Xavier Worthy, Adonai Mitchell plan to help the Texas offense be "capable of a lot of things"
Last season, Xavier Worthy was the primary target for Quinn Ewers. As a slender sophomore, Worthy was targeted on almost 30 percent of Texas’ 2022 passing attempts. Often, he was targeted on too many attempts, with the contests versus Oklahoma State and TCU standing out most.
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During the offseason, Texas plucked Georgia wideout Adonai Mitchell out of the portal. Mitchell’s Bulldog career was plagued by injury, but when healthy — specifically in all four of UGA’s recent College Football Playoff matchups — he was productive. He scored a touchdown in all four games, including a pivotal score versus Ohio State last season.
With Mitchell on the roster, a now healthy is primed Worthy to flourish and not have to fend off multiple defenders on a play-by-play basis.
“He’s a huge weapon to our offense,” Worthy said about Mitchell on Wednesday. “His versatility is going to mean a lot to the team.”
In addition to Mitchell, Worthy credited Jordan Whittington for being able to take the pressure off of him regularly and free up all of Texas’ pass-catchers.
“AD, he takes a lot of stress off a lot of people, and Jordan Whittington in the slot too,” Worthy said. “I feel like them being able to do what they do, I think that takes a lot of stress off me.”
Mitchell, originally from Missouri City (or Mo’ City as he made sure to note on Wednesday), is closer to home with the Longhorns. He’s closer to his family in the Houston area as opposed to 12 hours away in Athens, Ga. Most importantly for Mitchell, he’s closer to his two-year-old daughter Icylinn.
“I’d say being here, I’ve been able to spend more time with her over this year than in the past two years,” Mitchell said Wednesday.
Mitchell’s presence in the Lone Star State is a gain for the Longhorns. Now with another receiving option in addition to Worthy, Whittington, and Ja’Tavion Sanders, plus the returning Isaiah Neyor, head coach and play-caller Steve Sarkisian has several explosive options available to him in the receiver ranks as opposed to just Worthy like last season.
“All the attention can’t just be on (Worthy),” Sarkisian said Monday. “You have to worry about other people on the field now.”
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That’ll be key for Worthy, who had a reception percentage just a tick above 50% last season on his 113 targets according to Pro Football Focus. Mitchell’s presence will help create the opportunities Sark mentioned, and Mitchell is excited to see what Worthy can do with them.
“That boy different,” Mitchell said. “The way he can turn it from zero to 100 in two steps. There aren’t guys who can do that. I personally can’t. He’s special.”
Mitchell will get his fair share of help, too. After playing alongside Brock Bowers last season, he understands how much a high-end tight end can help a passing offense. Mitchell has seen that in Sanders during his brief time at Texas.
“JT, he’s an unselfish player and a leader,” Mitchell said. “He’s not just a one-dimensional tight end that’ll just catch the ball. He’ll put his face and hands on somebody. That definitely sets him apart. Just the leadership, every time I’m on the field with him, he always demands excellence.”
Between Worthy, Mitchell, Sanders, Whittington, and others, the Texas offense is set up for a strong season. Just ask Worthy.
“This offense is capable of a lot of things,” Worthy. “It’s just very explosive. We can hit you from anywhere, from backfield, to running backs, from one receiver to another receiver. I just feel like it’s a very explosive offense.”
