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Xavier Worthy leaves Texas as one of program’s all-time great receivers

Steve Habelby:Steve Habel•01/05/24•

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Xavier Worthy (Will Gallagher/Inside Texas)

As was expected, Xavier Worthy’s two catches for 45 yards in No. 3 Texas’ 37-31 loss to No. 2 Washington in the Allstate Sugar Bowl on Jan. 1 in New Orleans were the final receptions he would produce for the Longhorns in his record-breaking career.

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The next night, through posts on several social media channels, Worthy announced his decision to forego the remainder of his collegiate career and opt to be placed in the 2024 NFL Draft. The lightning-quick, 6-foot-1, 172-pound receiver and return man is expected to be selected in the early rounds, continuing a legacy of Texas receivers that have played in the NFL.

“My time here at the University of Texas has been filled with highs, lows, lessons, and blessings,” Worthy said in social media post. “All of them are part of my journey and who I am today. I will be eternally grateful to those who have always believed in and supported me. My mom, family, day ones, coaches, football brothers and real fans. 

“To play the sport I love at this level with some of the most talented guys in the game is a blessing I don’t take for granted, and I will continue to be thankful for. With that being said, I will be declaring for the 2024 NFL Draft. “

Worthy finished his 39-game stint on the 40 Acres with 2,755 yards receiving and 26 touchdowns on 197 catches. Seventy-five of those receptions and 1,014 of the yards came in 2023, when he was one of the primary offensive weapons for a Texas team that finished 12-2 (with its losses coming by a combined 10 points) and played in the College Football Playoff for the first time in program history.

Worthy leaves Texas No. 4 on the career receiving yardage list, behind only Roy Williams (3,866 yards), Jordan Shipley (3,192) and Mike Adams (3,032). 

He is also third in receiving touchdowns, in arrears only to Williams (36) and Shipley (33) and in sixth place in career receptions, behind Shipley (248), Williams (241), Jaxon Shipley (218), Quan Cosby (212), and Davis (200).

All those marks would have been in danger if Worthy would have played a fourth season for the Longhorns.

Worthy also ran for 56 yards on seven career carries, returned 40 punts for 564 yards (a 14.1-yards per return average) with a 74-yard TD this year against BYU, had two kickoff returns for 33 yards. He even threw three passes, and completed two of them, including a 33-yard score in 2022.

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There’s no doubt that Worthy will be missed, especially after he had such a resurgent campaign in 2023 after struggling the previous season with an undisclosed broken hand.

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