Tag: Ryan Wingo

Longhorns offense getting unexpected boost from Gunnar Helm

While the 2024 campaign is far from over, Helm is putting together the best season of his college career

Over the last few years, Gunnar Helm has been a steady presence in the Longhorns’ offense. In his senior year, the Colorado native has taken his game to a new level and has been a bright spot every week. While the 2024 campaign is far from over, Helm is putting together the best season of his college career.

Through four games, the Longhorns tight end has recorded 11 receptions for a career-high 197 yards. He has also added one touchdown catch to his resume, leaving him one short of matching his total from the 2023 campaign. In an offense full of explosive pieces, Helm has seen his targets increase and taken advantage of his opportunities.

While catching passes from Arch Manning and Quinn Ewers, Helm is averaging a career-high 17.9 yards a catch. That is a decent bump from last year, as he averaged 13.7 yards. The increase has partly been due to speedsters such as Ryan Wingo and Isaiah Bond, who have drawn the focus of defensive coordinators.

With the first month of the season in the books, Helm ranks third on the team in catches and receiving yards. He is one of only three Longhorns players with more than ten receptions. His rise in production has been a welcome sign.

If Helm can keep up his current play, the Longhorns should be able to hold their own in the SEC. They have already shown they can put points on the board quickly while being backed by a very good defense. That combination could lead to a national championship.

Regardless of what this team accomplished, Helm is putting together a season he will never forget.

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.

Longhorns freshman trio playing key part in offense’s early success

That list includes Arch Manning, Ryan Wingo, and Jerrick Gibson, who have made the Texas offense one to be reckoned with

When the 2024 college football season began, expectations were high for the Longhorns freshman class. Over the last three weeks, they have shattered expectations and made national headlines. That list includes Arch Manning, Ryan Wingo, and Jerrick Gibson, who have made the Texas offense one to be reckoned with.

Through the Longhorns’ first three games, Wingo has been one of their best weapons. The St. Louis native has seven receptions for 197 yards. He has found the end zone once and is averaging 28.1 yards per catch. In a wide receiver room that underwent dramatic changes over the summer, Wingo has emerged as a trusted option.

While Wingo has been a human highlight reel in the passing game, Gibson has been a weapon on the ground. The Longhorns running back leads the team in rushing yards with 178 on 33 carries. He also has two rushing touchdowns, tied with Manning for the team lead.

Rounding out the list is Manning, who has been the talk of social media for the last few days. He has recorded 318 passing yards in two games and thrown five touchdown passes. Against UTSA on Saturday, he got his first extended look, accounting for 276 yards of total offense in two-plus quarters. With Quinn Ewers battling an abdominal strain, Manning will make his first career start against ULM on Saturday.

As the season continues, this talented trio will be critical to the Longhorns’ national championship hopes. Manning, Wingo, and Gibson have all played important roles and conquered any challenge thrown their way. Due to their play, the future for Texas football is bright.

PFF College ranks Ryan Wingo as highest graded WR in Week 3

On Tuesday, Wingo continued to receive national attention as he earned the highest grade of any college wide receiver from PFF College

Through the first three weeks of the season, Ryan Wingo has lived up to the high expectations. The Saint Louis native has become an instant threat in the Longhorns offense and dazzled with his speed. On Tuesday, Wingo continued to receive national attention as he earned the highest grade of any college wide receiver from PFF College.

In the Longhorns win over UTSA on Saturday, Wingo had three catches for 127 yards. His big day included a 75-touchdown catch that sent social media into a frenzy. He led the Longhorns in receptions and receiving yards while averaging 42.3 yards a catch.

Due to his performance, Wingo received an 89.4 rating from PFF College. It marked the second time Wingo has finished in the top five this season. Whether it is Quinn Ewers or Arch Manning under center, he has made an impact and been a popular target.

With the first month of his college career nearly in the books, Wingo has a lot of positives to build on. So far, he has 197 receiving yards on seven catches. The Longhorns star also has 55 rushing yards, showing he can be a Swiss army knife. That has made it harder for defenses to devise a plan to stop him.

As the season continues, Wingo will continue to be a popular target. That means more high grades will be on the horizon as the Longhorns’ offense is one of the best in the nation.

Ryan Wingo earns highest rating among freshman WR’s from PFF

One player who stood out was Ryan Wingo, who made an instant impact

In the Longhorns’ Week One win over Colorado State, everyone on the roster contributed. One player who stood out was Ryan Wingo, who made an instant impact. In his college debut, Wingo showed why he can be a focal point of the offense and earned national recognition.

