Texas draft prospects for Packers fans to watch during College Football Playoff

Draft prospects from Texas for Packers fans to watch during the College Football Playoff.

The Texas Longhorns had 11 players drafted during the 2024 NFL Draft. They could match or even exceed that number during the 2025 draft. Let’s look at eight players who could be targets for the Green Bay Packers.

Alred Collins, DT

A former five-star recruit, Collins looks every bit the part of a future wrecking ball. Collins plays with some raw power and walks blockers back into the quarterback’s lap. He has the range to make plays up and down the line of scrimmage and his motor is always running. 

Barryn Sorrell, Edge

Sorrell checks the boxes with his frame and athleticism. As a run defender, he snatches and tosses and sets a hard edge. According to Pro Football Focus, Sorrell has recorded 21 run stops this season. The Texas edge rusher enters the matchup against Clemson with nine tackles for loss, 4.5 sacks and 39 pressures. 

Jahdae Barron, DB

A year ago Barron was one of the best slot defenders in the country. This season he’s shown that he can survive on the boundary. Barron led the SEC in interceptions (5) and recorded nine pass deflections. He has the drive explosion to arrive before the pigskin and has wide receiver-like ball skills. He’s a physical downfield defender and stays balanced as a tackler. 

Jake Majors, C

Majors enters the matchup against Clemson with 54 career starts at center for the Longhorns. Majors has heightened awareness and understands protections. Over the past two seasons, Majors has given up zero sacks and 20 pressures.  

Trey Moore, Edge

At 245 pounds, Moore could be too light for Green Bay’s liking. Moore can easily add five pounds without losing his explosive first step. The UTSA transfer has recorded 3.5 sacks and 26 pressures. 

Vernon Broughton, DT

At 6-5, 306 pounds, Broughton has an ideal NFL frame. The Texas defensive tackle has good initial quickness off the snap to get upfield quickly and disrupt the action in the backfield. He maintains his gap and shows the lateral quickness to make plays up and down the line of scrimmage.

Matthew Golden, WR

With his instant acceleration off the line of scrimmage and finds a second gear to win vertically. He runs sharp routes and does a good job of mixing up his tempo to keep defensive backs off balance. Golden also brings special teams value as a kick and punt returner. 

Isaiah Bond, WR

The Alabama transfer is a dynamic playmaker. The former track athlete is a vertical threat and can take swing passes the distance with his game-breaking quickness. Bond is similar to Jayden Reed and having those two on the same offense would put a lot of stress on opposing defenses. 

Matthew Golden records second straight multi-TD effort in Longhorns win

That continued on Saturday in the Longhorns’ latest conference win over Arkansas

Over the last few weeks, Matthew Golden has been a scoring machine. The Longhorns star wide receiver has become one of Quinn Ewers most trusted options and has been an integral part of the offense. That continued on Saturday in the Longhorns’ latest conference win over Arkansas.

Against the Razorbacks, the Longhorns’ talented junior recorded two catches for 21 yards. While those numbers may not jump off the page, they were important plays, as both catches resulted in touchdowns. Due to his recent scoring surge, Golden leads all Longhorns wide receivers in touchdowns with eight.

Through the first ten games of his Longhorns career, Golden has made a good first impression. He ranks third on the team in receptions with 29 and receiving yards with 417. Although he has had to learn a new offense, Golden has proven to be a valuable addition.

Additionally, Golden is getting better as the playoffs inch closer. In his last three games, the Houston native has found the end zone five times. He now has at least two touchdowns in three games this season. That is the type of production the Longhorns hoped they would get when they added Golden from the transfer portal.

As the regular season winds down, Golden should continue to be a popular target. He has proven he can be relied on in the red zone, making life difficult for defensive coordinators. He will get to continue adding more plays to his highlight reel this weekend when Texas takes on Kentucky.

Matthew Golden named East-West Shrine Bowl’s ‘Texas Star of the Week’

While Texas got contributions from everyone on the roster, one player who stood out was Matthew Golden

In their win over the Florida Gators on Saturday, the Longhorns offense was firing on all cylinders. While Texas got contributions from everyone on the roster, one player who stood out was Matthew Golden. The talented junior was one of Quinn Ewers favorite targets and named the East-West Shrine Bowl’s “Texas Star of the Week” on Tuesday.

Against the Gators, Golden caught three passes for 64 yards. He was a scoring machine, as his two receiving touchdowns led the team. It marked the first team since the season opener that the Houston native found the end zone more than once in a game.

Although Golden’s first season with the Longhorns has been full of ups and downs, he provided a reminder of how good he is over the weekend. Through nine games, Golden is third on the team in receptions with 27 and receiving yards with 396. Following his stellar performance on Saturday, he leads all Longhorns receivers in touchdowns with six.

