Xavier Worthy, mum on his future, is excited for the Alamo Bowl matchup with Washington

SAN ANTONIO — For the second portal season in a row, Texas wide receiver Xavier Worthy is at the center of speculation. He was offered an opportunity to quiet that speculation on Tuesday when he was directly asked at a Valero Alamo Bowl media availability if he would be a Longhorn in 2023.

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“I’m just focused on the game on Thursday,” Worthy replied.

He remained mum on the subject in ensuing questions during a breakout media session. He doesn’t have a timeline for a decision on the matter. He didn’t know if his relationship with wide receivers coach Brennan Marion, who Worthy described as a being like an older brother, would factor into a potential decision.

He gave maybe a tiny sliver of what he’s thinking when he spoke about the bowl being a stepping stone to what Texas could be in the coming years, and also about 2023 recruits Johntay Cook and Ryan Niblett. But that was all it was, a sliver.

“I just try to focus on the game and leave it out of my control right now,” Worthy said. “Just worry about the game and everything I’ve got going on in this point in time.”

The game, of course, is Thursday’s Alamo Bowl matchup between the Longhorns and the Washington Huskies. It’ll be the first chance for Worthy and UT quarterback Quinn Ewers to show off an improved connection, considering so many of their attempted link-ups fell harmlessly to the turf throughout the season.

It’s one they’ve worked tirelessly on throughout the Longhorns’ bowl practices.

“Me and Quinn, we’ve been working on our connection,” Worthy said. “Really, we’ve been working on the little things like he said earlier in the press conference. Glances, little short throws, posts, go-balls, working on our connection and our relationship.”

In order to showcase that improvement, Worthy will have to get past a host of physical defensive backs. Starting Husky cornerbacks Jordan Perryman and Mishael Powell are 6-foot-1 and 6-foot-0, respectively, with both checking in at over 200 pounds. Safeties Alex Cook and Asa Turner are around that size, too. No matter where Worthy ends up, it’ll take proper execution with fundamentals and technique to elude them.

“I feel like they’ll try and put their hands on me and knock me off my route,” Worthy said. “I’ve been working on it with Coach Marion, and I feel like I’m ready.”

Worthy will also be wearing No. 1 instead of No. 8. After Hudson Card‘s decision to transfer, Worthy’s old high school number became available. When that happened, he quickly went and asked for the single digit. He’s glad he has it once again.

“I look like my normal self,” Worthy said. “I missed it.”

The sophomore from Fresno (Calif.) East High School has put together two quality seasons as a Longhorn. During the 2021 season, he broke the freshman records for receiving yards (981), touchdown receptions (12), and total receptions (62). He recorded one of two games in program history with 250 or more receiving yards with his 261-yard performance against Oklahoma.

His production declined in 2022, with 53 catches for 676 yards and nine touchdowns, but he still led the Longhorns in every category. He had just one 100-yard game, a 7-catch, 119-yard, two-touchdown performance against West Virginia. Though his stats weren’t as strong, Worthy still found himself open quite often. The connection between he and the Longhorn quarterback, whether Ewers or Card, just wasn’t there on a consistent basis.

But though his production dipped, his enjoyment of the game did not. Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian said as much in late November, and Worthy reiterated his love of the game on Tuesday.

“Every time I step on the field, I’m having fun,” Worthy said. “I have a smile. I want to have that same attitude every time I step to the game. Just play. Just have fun. Don’t worry about what’s going on. Don’t look at the scoreboard. Just do what I have to do.”

No matter what Worthy elects to do, he made it clear his focus is on the upcoming matchup with the Huskies. The Washington defense will key in on No. 1 on Thursday whenever Ewers drops back to pass.

What happens with Worthy after Thursday? He wouldn’t say. But he views Thursday as an opportunity for his team to showcase what Sarkisian’s program is capable of.

“I feel like this is going to show the country what we have going on at Texas,” Worthy said.