One day until Texas Football: Xavier Worthy ready to return to freshman form; Justice Finkley offers versatility at EDGE

Inside Texas is putting a new twist on long-time photographer Will Gallagher’s time-honored countdown to Texas football kickoff. In addition to Will’s great pictures, the Inside Texas staff will go through every player on the roster by jersey number and offer a season outlook on each, from five-star to walk-on. 

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We’ll also look back at other greats to wear that day’s number, with special reverence to some of Texas’ best. 

Today is one day until kickoff. No. 1 for the Longhorns this season will be worn by junior wide receiver Xavier Worthy and sophomore EDGE Justice Finkley.

Xavier Worthy season outlook

Statistically, Xavier Worthy had a quality 2022 season, but an unreported broken hand and the lack of connection with Quinn Ewers on deep passing made his Year 2 campaign seem more like a sophomore slump than a second year surge.

Some of that of course was due to his hand, but the shape of the offense cannot be discounted when assessing Worthy’s statistical dip from his 2021 debut. The presence of Bijan Robinson and Roschon Johnson paired with the absence of Isaiah Neyor allowed opposing secondaries to focus on Worthy. While he was able to still get open at a good clip, there was a lack of connection with Ewers and a difficulty in tracking deep balls that made life difficult for him as the primary target on long throws.

A number of things are working for Worthy this year as opposed to against him entering year three. Ewers is improved, and their connection should be too. Jordan Whittington, Isaiah Neyor, Adonai Mitchell, and Ja’Tavion Sanders join him in putting pressure on opposing defenses. There are other players who can threaten deep as opposed to just Worthy.

Plus, as Worthy has mentioned often over the course of the offseason, his mind is in a better place and his hand is healthy.

Texas has an elite wide receiver talent in Worthy, and his 2023 is slated to be one of the best put together by a receiver in a Longhorn uniform.

Worthy has played in and started 25 games and racked up 122 catches for 1,741 yards and 21 career touchdown receptions, third all-time in Texas Football history. His 60-catch, 760-yard, 9-TD performance was accomplished in 2022 despite playing most of the season with a broken right hand.

Worthy was named a second-team All-Big 12 selection in 2022 by the league’s coaches and the Associated Press. He garnered 2021 first-team All-Big 12 by the league’s coaches and the Associated Press and was the 2021 Big 12 Offensive Freshman of the Year and the AP Big 12 Newcomer of the Year award. 

Xavier Worthy as a recruit

Justice Finkley’s season outlook

Finkley spent the majority of the 2022 season backing up Barryn Sorrell at Jack. That’s likely to be his primary role, though he could factor in at Buck as well behind assumed starter Ethan Burke.

A product of Hewitt-Trussville in Alabama, Finkley and his stout work in the run game could entail more snaps when facing run-heavy offenses. Finkley will play often this year as the trusted second man at two different positions.

Finkley played in 12 games last season, totaling seven tackles (one solo) with half a tackle for loss, half a sack and one quarterback hurry. He is a two-time member of the Big 12 Commissioner’s Honor Roll (spring 2022, fall 2022).

Justice Finkley as a recruit

Recent player to wear No. 1: John Burt

Burt was the most successful recent two-sport star on the 40 Acres. He played in 51 career games and started 23, posting two 100-yard games in his career that also produced 63 overall catches for 896 yards and five TDs. 

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Burt was also a member of the Texas track & field program, finishing second in 110H at 2016 Big 12 Championships and competing at NCAA Championships in Eugene in both the 110H and the 4x100m Relay. He was a second-team All-American as part of the 4×100 Relay team and ran in 110H at the 2017 NCAA Championships. 

Burt was a four-time member of the Big 12 Commissioner’s Honor Roll (fall 2015; spring 2018, fall 2019, spring 2020).

Joe Cook co-authored this article