JD PicKell reveals what Texas needs to do to take next step

The excitement surrounding the Texas Longhorns‘ college football program is almost overwhelming after another impressive recruiting class coupled with their empending move to the SEC next year.

On3’s JD PicKell looks at Texas as a pillar of college football. He believes that if the Longhorns follow the blueprint that has been laid out by those before them, it will put them on the fast track to perennial dominance once again.

“Winning consistently — now, that’s what attracts talent. I believe that’s why Georgia and Alabama continue to recruit as well as they have,” PicKell said. “People want to play for Alabama. Why? Because of Nick Saban, yes, but because of his process. The way that he is getting these kids developed and then winning consistently. It doesn’t matter who calls the plays, they’re winning the way they want to win. You’re seeing that same thing in Georgia taking place.

“For Steve Sarkisian, the process that he’s putting into place now, that has to be the draw for Texas to win how they want to win. I’m excited to see it because the reality is, for Texas, we’re going to get to see how far this team has come as a program. The talent is there.”

Leading that charge will be redshirt sophomore quarterback Quinn Ewers, who is heading into his season season as the leading signal-caller for the Longhorns. Still, Ewers is nothing without his wide receivers.

Texas returned its two leading receivers in Xavier Worthy and Jordan Whittington. In 2022, the two combined for 1,372 receiving yards and 10 touchdowns — nine of which were provided by Worthy. They are joined by transfer AD Mitchell, who joins the Longhorns after two seasons national championship seasons at Georgia.

There, Mitchell caught 38 passes for 560 receiving yards and 7 receiving touchdowns. Of course, Mitchell will always live on in Georgia history — catching a go-ahead touchdown pass in the 2022 College Football Playoff National Championship Game against Alabama.

The three, on paper, seem to be the deepest trio of receivers in the Big 12 next season. Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian already named Ewers the unquestioned starting quarterback for the Longhorns to begin the 2023 season. That gives Texas an entire summer and all of fall camp for Ewers to develop chemistry with Mitchell, and build on the relationship he already has with Worthy and Whittington.

Texas will kick off their 2023 college football campaign on Sept. 2 against Rice, but Sept. 9’s matchup against the Alabama Crimson Tide will prove where the Longhorns really are at this point in the Sarkisian era.