Tag: Xavier Worthy

247Sports names Texas WR Xavier Worthy to midseason true freshman All-America team

Xavier Worthy is one of the top true freshmen in the country.

It is often rare that a freshman comes in and has an immediate impact to the point they are one of the team’s best players.

Texas wide receiver Xavier Worthy has done just that. The former Michigan pledge opted to play for the offensive mastermind that is Steve Sarkisian, officially committing to the Longhorns on April 24.

In his brief time as a Longhorn, Worthy has established himself as the best pass catcher on the team, and is comparable to lightning in a bottle every time he touches the ball. We saw that on full display on a screen play against Oklahoma that he took 75-yards for the score, while making everyone else look like they were pursuing in slow motion.

Worthy is among the nation’s leaders for multiple categories and atop the Big 12 ranks in several statistical categories for freshmen as well. He has been the most reliable weapon for quarterback Casey Thompson, and the fact he is only a freshman is a dream for Texas, but a nightmare for opposing defenses.

Worthy’s performance’s through the first seven weeks has not gone unnoticed, as he has garnered national spotlight for it. 247Sports released their true freshman midseason All-America team this week and Worthy was included on the short list.

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The Longhorns will need even more from the young pass catcher after his running mate Jordan Whittington went down with an injury for the season. Texas also happens to be in the midst of playing the top teams within the conference for a third consecutive week.

The more ways Sarkisian can get Worthy the ball, the better Texas’ chances are of winning football games.

Texas Football: Grading how each position group has performed through seven games

Some position groups have done well, others have not.

The Longhorns are not in a situation that they thought they would find themselves in seven weeks into the season.

While I am sure a loss or two was to be expected with a new a staff and a ton of turnover, but the ways in which the games were lost have been heartbreaking. After being blown out by Arkansas, Texas went on a three-game win streak that looked like they were figuring it out with a change at quarterback.

Then came along the last two weeks, where Texas led both Oklahoma schools by double-digits at one point, yet wound up losing. In the three losses on the year, the strengths and weaknesses of this team have been made abundantly clear. It also explains why Steve Sarkisian’s staff is recruiting certain position groups harder than others.

As the Longhorns head into the bye week, I’ve compiled a progress report to highlight which position groups have done well, and also pinpoint the areas of struggle throughout the first seven games of the season using an “A-F” grading scale.

One Longhorn listed on The Athletic’s midseason freshman All-America team

“He came in with a ton of hype and has exceeded expectations.”

Freshman wide receiver Xavier Worthy has been the most welcomed surprise to Texas’ offense this season. Continue reading “One Longhorn listed on The Athletic’s midseason freshman All-America team”

4 defensive players to watch as Oklahoma takes on TCU

Oklahoma is in need of a bounce back defensive performance and to get it, these four Sooners are vital against TCU.

While the offense continues to find itself and find its quarterback, the Oklahoma Sooners defense will have to continue to show up. After a very poor performance in the first half of the Sooners win against the Texas Longhorns, Speed D found its footing and was absolutely lights out in the second half to hold up their end of the bargain in the team’s improbable comeback effort.

Timely stops, better coverage, and better tackling all led to better results in the second half of the Sooners’ win.

Defensive coordinator Alex Grinch will be hoping they can carry that second-half finish with them as they return home.

They now turn their attention to TCU, who’s offense has been pretty good in 2021.

They are led by Max Duggan and lining up in the backfield with him is former five-star running back Zach Evans and another solid running back in Kendre Miller. Out wide Quentin Johnston, Derius Davis, and Taye Barber are their main threats.

Who are the key Oklahoma defenders in this match-up? Here are four Sooners that are vital to Oklahoma’s chances of slowing down the Horned Frogs offense on Saturday night.

Up Next: It all Starts Upfront

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Texas football superlatives halfway through Steve Sarkisian’s first season

MVP’s? Most surprising player? Longhorns Wire staff chose their top players on each side of the ball through the first half of the season.

After losing the Red River Shootout, Texas is officially halfway through the first season under Steve Sarkisian. There have been some ups and downs with a 4-2 record. So far, the games that should have been won have been wins, but a lack of a defining victory still eludes Sarkisian.

A flip flop of quarterbacks has occurred as well. With Hudson Card starting against Louisiana, then Casey Thompson taking over after the fiasco at Arkansas and has not looked back since.

Even though college football is a what have you done for me lately type of business (lose to Oklahoma), a total rewind of the season shows Sarkisian has done a good job changing the culture of the program. No reason to believe Texas is set up for anything but a successful last six games.

To reflect, Longhorns Wire has created a superlatives list for the first half of the season. Here are the categories:

  • Offensive MVP
  • Defensive MVP
  • Best coaching hire
  • Surprise player
  • Newcomer of the Year
  • Underwhelming player
  • Best moment
  • Worst moment
  • Second half predictions

Here is each staff member’s selections and explanations.

Steve Sarkisian showing confidence in freshman WR Xavier Worthy early in career

Steve Sarkisian has the confidence necessary to lean on WR Xavier Worthy, regardless of classification. 