The talented wide receiver led Texas in receiving yards with 70, averaging 17.5 yards per catch. While he was unable to find the end zone, Wingo helped extend drives and gave the Rams secondary headaches all afternoon. Due to his play, Wingo earned a 90.8 rating from PFF, the best rating for a freshman WR in the country.

https://twitter.com/InsideTexas/status/1830010243750711403

While Wingo’s ability to get open was impressive, that wasn’t the only part of his game that stood out. He was hard to bring down, recording 43 yards after the catch. That is one part of Wingo’s game that will make him dangerous in the SEC.

As the Longhorns prepare to take on Michigan, Wingo will face his toughest test of the season. The Wolverines have a better secondary than the Rams and will try to limit the Longhorn’s talented freshman. Texas will be in good hands if he can build on his performance in the season opener.

Although his college career is just getting started, Tuesday should be the first of many high-rating weeks for Wingo as he torments defenses in college football and gets more comfortable in a new offense.

Two Longhorn freshman named to Shaun Alexander Freshman of the Year watch list

On Wednesday, they received national recognition as the talented duo was named to the preseason watch list for the Shaun Alexander Freshman of the Year Award

Following stellar high school careers, expectations are high for Ryan Wingo and Colin Simmons in Austin. On Wednesday, they received national recognition, as the Longhorns duo was named to the preseason watch list for the Shaun Alexander Freshman of the Year Award. Thirty-seven players were recognized, but only one will be named the best freshman in college football at the end of the regular season.

During his high school career, Simmons was an anchor in the Duncanville High School defense. As a senior, he recorded 52 total tackles, 21 tackles for a loss and 10 sacks. The Dallas native was part of a defense that allowed just 13.4 points per game and recorded four shutouts. Due to his play, Simmons was an All-America, two-time all-state, and three-time all-district honoree.

While Simmons made life difficult for quarterbacks, Wingo was St. Louis University High School’s best weapon. The talented wide receiver finished his high school career with 2,160 receiving yards and 31 receiving touchdowns. Although his senior season was limited due to injuries, Wingo recorded 46 catches in seven games.

Wingo and Simmons will be critical pieces on a team with championship aspirations. After losing stars like Adonai Mitchell in the NFL Draft, Wingo will be part of a new receiving core in the SEC. Simmons will be tasked with making the Longhorns defense one of the best in the nation.

Over the last few years, the Longhorns have had a few players come close to winning the Shaun Alexander Freshman of the Year Award. In 2023, Anthony Hill Jr. was a semifinalist. Xavier Worthy was a finalist in 2021.

Simmons and Wingo have an excellent chance to add some hardware to their trophy cases and make history.

Longhorns Freshman Report: Two emerge in fall camp

Two freshman have stood out so far in Longhorns fall camp – WR Ryan Wingo and Edge Colin Simmons. Both should get significant playing time.

Texas Longhorns fall camp has been in full swing for a little over a week in Austin, capped by a closed scrimmage on Saturday. Longhorns fans know all about the returning stars on the team, such as Quinn Ewers and Anthony Hill. But how are the freshmen doing? Have any emerged as true impact players in 2024?

OnTexasFootball’s Bobby Burton and Gerry Hamilton report that two freshman are standing out so far in camp: wide receiver Ryan Wingo and edge Colin Simmons.

“They are guys right now that will be in the rotation we believe when Texas plays Colorado State,” Burton said. “They may not play 50 snaps, but I think they’re going to play 15-25. They’ve booth stood out. I think they both get an A or A-plus as a grade right now.”

Wingo caught four passes for 81 yards and 2 TDs in the Texas spring game. An All-American Bowl participant, the St. Louis native was ranked fifth overall and second among wide receivers in the recruiting class by 247Sports. 

The true freshman from St. Louis has been everything and then some that Steve Sarkisian could want. He made more than one play in Saturday’s scrimmage, including a couple tantalizing catches, as well as the every down catch. He’s just got to learn more than one position. Right now Sark said he’s kinda pigeon-holed as that outside receiver because he’s so young. He’s trying to get everything down in the game. This is as good a receiver prospect, full prospect, as we’ve seen at Texas since Roy Williams out of Odessa Permian now more than 25 years ago. — Bobby Burton of OnTexasFootball

Simmons is a two-time state champion out of Duncanville who was 22nd overall by 247Sports and played in both the 2024 Under Armour All-American Game and 2024 Polynesian Bowl. 

