Texas' Spring Wide Receiver Room: One of Steve Sarkisian's most important projects of the offseason

For the second straight year in a row, Texas is tasked with replacing the top players from the pass catching group, a task that has become a habit for Steve Sarkisian‘s staff.

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In the 2024 draft, Texas sent four pass catchers to the NFL, forcing Sarkisian to hit the portal for the likes of Matthew Golden, Isaiah Bond and Silas Bolden. All three of those players, as well as tight end Gunnar Helm, will be playing on Sundays next year.

Texas has not yet gone to the portal this offseason, though Inside Texas expects the Longhorns to be in search of at least one option in the spring window. But without an outside addition for spring practice, Sarkisian is working to develop to what he has in Austin.

With Ryan Wingo and DeAndre Moore being the only returning receivers with receptions on the Texas roster, a lot of intrigue is with the rest of a grossly talented group and their ability develop into true difference makers for the 2025 season.

IT got a chance to closely observe this group at Tuesday’s first spring practice, where quarterbacks Arch Manning, Trey Owens, KJ Lacey and Joe Tatum got their first organized chance to connect with some of the young pass catchers on this team.

Texas’ wide receiver depth chart looked like this:

Moore wasn’t present at practice as Sarkisian mentioned earlier in the spring that No. 0 would be limited, but one would assume that the only veteran of the group will be holding down his position over a true freshman.

Wingo is another player who won’t have to worry about his spot. Donning the newly acquired No. 1 jersey, Wingo will look to continue the lineage of star receivers at Texas, and seems primed to join Xavier Worthy and potentially Matthew Golden as first-round wide receivers. Thankfully for Texas, Wingo has two more years left in Austin.

What IT is focusing on with this group is the unknown commodities of the position. Texas has had a lot that has mixed up this WR position, which has gotten it to the spot where WR 3-8 will be filled with inexperience. The 2022 class featured nearly zero production at the position. The 2023 class, once seen as a potential generational group, has been picked apart. Johntay Cook probably won’t be playing D1 football this year and Ryan Niblett is now on defense. Even the 2024 class has been broken up, with Freddie Dubose Jr. not listed on the 2025 roster.

Preferably, Sarkisian wouldn’t HAVE to stake an important 2025 season relying heavily on Livingstone, Ffrench, Butler, Lockett or Terry III. If you had asked last offseason who would’ve started in 2025, Cook would’ve been the obvious answer, with the hope of Niblett or a even returning Golden also playing a factor.

But here we are, five months from a matchup against Ohio State, and Sarkisian is tasked with progressively making one of the biggest decisions of the seasons for who the third starting wide receiver will be. Here’s the general makeup of the five outside guys and where they might fit in.

Livingstone is the early front runner for the role opposite Wingo. Though the lowest rated recruit, he has the best physical profile, is a year ahead of the freshman, and might be the fastest player in this group. He and Manning connected on a beautiful deep ball in practice that Sarkisian absolutely loved. Livingstone seems to be the most physically mature player of the group, had fluid feet in route running, and could present matchup nightmares for teams that don’t deploy bigger CBs.

Butler’s light weight coincides with reports of him being one of the best YAC guys in this group. Another second year player and the best recruit (outside of Wingo) in the 2024 class, Butler has also been looked at on the inside because of the potential to take simple drags and slants to the house. If there’s anything you’d assume separates the two redshirt freshmen, it’s Livingstone’s size in the run blocking game.

The true freshmen each bring intriguing skillsets and tape to this program from the jump. All rated above a 95 and as top-10 players at the position in the 2025 class (Terry is technically listed as an athlete), this may be the best crop of pass-catchers Sark has ever brought into town. All of them have plus height, and Ffrench looked the most advanced out of the group on Tuesday. The Florida product had more fluid routes and looked comfortable on the crossers.

Lockett, known for his hands, had a few drops. He is one player who could easily shoot up this depth chart in a five-month span. He probably won’t hit the field week one at 185 pounds; that number will be closer to 195.

Terry III is a big wildcard in this group. You’d originally suspect he would’ve been a slot receiver a la Lil’Jordan Humphrey, or even a tight end/H-back hybrid, but he’s getting his first run out wide. He seems like the odd one out of the group, and the most uncomfortable with running routes at practice, but his battering ram size makes him an appealing player to put the ball in the hands of. What’s awesome about this group is that all five candidates (as well as McCutcheon) have extremely different but complementary skillsets. If anything, the future of the position after 2025 looks fantastic.

Texas may not be done at this position. Remember that the Longhorns entered 2024 with six WRs expected to gun for starting spots, not to mention the four other pass catchers behind them, like Niblett and the redshirts. Texas had 10 total scholarship WRs, which is now down to eight.

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Either way, Sarkisian and wide receivers coach Chris Jackson have a lot of work cut out for them. They’ll need to find an SEC starter in a group of freshmen with varying degrees of talent, experience and skillsets, and make sure they’re ready to go to face the defending champions in week one. Inside Texas will be following closely along at this positional battle throughout camp.