Xavier Worthy shares how playing for Steve Sarkisian prepared him for NFL

Xavier Worthy has set himself up as one of the top wide receiver prospects in the 2024 NFL Draft after his stellar season at Texas was complimented by his record-breaking 4.21-second 40-yard dash at the scouting combine in March.

Something that Worthy feels as though has helped him on his journey — playing under head coach Steve Sarkisian on the 40 acres. He explained why his experience as a Longhorn sets him apart from the rest of the wide receiver class this year.

“I feel like just his scheme and the way he called plays, the way his offense was set up,” Worthy said on SportsCenter earlier this month. “It was like everything I kind of looked at at the Combine, meeting with teams and stuff like that, looking at their playbook, … so when there was memorization at the end of the conference, it was kind of like looking at our own playbook. So there wasn’t much to remember, it was kind of so easy.

“Having Sark as an OC and having his playbook, and then going to look at other teams’ playbooks, it was really nothing different.”

Before he was breaking records in the NFL Combine, Worthy was as productive as any wide receiver in the country over the last three seasons. In that time, the former Longhorn wide receiver amassed 195 receptions, 2,710 receiving yards and 26 receiving touchdowns, becoming one of the top pass catchers in the nation and in-turn, one of the top prospects in the entire draft cycle.

Before this past season, Worthy’s success was expected. Selected as a unanimous preseason all-Big 12 pick, he was put on the watchlist for the Maxwell Award, Walter Camp Player of the Year, Biletnikoff Award, Paul Hornung Award and the Earl Campbell Tyler Rose Award. After his awe-inspiring performance in Indianapolis at the 2024 NFL Scouting Combine, he will face similar expectations before his rookie season.

In ESPN draft analyst Mel Kiper Jr.’s latest big board, Worthy ranks as his No. 14 overall prospect. Despite his status, Worthy is Kiper’s fifth wideout on the board, behind Marvin Harrison Jr. (No. 2 overall), Rome Odunze (4), Malik Nabers (5) and Brian Thomas Jr. (12). Still, Kiper Jr. expects Worthy to hear his name called on day one despite the plethora of talent at his position.

The 2024 NFL Draft will get underway on April 25 through April 27 in Detroit.