan Watts and early enrollee freshman cornerback Terrance Brooks that I’m ready to say they’ll have an immediate impact in 2022.

Brown went on to explain that he believes Watts has a good chance of replacing Josh Thompson as the starting cornerback alongside D’Shawn Jamison.

He did however go on to express that Brooks, who Texas flipped from Ohio State on national signing day, will be pushing both Jamison and Watts for significant playing time.

In regards to Neyor, 247Sports has extremely high expectations for the 6-foot-3 receiver who is expected to help form one of the most dangerous receiver duos in the country.

The new additions will surely help Texas turn around what was a dreadful season in 2021, and end the what seems to be an infinite stretch of mediocrity.

Texas WR Isaiah Neyor could help with the development of Troy Omeire

Isaiah Neyor could be the perfect mentor for Troy Omeire.

Texas Longhorns fans have long been awaiting the debut of Troy Omeire, the young wide receiver who was hauling in amazing catches in spring ball two years ago but has yet to appear in a game.

The 6-foot-3 receiver has unfortunately been plagued by injuries throughout his couple years on campus, and has been unable to be available for a single regular season game. Availability has been a major issue for this position group, as the Longhorns second leading receiver from last season, Jordan Whittington, has also had an injury-plagued career.

This led to the staff’s heavy pursuit of transfer wide receivers in the portal, where they struck gold in Wyoming’s Isaiah Neyor. A 6-foot-3 receiver with blazing speed and an infinite catch radius, who ranks as the No. 18 overall player in the transfer portal.

247Sports recently wrote about the impact Neyor will have and has had on the team up to this point. Here is what they said about Neyor’s positive early impact on the position group:

Omeire will benefit from having an experienced player like Neyor in his position group. After redshirting as a freshman in 2019, Neyor followed up a 2020 season with eight catches for 248 yards (31 yards per catch) with 44 catches for 878 yards and 12 TD catches in 2021. 

“Isaiah has an excellent work ethic and is already leading by example,” the team source said. “The more guys you can have like that, the better everyone in the position group becomes, including Troy (Omeire).”

If Texas can get the production from Neyor that he had at Wyoming, where he caught 44 passes for 878 yards and 12 touchdowns, the Longhorns will have a very dangerous one-two punch with him and Xavier Worthy.

It will also help Omeire to see a receiver built very similarly to him have success in this offense.

Four things Texas needs to accomplish in spring ball

Spring ball will be the first look at many of the exciting new faces around the program.

Spring practices offer fresh starts and new goals for football programs across the country.

Steve Sarkisian and his staff have built lots of excitement around the program heading into the offseason. Spring ball will be the first look at many of the exciting new faces around the program.

The Longhorns did a masterful job navigating the transfer portal, adding several key pieces to the roster including former Ohio State quarterback Quinn Ewers. Texas also closed extremely well in the 2022 recruiting class, finishing with the No. 5 class nationally.

Texas’ spring practice schedule will consist of 15 practices, starting on March 22. They will practice three times per week before concluding spring ball at the annual Orange-White spring game on April 23.

Spring practice will give Sark an idea of what the team needs to improve upon before the fall.

Here are four things Texas needs to accomplish to consider spring practice a success.

Isaiah Neyor ranks among Bleacher Report’s top big-play threats

Isaiah Neyor is a big play waiting to happen

After having just one legitimate playmaker at receiver in 2021, the Longhorns went out and got one of the best receivers in the transfer portal.

Wyoming transfer Isaiah Neyor racked up 44 catches for 878 yards, and 12 touchdowns while playing in an offense that was extremely run-heavy. At Texas, he will have infinite opportunities to make big-time plays alongside Xavier Worthy and may play his way into being a legitimate NFL prospect.

His combination of size, speed, and play-making ability has caught the attention of experts already even without suiting up as a Longhorn.

Bleacher Report released a list of players who they see as the top big-play threats in 2022. Joining the 2021 Biletnikoff Award winner Jordan Addison and Rose Bowl star Jaxon Smith-Njigba at the No. 2 spot, is Neyor.