With Golden serving as one of the teams best weapons, the Longhorns rank ninth in total offense and tenth in scoring offense. With wins at a premium down the stretch, the offense will be heavily relied on as the Longhorns chase a national championship.

On Saturday, Golden will build on his success when the Longhorns take on the Arkansas Razorbacks. He should continue to be an important piece, which could mean more awards on the horizon.

Longhorns WR Johntay Cook II embracing battle for targets

On a weekly basis, a group that includes Ryan Wingo, Isaiah Bond, Johntay Cook II, and Matthew Golden has put points on the board with ease

Through the first month of the college football season, the Texas Longhorns have been the best team in the nation. While their success is due to a variety of factors, one that stands out is the Texas receiving corps. On a weekly basis, a group that includes Ryan Wingo, Isaiah Bond, Johntay Cook II, and Matthew Golden, has put points on the board with ease.

Through four games, Bond and Wingo have made the biggest impact, combing for 529 receiving yards and five touchdowns. However, Golden and Cook have held their own, averaging over 13 yards a catch and finding the end zone each twice. While they have had to battle for targets, this group has enjoyed the challenge.

“The competition rises, and you just got to bring your A-game every day because (there’s) dudes around you that can make big plays,” Cook told the media on Monday.

Additionally, regardless of who is under center, the offense has thrived. Quinn Ewers and Arch Manning have shown excellent chemistry with this wide-receiving group, which is very different from a year ago. The Longhorns quarterbacks have used the speed of their weapons to their advantage, which Cook has enjoyed being part of.

“I think it just raises the intensity and practice because the (starters) will go and it’s speed speed speed and the (backups) go and it’s speed, speed, speed, speed, sometimes threes will go and it’s speed, speed, speed, speed,” Cook said.” So it’s just a great look for the whole team just having good guys at almost three deep.”

With conference play set to start this weekend, the Longhorns will need the offense to be at its best. That should be no issue, as Cook and his fellow wide receivers have surpassed expectations and frustrated defenses.

Quinn Ewers may have found his new favorite red zone target

While they have been able to spread the ball around, one player who has stood out is Matthew Golden

Through two games the Texas Longhorns offense has been one of the best in college football. They have already scored 83 points and shown no signs of slowing down. While they have been able to spread the ball around, one player who has stood out is Matthew Golden.

After starting his career at the University of Houston, Golden entered the transfer portal and found his way to Austin in the spring. The Texas native was expected to boost the offense, and so far, he has not disappointed.

In his first eight quarters with the Longhorns, Golden has hauled in nine receptions for 91 receiving yards. He is averaging 10.1 yards a catch, the third most on the team, and is becoming a popular target for Quinn Ewers in the red zone.

https://twitter.com/TexasLonghorns/status/1829982545775124714

Entering Week 3, Golden leads the Longhorns with three receiving touchdowns. He is the only wideout with more than one and already seems to be a perfect fit for Longhorn’s offense. Last season, he added six touchdowns to his resume,  a number he is on pace to match before the end of September.

As the season continues, Golden will be a player to keep an eye on. He flashed his potential against Colorado State and made an impact against a ranked team in Michigan on Saturday. For the Longhorns to build on their success, they will need Golden to continue his recent play and find ways to score.

Quinn Ewers building chemistry with new WR weapons

While the talented trio is still building chemistry with their new quarterback, they bring plenty of experience to the table

When the Longhorns open the 2024 campaign against Colorado State, the wide receiver room will look very different than a year ago. During the offseason, Texas turned to the transfer portal to bring Quinn Ewers new weapons, which led to the additions of Matthew Golden, Isaiah Bond, and Silas Bolden.

While the talented trio is still building chemistry with their new quarterback, they bring plenty of experience to the table. That has stood out to Ewers in practice.

“I think experience plays a huge role and that sort of thing. But you know, at the end of the day, we have to form our own chemistry,” Ewers told Sports Illustrated. “Last year, it was Year 2 for me and those wide outs — except for (Adonai Mitchell), he was a transfer — but it was year two for most of those guys, and I had to kinda figure out their timing on, you know, how long it takes them to run 12 yards and break out or break in.”

Last season at Alabama, Bond showed that he could be a productive piece, recording 48 catches for 668 yards and four touchdowns. Bolden was vital to the Oregon State offense, hauling in 51 catches for 718 yards and five touchdowns. He also made an impact on the ground, rushing for 84 yards and finding the end zone twice.

Rounding out the list is Golden, who had 38 catches for 404 yards and six touchdowns for the Houston Cougars last season. All three of the Longhorns’ new receivers made an impact in their old programs and will now look to build on their success in a tough SEC conference.

While they will all be under more pressure than ever before, it is a challenge they are ready for. Over the last few weeks, Ewers’ focus has been figuring out their timing so the offense can hit the ground running this weekend.

