Texas Football: Do the Longhorns have anyone who is elite in 2018?

AUSTIN, TX - NOVEMBER 11: Taylor Martin #24 of the Kansas Jayhawks runs the ball out of the endzone defended by Breckyn Hager #44 of the Texas Longhorns and Gary Johnson #33 in the first quarter at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium on November 11, 2017 in Austin, Texas. (Photo by Tim Warner/Getty Images)
AUSTIN, TX - NOVEMBER 11: Taylor Martin #24 of the Kansas Jayhawks runs the ball out of the endzone defended by Breckyn Hager #44 of the Texas Longhorns and Gary Johnson #33 in the first quarter at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium on November 11, 2017 in Austin, Texas. (Photo by Tim Warner/Getty Images) /
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AUSTIN, TX – NOVEMBER 11: Kyle Mayberry #16 of the Kansas Jayhawks breaks up a pass in the endzone intended for Collin Johnson #9 of the Texas Longhorns in the second quarter at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium on November 11, 2017 in Austin, Texas. (Photo by Tim Warner/Getty Images)
AUSTIN, TX – NOVEMBER 11: Kyle Mayberry #16 of the Kansas Jayhawks breaks up a pass in the endzone intended for Collin Johnson #9 of the Texas Longhorns in the second quarter at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium on November 11, 2017 in Austin, Texas. (Photo by Tim Warner/Getty Images) /

The entire Texas receiving corps will thrive behind rising junior wide receiver Collin Johnson this season. Johnson was the leading receiver for the Horns last year, with more than 750 receiving yards. He’ll need to pick up the slack in the red zone, especially given his size and leaping ability.

A logical next step for Johnson is to creep up around the 1,000 receiving yard mark, and nab at least five receiving touchdowns. The Big 12 is a good place to take advantage of high scoring games and to really pad the stats for wide receivers.

Johnson also has a clear niche in this offense as the primary receiver. No other proven pass-catchers for the Horns have the size that Johnson has. Other starting Texas wide receivers like Lil’Jordan Humphrey and Devin Duvernay could be a solid supporting cast to open up the field for Johnson.

Most of the production that Johnson will put forward in 2018 is based off the quarterback play. Both Sam Ehlinger and Shane Buechele had trouble consistently finding the huge weapon that is Johnson last season. Texas has four quarterback options to choose from in 2018. While it’ll be very difficult for Johnson to be considered elite this season with so many top tier wide receivers in the Big 12, he does have the slight chance to do so.

Verdict: Needs a huge breakout to be elite