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Matthew Golden is a key part of Texas' national championship aspirations

by:James Hayden•about 20 hours
Matthew Golden
Matthew Golden (Will Gallagher/Inside Texas)

Matthew Golden has been the best wide receiver for the Texas Longhorns this season, leading the team in yards and touchdowns. That’s no small feat in a room chock full of five-stars. Coming into the year, the expectation was not that Golden would become WR1. In fact, one year ago, the average Texas fan may have known the name Matthew Golden only as the guy who had a solid showing versus the Longhorns for the Houston Cougars.

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Now they certainly know who No. 2 is. When he suited up in the burnt orange for the first time this August against Colorado State, he had a two-touchdown showing. He followed that up one week later with a score at Michigan, and he’s been productive ever since.

Golden was a four-star recruit in the 2022 class from Klein (Texas) Cain. Golden was offered by Steve Sarkisian and the Texas Longhorns, but the top-200 prospect chose to stay home and play immediately at the University of Houston. His decision helped him make an immediate impact in his freshman season, posting impressive stat lines with 584 yards receiving and seven touchdowns. In his sophomore campaign, he took a slight step back but impressed Sarkisian when he had 88 yards and two touchdowns in a 31-24 loss against the Longhorns in 2023.

After the losses of Xavier Worthy, Jordan Whittington, and Adonai Mitchell, Sarkisian knew he had to hit the portal again for receiver and he did that to perfection with the likes of Isaiah Bond, Silas Bolden, and Golden. Bond was the biggest splash in the portal and was expected to have the most impact, but due to a mixture of injuries and Golden stepping up his game, it has been Golden making the most waves in the receiving room.

Quinn Ewers and Golden have developed a great rapport even within just a year, Ewers trusts him and vice versa.

“I trust Quinn, I know when I run my route, he can put it there,” Golden has said this season.

Golden’s crisp routes and sticky hands has him as the second most targeted player on the team behind Gunnar Helm. Golden has also been a staple of the Longhorns’ red zone offense. Texas will need him to keep playing his best football if the Longhorns hope to bring a national championship back to Austin.

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The Houston native has now played his way into possibly being an early-to-mid-round NFL draft pick. A decision may have to be made in January, but Golden and the Longhorns hope that decision comes after a title win on January 20. One thing is clear, Texas’ offense will need Golden to rise up as he has for most of his debut season in burnt orange.

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