Wide Receiver Preview: Looking at tough decisions on Texas depth chart

Texas has a good problem in having too many quality receivers to start.

Position battles in the Texas wide receiver room are far from settled. The competitive position group is versatile and set to produce three quality starters.

For head coach Steve Sarkisian, the team may have to strike the right balance between playing transfer portal players and playing the players that committed to Sarkisian and established the current culture in Austin.

At the start of camp, second year receiver Johntay Cook passed the eye test as much as any of the Texas pass catchers. He no longer looks like the undersized freshman that took the field in 2023. Alabama transfer Isaiah Bond rivals Cook for the role of primary receiver in the Texas offense.

Bond went for 668 yards and four touchdowns on 48 receptions last season. Cook had eight catches for 136 yards in 2023. While both put up explosive plays in their last campaign, Bond’s experience could be the tiebreaker in regard to who gets the football with the game on the line.

Regardless of which player gets the most targets, Bond and Cook appear to be the dynamic duo that will get the most opportunities out of the receiving corps. Several others are set to contribute.

Houston transfer Matthew Golden and second year player DeAndre Moore Jr. have seen plenty of buzz for their efforts over the course of the offseason. Both seem to be in the process of reserving targets of their own for the upcoming season.

Golden is the more accomplished of the two players with 13 touchdown receptions and 988 yards in two seasons at Houston. But Moore’s work ethic and consistency have lifted him into playing time consideration through the first few practices of spring.

Oregon State transfer Silas Bolden was viewed as a player who could add a dimension to the Longhorns offense. Bolden hauled in 54 receptions for 746 yards and five touchdowns for Oregon State last season. He has ground to make up, but Sarkisian and company could be holding a spot for him in the receiver rotation.

Freshman wide receiver Ryan Wingo is an interesting player to watch. The five-star talent from Missouri looks the part. Presumably he could contribute right away if called upon to play, but we don’t expect he will have to contribute. It would be because he earned the opportunity.

Second-year speedster Ryan Niblett is noteworthy for his ability to present a downfield vertical threat and run after the catch. Niblett, like Bond and Cook, has the type of speed to leave defenders in the dust. Like Bolden, Niblett could be a weapon in presnap motion or as a receiver in bubble screens.

Texas’ receiver room does not have players as proven as last season’s receiving trio of Adonai Mitchell, Xavier Worthy and Jordan Whittington. That said, it boasts the firepower to have a more explosive and productive offense than it did in 2023.

Golden Era: The Houston transfer that could take over college football

Two Texas wide receivers are viewed by ESPN analysts as players who can shape the College Football Playoff race.

Matthew Golden is set to star at Texas. The Houston transfer wide receiver might not have the acclaim that fellow receiver transfer Isaiah Bond has out of Alabama. He does have a unique skill set that could take college football by storm.

ESPN analyst Tom VanHaaren sees Golden as a player who could “shape the 2024 College Football Playoff race.” He said the following of Golden’s potential impact at Texas.

“I don’t know how many fans have heard of Houston receiver (Matthew) Golden, who might be overlooked in Texas’ transfer receiver haul. Golden has had 13 touchdown receptions the past two seasons and despite playing in just nine games this season he had 404 yards and six (touchdown) receptions. Texas is losing (Adonai) Mitchell and Xavier Worthy, the team’s top-two leaders in receiving yards and touchdowns. Golden, Bond and Bolden will help replace that production and will be vital to Texas’ success in the SEC and getting back to the playoff.”

Golden was a recruiting target for Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian and company out of high school. The Top 150 recruit in 247Sports’ individual rankings secured over 25 scholarship offers including the likes of Texas, LSU, TCU, Arkansas and Baylor. Now, Golden will bring his talents to Austin.

Interestingly enough, another ESPN analyst in Tom Luginbill sees a different Texas receiver shaping the College Football Playoff race, and it isn’t Alabama transfer Isaiah Bond. Luginbill said the following of Oregon State transfer receiver Silas Bolden.

“The Longhorns might be losing some key parts of its offensive attack to the NFL draft — the highest-profile prospect being receiver Adonai Mitchell. However, while the focus has been on the addition of receiver Isaiah Bond from Alabama, (Silas) Bolden could be a Swiss Army knife in the offense. Coach Steve Sarkisian loves players who can line up in multiple spots to create mismatches. Bolden can contribute as a ball carrier on jet sweeps and end arounds. He’s a speedy space players who gives (starting quarterback) Quinn Ewers another threat on the perimeter.”

There appears to have been a consensus built that the receiving class Texas has assembled in the transfer portal has potential to make a significant impact in 2024. Which player of the trio makes the most impact doesn’t matter. What matters is that the unit appears to be in good hands.

We will have a better idea of what each player can bring in the Texas offense following the Orange and White game.

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Looking ahead at Texas’ 2024 receiving room

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