Texas Football: Longhorns need to use Jared Wiley more

The Texas Longhorns have a weapon in the passing game with Jared Wiley. They just need to utilize him more in the final five games.

In the modern game of college football it has become about three things. Mobile quarterbacks, wide receivers and running backs. The days of the traditional tight end have really become all but extinct. At the NFL level, the ones who excel most are the big wide receivers. A “light end” if you will. However, there are always exceptions to that case and for the Texas Longhorns they just might have one of those exceptions on the roster.

The starting tight end has been Cade Brewer. The senior does a lot well. He can block, he can catch. All the way around Brewer is a solid tight end for this offense. The guy they should get involved a lot more is Jared Wiley. The sophomore stands at 6’6″ according to the bio but he might be closer to 6’7″. Regardless Wiley stands out in a crowd.

For an offense that has shown the ability to go downfield, they do lack the playmakers to do so consistently. Joshua Moore has been their stud wide receiver. Tarik Black and Brennan Eagles have shown flashes when they stay committed to throwing the football. Jordan Whittington and Jake Smith can’t stay healthy and then you have Brewer.

A solid group of players, but if you needed a guy who can go up and get the ball, better go to Jared.

This season Wiley has played a total of 159 offensive snaps and 66 more on special teams for a total of 225 snaps. Of those 159 snaps he has been targeted by the quarterback on just eight of those snaps. That means five percent of the time Wiley is being targeted by the quarterback. Of those targets he caught six passes, 75% catch rate.

Wiley is averaging 18.4 yards per target, when he catches the ball he averages 24.5 yards per reception. Every reception has come up the seam. Of the 147 yards receiving, 47% of those yards have come after the catch. Two catches alone have accounted for 99 yards.

Using his size in the red zone is another way that he can be utilized. Something that he did in high school. All offensive coordinator Mike Yurcich needs to do is dial it up and let Sam Ehlinger find him.

The player that Wiley has shown to be for this team is what many thought they were getting from Malcolm Epps. If the Longhorns want to threaten defenses as the season goes, get 18 on the field and let him thrive.