Here is what they said about Neyor:

The Longhorns are getting one explosive receiver in Neyor. As a freshman in 2020, he averaged 31 yards per catch in four games. He broke out as a sophomore with 878 yards and 12 touchdowns, averaging 20 yards per reception, too.

His 12 scores led the Mountain West and were tied for eighth nationally. He had seven games in which he averaged at least 20 yards per catch. He had 13 receptions that went over 30 yards as well, a figure that tied for fifth nationally. Per Burnt Orange Nation, Neyor accounted for 80 percent of Wyoming’s touchdown receptions and 41.5 percent of its receiving yards in its run-heavy offense (64.6 percent of its plays were runs).

Neyor could have an even more explosive year in Austin in 2022. At quarterback, Texas will be choosing between former 5-star QB prospectand Ohio State transfer Quinn Ewers and Hudson Card. Texas (225.4; 71st) averaged about 60 passing yards more than Wyoming (162.7; 117th).

Neyor transferring to an offense that will likely utilize him more than Wyoming did puts him near the top of this list.

The Longhorns will have two of the most explosive receiving in the nation with Neyor and Xavier Worthy. Factor in superstar running back Bijan Robinson and you have a three-headed monster that will give defensive coordinators nightmares.

Looking at Texas’ potential 2023 NFL draft prospects

Texas could have a plethora of players drafted in 2023, unlike what is expected in 2022.

With the 2022 NFL draft approaching, and Texas having just a couple players with a chance of being drafted, it is the perfect time to look at the current roster and identify future draft picks.

The Longhorns struggled greatly in the first season under Steve Sarkisian, and while the blame can be passed around to practically everyone, Texas just did not have a good year. There were only two bright spots on the season, with both Xavier Worthy and Bijan Robinson doing their best to carry the team.

Looking at the roster for the 2022 season, the staff has added a ton of talent all over the board that will likely boost the stock of some players, or in the case of a couple of the transfers, give themselves a bigger platform to go to the NFL.

As it sits right now, Texas has two players in Robinson and linebacker DeMarvion Overhsown that are a lock to be drafted in 2023, but that does not mean some of these other players aren’t on the radar.

Let’s take a look at the players who have a prime opportunity to increase their draft stock in 2022. Honorable mentions are Anthony Cook, Alfred Collins, Jahleel Billingsley.

Texas WR Isaiah Neyor has transfer rating raised

The anticipation to see Isaiah Neyor in a Texas uniform continues to build.

The anticipation to see Isaiah Neyor in a Texas uniform continues to build.

The Wyoming transfer was already viewed as one of the better transfers available in the portal this offseason, but 247Sports took the liberty of boosting his rating even higher.

The article mentions that advanced data, film, and what they have been hearing from camp all played a factor.

Here is what they said about the playmaker from Arlington:

Big-play threat Isaiah Neyor was one of the most coveted transfer portal receivers this cycle. Neyor originally committed to Tennessee and then flipped to Texas. Neyor averaged a whopping 20 yards per catch in 2021 for Wyoming and had nice overall production, with 44 catches for 878 yards and 12 touchdowns. He showed the ability to consistently get over the top and has the size to make contested catches downfield.

Intel out of Austin has been great so far regarding Neyor and hopes are high that he can be the much-needed No. 2 complement to star Xavier Worthy (as defenses key on Worthy, Neyor should be freed up). With big-armed Quinn Ewers the favorite to start at quarterback, Texas shouldn’t have an issue getting Neyor the ball deep.

His ranking went from a 91, which was in the 29-40 range, to a 93. This bumps him up to the No. 18 spot, which has him as the third highest ranked receiving transfer.

Neyor exploded onto the scene in 2021, grabbing 44 catches for 878 yards, averaging 20 yards per catch, and hauled in 12 touchdowns. He put up all these numbers in an offense at Wyoming that ranked No. 117 in passing offense in the country.

Whether it is Ewers or Hudson Card behind center, the Longhorns quarterback will have an embarrassment of riches in 2022 when it comes to receiver weapons.