Highlights from Jahdae Barron, Jaylan Ford, Xavier Worthy, Jordan Whittington at Big 12 Media Days

ARLINGTON – A number of Texas football skill position players were at Big 12 Media Days to preview a 2023 season where Texas has lofty expectations. Defensive back Jahdae Barron, linebacker Jaylan Ford, wide receiver Xavier Worthy, and wide receiver Jordan Whittington all had time with the media on Wednesday to preview the upcoming season and discuss progress made in the offseason.

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Here are a few highlights from each.

Jahdae Barron: “I usually want to guard Whitt. I’m obviously in the slot. Me and Whitt, we have our battles, but we’ve spoken and chopped it up about just for fall camp just giving each other new looks, me trying out my weaknesses, and fixing them. He’s going to critique new things he wants to do, and I’m going to try new things that maybe I want to add to my bag and display come December.”

Jahdae Barron: “(Malik) Muhammad is a smart, young athlete. With the great program we’re at, we’re going to get the athletes that run fast and are big. Muhammad, he’s a smart, high IQ athlete. Even the guys like Gavin Holmes and (Jalen) Catalon as well.”

Jahdae Barron: “Quinn (Ewers), he’s been amazing. His confidence has been key. I feel like when a player has confidence, they really can’t lack anything. At that point, you’re against yourself. You’re not even thinking about opponents. Quinn, he’s going to make that offense amazing. We have a great receiver group. We have a great line. We have a great running back group.

Jahdae Barron: “(Jalen) Catalon, y’all are going to get the best version of Catalon — the best anyone’s ever seen.”

Jaylan Ford: “Just have seen a lot of guys understand that the room, even though we lost (DeMarvion Overshown), that the level of the room shouldn’t drop. I think a lot of guys have understood that, and a lot of guys have put in the work they need to so they can get on the field and when it’s their time, seize the opportunity. I have a lot of confidence in everybody in that locker room.”

Jaylan Ford: “The things that I see from that D-line are incredible, honestly. To be blessed with guys that play at a high level on the D-line, really as a linebacker you have to be appreciative of that.”

Jaylan Ford: “I think my motivation is definitely myself. Just wanting to be better, better than I was last year. Be better for my teammates and be better for the whole team in general. Every day I get out there, I’ve got to ask myself am I getting better than I was yesterday?”

Jaylan Ford: “(Anthony Hill) is definitely a linebacker. I think his ability to be a natural football player has allowed him to receive the opportunities he’s received, whether that’s working off the edge as a pass-rusher or just being in the box as an off-the-ball linebacker. That just shows his true instincts for the game and how athletic and natural a football player he is.”

Xavier Worthy: “I feel like J-Whitt has always had that leadership and is carrying it into this season, especially with the young guys coming in. I feel like he’s taken on more of a leadership role for all of us.”

Xavier Worthy: “Freshman year, we really didn’t have the depth that we have now. I feel like anybody in our receiver room could come in and produce the same way the first one did.”

Xavier Worthy: “I feel like I took a big step in maturity. After last season, I took a step away to fix myself mentally, emotionally, and physically. I feel like I’ve grown leadership wise. They wanted me to be this leader. I just had to be that. (Steve Sarkisian) told me I need to make big plays and communicate with my teammates. That’s what I’m going to do.”

Xavier Worthy: “I feel like the quarterback room, the bond is crazy. It’s a friendly competition. I feel like they’re all in there to have fun and support each other.”

Xavier Worthy: “Quinn’s leadership, I feel like he’s the head of the snake. He’s accepting that role. He has to be the head of the snake. The quarterback is the head of the snake. Everybody is going to go with him. If he says something, everybody’s going to go. If he says that’s not allowed, then everybody is going to listen.”

Xavier Worthy: “I feel like we just go in every day with something to prove. We left a lot on the table last year, and I feel like we have a chip on our shoulder to go prove everybody wrong.”

Xavier Worthy: “My young me is a Johntay (Cook). We’re the same person, move the same, all that.”

Jordan Whittington: “(Xavier is a) really electrifying player, a really dominant player. He’s stepped up more in leadership, and it’s going to be a really good for him.

Jordan Whittington: “(AD Mitchell) has got all the pieces to the game. He’s just another really dominant receiver to where you can’t drop two on him.”

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Jordan Whittington: “We haven’t (won the Big 12) yet, so I wouldn’t say it’s about time. When we get to that point, then yeah. But right now we’re focused in the offseason on building the team that can actually go and do those things. I think we’re moving in the right direction.”

Jordan Whittington: “DeAndre Moore. We have the same style. He’s playing more in the slot. We’ve been learning from each other. I’ve been teaching him things. I feel like he’s the closest to emulating my style of play.”