Wondering where the Texas offense would be without true freshman wide receiver Xavier Worthy would be easy.

After his historic performance in the Red River Shootout against Oklahoma, he leads the team in receptions (25), receiving yards (531), and receiving touchdowns (6). Only Bijan Robinson has a competing case if there were to be an MVP for the first half of the season.

But Worthy almost did not end up in Austin.

The Fresno, CA native’s recruitment was coming down to Alabama and Michigan. He became familiar with the Crimson Tide’s program thanks to Steve Sarkisian before he accepted the Texas job. However, even with an Iron Bowl weekend visit, Michigan ended up being the choice.

Worthy signed his national letter of intent in December, intending to enroll early and join John Harbaugh’s squad for spring ball. Four months passed and the wide receiver was still not practicing for the Wolverines. Due to “circumstances beyond” Worthy’s control, he asked to be released from his NLI on April 15.

Nine days later, he was committed to Texas and became the second highest-rated recruit in the 2021 class per the 247Sports composite.

“I just wanted to come and build with Sark,” Worthy said. “We had that relationship before I committed to Michigan. I just wanted to come and build with him from the start.”

When you look at the game logs, Worthy has stayed true to his word of building with the head coach. His performances have gradually gotten better throughout the first six games, capped by a nine reception, 261 yards, and two touchdown performance last week.

Explosive plays downfield were the only thing missing but against Oklahoma, there are plenty to choose from. Whether it be the 75-yard touchdown on the opening play or bailing Casey Thompson out on third down, things finally clicked.

“Sark said every week ‘We are gonna hit these big plays, it’s going to come’ and this weekend it just ended up happening and ended up connecting,” Worthy said. “It’s perfect timing.”

All of the success still comes with a couple of bumps in the road. For Worthy, a costly one, where he fumbled on a kickoff — something he called “a mental error.” Oklahoma had just tied the ball game up and with the turnover, easily took the lead from deep in the red zone.

Most freshmen would have to keep their heads low and sulked on the bench. But not Worthy. Sarkisian came up to the receiver and made sure he was good to go. Texas was going to need him on the next drive.

“Sark came up to me first and told me ‘Give me a smile. We’re gonna come back at you and give you a chance to make that up,'” Worthy said.

Bijan Robinson quickly followed, encouraging his travel hotel roommate. He told Worthy to keep his head up and another big play was going to be needed from him.

“He’s a big role model to me and a leader on the team too,” said Worthy. “Him just saying that helped keep my head in the game.”

Sarkisian (and Robinson) backed up his word immediately, drawing up plays for Worthy three times on the next drive, including a game-tying 31-yard score with under two minutes to go. The head coach proved he has all the trust in the world with his freshman receiver.

“[Sarkisian] builds up your confidence,” he said. “When he told me that, I knew he was going to come back to me and just had to make the play when it came to me.”

Despite the loss, experiencing Red River weekend was something special for Worthy. Between his big-time performance, the Cotton Bowl, and playing against Oklahoma, the entire atmosphere was “crazy.”

“I feel like our team is going to be really good in the future,” he said. “We just want to take it week by week and get to the Big 12 championship.”

Getting to AT&T Stadium was always the goal for Sarkisian’s squad. But six more conference games are left on the schedule. Trips to Baylor, Iowa State, and West Virginia are on tap but it all begins with a crucial home game against undefeated and No. 12 Oklahoma State on Saturday.

Worthy will be doing it without one of his fellow receivers, Jordan Whittington. He suffered a clavicle injury in Dallas that will require surgery and keep him out for a disclosed amount of time.

Next man up is the mentality Texas coaches have been pushing. On paper, Marcus Washington is going to take over. He was the one blocking for Worthy on the opening play touchdown.

Anybody could line up next to Worthy and he feels confident the job will still get done.

“All of our receivers are prepared and ready to step up,” the freshman said. “I feel like we are all gonna have a big game.”

Expecting another record-breaking performance against Oklahoma State would lead to disappointment. However, Thompson and the passing game is going to rely on Worthy more than ever — something rarely said about a true freshman wide receiver.

Sarkisian has the confidence necessary to lean on him, regardless of classification.

‘Glue guys’ seal the deal for the Oklahoma Sooners vs. the Texas Longhorns

The Oklahoma Sooners got incredible contributions from their star players, but they don’t win without contributions from their “glue guys.”

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Every team has them. They’re the guys that championship teams can’t live without. They aren’t always your best players, but they’re the players that show up in the big moments and make the big plays. Or they’re the guys that quietly go about their business and simply do their job in a big moment.

They’re called “glue guys.” They’re the guys on the roster that hold the team together.

Late in the fourth quarter of the Sooners thrilling comeback win over the Texas Longhorns, Oklahoma’s glue guys came through in big ways.

Af Oklahoma scored to make it 41-39, Spencer Rattler found Drake Stoops at the front of the end zone to complete the two-point conversion attempt and tie the score for the first time since it was 0-0.