We knew he’d have a role as an edge rusher. We didn’t know if it’d be third downs early in the season. The interesting thing to me is he’s showing versatility. In the NASCAR package they broke out in the scrimmage, he was playing Sam Linebacker. He’s showing beyond his gifts athletically and how he’s built up his frame. He’s showing football intelligence. They feel like they can work him in multiple spots before he’s ever played a game as a freshman in college. — Gerry Hamilton of OnTexasFootball

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ESPN analyst Greg McElroy calls Texas lock to be in College Football Playoff

That includes ESPN analyst Greg McElroy, who chose the Longhorns as one of his five locks to be in the College Football Playoff

With the start of the college football season less than a month away, analysts nationwide have started making their playoff predictions. That includes ESPN analyst Greg McElroy, who chose the Longhorns as one of his five locks to be in the College Football Playoff.

On August 7, McElroy said a team needs to go 10-2 to be in the big dance. The teams from the SEC that he thinks will accomplish that are Georgia, Texas, Alabama, Oklahoma, and Texas A&M. While a lot can change as the regular season plays out, getting five teams in would be a significant accomplishment for the SEC.

As the Longhorns look to prove McElroy right, they have a roster full of talent ready to build on a 12-win season. They will be led by quarterback Quinn Ewers and running back Jaydon Blue. Their list of offensive weapons includes Johntay Cook, Matthew Golden, Ryan Wingo, and Amari Niblack.

Although they will be in a tougher conference, it is a challenge the Longhorns are ready for. A new playoff format will also benefit Texas, giving them and teams nationwide a better shot at playing for a national championship.

On August 31, the Longhorns will open their season against Colorado State, giving them their first opportunity to show why they are a playoff team.

Texas offensive coordinator encouraged by 2024 wide receiver room

On Wednesday, offensive coordinator Kyle Flood showed faith in his WR unit

The Texas Longhorns will begin their first season in the SEC in less than a month. After an offseason full of change, expectations are high due to a roster full of talent. On Wednesday, offensive coordinator Kyle Flood showed faith in his unit.

One of Flood’s biggest challenges is getting the most out of his wide receivers. Xavier Worthy, Jordan Whittington, and Adonai Mitchell were selected in the NFL draft, leaving the Longhorns with holes on offense. However, they moved quickly to fill the void, and Flood has been encouraged by what he has seen.

“Even though we don’t have the returning starts [at receiver], necessarily here at Texas for that position group that we do at some other positions, we have a lot of confidence in that receiver room,”Flood told the media.

As the Longhorns look to replicate last season’s success, they will have plenty of options to rely on who are motivated to prove themselves. That list includes Johntay Cook, a five-star recruit in the 2023 class, former Houston Cougar Matthew Golden, and five-star recruit Ryan Wingo.

Many in Austin, including Flood, are excited about what the new faces can bring to the program.

“I was looking at it this morning before I came in here, and we’ve got nine receivers who are ultimately going to take reps with the ones and twos this training camp, and that’s something we haven’t been anything near that in the three previous years that we’ve been here. So, it’s a talented room. Coach [Chris] Jackson had a good offseason with those guys.”

They will get their first opportunity to make an impact on August 31st when the Longhorns open their season against Colorado State.

Texas Wide receiver Ryan Wingo’s 2024 snapshot profile

A look at true freshman wide receiver Ryan Wingo as he heads into the 2024 season.

Texas Longhorns wide receiver [autotag]Ryan Wingo[/autotag] heads into his freshman season with high expectations. The former All-American was ranked as the second-best wide receiver in his recruiting class in Missouri by 247Sports.

In Wingo, the Longhorns have a player who provides lots of versatility. He was a dual-threat athlete in high school, competing in track and field during the football offseason. He also can direct routes and enhance the depth of wide receivers. That should be beneficial to a Longhorns team coming off a 12-win season.

Preseason Ryan Wingo Profile

Hometown: St.Louis, MO

Ht: 6-2

Wt: 210

247Sports Composite Ranking:

Five-Star | No. 7 wide receiver | No. 32 Nationally (2024 Class)

Class in 2024: True Freshman

Depth Chart Overview

As Wingo prepares for his first season with the Longhorns, he will join a wide receiver room that looks very different from a year ago. In the NFL draft, Texas lost three of its top playmakers: wide receivers Adonai Mitchell and Xavier Worthy and tight end Ja’Tavion Sanders. While they will not be easy to replace, Wingo is expected to be a key piece of the solution.

Along with Wingo, quarterback Quinn Ewers will have various weapons at his disposal. That list includes transfer Matthew Golden, sophomores Johnny Cook, Deandre Moore Jr., Ryan Niblett, and freshman Aaron Butler. Wingo will be looking to stand out as one of Ewers’ new favorite targets.

Ryan Wingo’s Photo Gallery