WR Xavier Worthy
What do we expect out of Xavier Worthy in 2022? Xavier Worthy broke onto the scene last season and established himself as a top WR in the country. He proved to be versatile by being able to take the top off a defense, and work short routes and screens taking them for touchdowns. Texas’ fans knew what was up after a three TD performance against TTU, and 200 yards against OU. Worthy posted 62 catches for 981 yards and 12 TDs as a freshman, showcasing his game breaking ability from early on. He is primed to have an even bigger season with more help and another year in the Sarkisian scheme. The potential upgrade at QB won’t hurt either.
High School and Recruiting:
A member of the 2021 class, Worthy was rated the number eight receiver in the class and the number 62 overall player. He was committed to Michigan up until Steve Sarkisian got the Texas head coaching job. He then decommitted from Michigan and pledged to Texas just nine days later. A huge first pull to jump start momentum for the new staff. Rumors sparked that Worthy may hop in the portal this offseason. However, if he did I wouldn’t be writing this right now. He’s sticking it out at the University of Texas, and I expect him to flourish.
On Field Skills:
When watching Worthy multiple things pop off the screen. The first being his insane speed. He clocked a 10.5 100m time in high school, so he is a known speedster. He can also blend speeds well throughout his route to force a CB to open his hips or stop his feet, allowing Worthy to blow by him. If Xavier Worthy was hit every time he was open last year, he would have had 130 catches, 2,500 yards, and 25 TDs. In his young age he already seems to understand the nuances of route running, and he uses it to his advantage time and time again.
Outlook for Texas in 2022:
The belief around the fan base is that Worthy is going to explode in year two under Steve Sarkisian. I see no different. He already broke out as a freshman, so the natural progression says in year two he’ll be all that and more. Worthy gets to spend this season with new WR coach Brennan Marion, the coach of the Biletnikoff Award winner last season. Not to mention there are more weapons around him now. The additions of Agiye Hall, Isaiah Neyor, and Jahleel Billingsley will make it easier for Worthy. He was consistently open last year for big plays, and it’s expected he gets even better this season. If the QB play is more consistent, Worthy is going to explode in 2022. Expect a big season out of Worthy.
Career Outlook:
If Xavier Worthy can live up to the expectations he set for himself in his freshman season, expect to hear his name called in the first round in two years. He is a bit small and scrawny, but that hasn’t stopped DeVonta Smith from finding success. With his speed and understanding of route running I expect Worthy to be a productive player at Texas and in the NFL. As it stands today he is the second best NFL prospect on the entire Texas roster, and I don’t expect that to change. If Worthy can put on some weight, he could wind up the WR1 in his class.
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1 Comment
You didn’t answer the question you posed in your title, is he the best underclassmen WR in the nation or not? Granted, that’s a pretty nebulous distinction. In order to be an underclassman in 2022 you had to be a freshman in 2021, so you might as well say “Who was the best freshman WR during the 2021 season?”