On the ensuing kickoff, Oklahoma’s leader, the elder statesman, Caleb Kelly came up with arguably the play of the game. As Xavier Worthy, who’d been killing the Sooners all day, was fighting through tacklers to gain extra yards, Kelly smartly went after the football and ripped it away from the dynamic freshman receiver. Nobody knew what happened, but Kelly had the ball and immediately went over to the Sooners’ fanbase to celebrate the turnover. After replay review confirmed it, OU was set up with fantastic field position with a chance to take the lead.

On Oklahoma’s ensuing drive, Kennedy Brooks was able to take the direct snap and work his way through the Texas defense to give the Oklahoma Sooners their first lead of the game. How was he able to do it? Behind fantastic blocking from his offensive line and glue guys Brayden Willis, Drake Stoops, and Jadon Haselwood.

The Sooners were able to win the game on the exact same play, run the same direction, with the same guys out front leading Kennedy Brooks to the end zone for the 55-48 lead.

The Sooners star players showed up in Saturday’s win, but that game isn’t won without the contributions of other guys on the roster making big-time plays for the Oklahoma Sooners.

While it’s the Caleb Williams’ or Marvin Mims’ of the world that will get all of the attention, the work that guys like Jadon Haselwood, Drake Stoops, Brayden Willis and Caleb Kelly put in shouldn’t go unnoticed. They were fantastic on Saturday and will continue to feature prominently in the Oklahoma Sooners’ success.

The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly from the Sooners 55-48 win over the Longhorns

What stood out in the Oklahoma Sooners’ improbable win over the Texas Longhorns in this week’s version of the Good, the Bad, and the Ugly.

The 2021 Red River Showdown did not disappoint in terms of drama and excitement. The Texas Longhorns were in complete control of the football game through the first 30 minutes. Still, they didn’t do enough to ensure victory as the Oklahoma Sooners stormed back from 18 down at halftime to win a thrilling meeting between the two bitter rivals.

There was a lot to like from the Oklahoma Sooners performance on Saturday and a lot they need to improve upon.

The most important thing that will happen this week will be what happens at quarterback. And with that, let’s take a look at this week’s version of The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly from the Oklahoma Sooners 55-48 win over the Texas Longhorns.

The Good: Lincoln Riley’s Decision

It’s never an easy thing to replace your starting quarterback. Given that Sooners head coach Lincoln Riley was in the same situation with quarterback Spencer Rattler a year ago probably made the decision even more difficult.

In hindsight, it proved to be the right decision, and it remained the right decision as Riley stuck with true freshman quarterback Caleb Williams. Spencer Rattler didn’t have it on Saturday, and there have been few games in 2021 in which he has.

Two more turnovers bring Rattler’s total to seven in six games. And as much as it was about the turnovers, it was about the time of the game in which they took place.

The Sooners were down just 14-7 after the offense scored, and the defense forced a three and out. Oklahoma was driving, and a miscommunication between Rattler and tight end Austin Stogner led to the interception. Texas would go on to score on the ensuing drive.

A little bit later in the game, with the score 28-17, on the first play from scrimmage after the Sooners’ defense forced a punt, Rattler attempted to avoid pressure and after running into his offensive lineman had the ball ripped out by Ben Davis and recovered by Demarvion Overshown.

Again, Texas took the turnover and drove for a touchdown to make it 35-17.

Twice Oklahoma had a chance to either tie or take a big bite out of the Longhorns’ lead, and both times Spencer Rattler turned the ball over.

Caleb Williams helped spark the Oklahoma Sooners offense, who then outscored the Longhorns 38-13 the rest of the way.

While Lincoln Riley hasn’t indicated what he would do at quarterback, the Oklahoma offense just looked differently with Williams at the helm.

With the in-game move, Lincoln Riley showed that he’s not above removing his starting quarterback or any other player if they’re not performing well. He did it last year and proved it again this year. And it was the right move. Regardless of how the game turned out, it would have been the right call to sit him down for a bit. Unlike last year with Tanner Mordecai, however, Caleb Williams wasn’t giving the job back.

Up Next: The Bad

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Texas WR Xavier Worthy is PFF’s True Freshman of the Week

One of the best performances of any wide receiver in Texas football history.

Texas wide receiver Xavier Worthy took the college football world by storm in Week 6. Continue reading “Texas WR Xavier Worthy is PFF’s True Freshman of the Week”

Five thoughts on the day after Texas’ 55-48 loss to Oklahoma

Some more thoughts 24 hours after Texas’ loss.

Expecting a boring Red River Shootout would be foolish. The game always delivers. Heartbreak, bliss, momentum changes, and severe heart pain all in the span of four quarters, for both sides, nearly every year.

Texas ended up on the unfortunate side of the result on Saturday, keeping the Golden Hat in Norman for another calendar year. Steve Sarkisian learned pretty quickly about this rivalry. Only first-hand experience can do so.

The “shootout” nickname lived up to the hype as well. 103 total points were scored, something we should have expected with Sarkisian and Lincoln Riley running the show. Both teams were unstoppable on offense at one point or another.

With time to digest, and honestly, recover, a rewatch of the extended highlights brought out some more thoughts than just initial reactions. More than 24 hours after the end of the game, here are five next-day thoughts on Texas’ Red River Shootout loss to Oklahoma.