Texas Football: Breaking down the 2018 performance of the receiving corps

Lil’Jordan Humphrey and Collin Johnson

These two guys separated themselves as the clear-cut top two receivers of the group. The two juniors combined for 2,154 receiving yards and 16 touchdowns. That is 63 percent of the teams receiving yards and 57 percent of the teams receiving touchdowns.

Humphrey did everything for this Texas football team in 2018. He had the most receptions (79), the most receiving yards (1,109), and the most receiving touchdowns (nine). He also had one rushing touchdown and one passing touchdown. Not to mention the fact that he sometimes returned kickoffs and punts.

This guy can do it all.

Humphrey used his 6’4″, 225 pound, frame to consistently pick up chunks of yardage after the catch. Very rarely did you see one defender bring him down. He showed this early on in the season with a game-changing touchdown against USC.

Not only did he consistently break tackles, but Humphrey also used his height to his advantage, putting multiple defenders on the “You Got Mossed” segment on ESPN.

Like Humphrey, Johnson also had a spectacular year on the outside. The junior San Jose, CA, product caught 65 balls for 945 yards and seven touchdowns in 2018. Standing at 6’6″, there is not one defensive back in the country that can high-point balls with him. Johnson was a terror down the field, hauling in 19 receptions of 20 yards or more.

Not only is Johnson a deep threat, but he gets in and out of his breaks very quickly and needs just the slightest of separation to haul in a pass. You press, he goes deep. You sag off, he runs a quick slant. Johnson is capable and comfortable doing both.

The main question all Longhorn fans are posing is – Will these guys enter the 2019 NFL Draft or return for their senior seasons?

Both still have a year of eligibility remaining but an opportunity to be drafted by an NFL team is not something many people get. It is early to be looking at mock drafts, but sites like USA Today and Walter Football  have Johnson as a top 10 receiver and likely third round pick where as Humphrey has been seen in the late teens for his position and a third-day guy.

Head Texas football coach Tom Herman expressed that he encourages guys with remaining eligibility who are not going to be a first round pick to come back to school. Even Humphrey’s mom has spoken out about the topic via twitter.

The decision will fall on the shoulders of Humphrey and Johnson, but it is hard to get a read because neither of them have said much on the matter.

Regardless, it was a great season for both Humphrey and Johnson.