Texas Football: 3 sophomores who could make a big leap in 2020

3. Jake Smith, Wide Receiver

There’s a lot of candidates for who can step up and make a true impact in the receiving corps for the Longhorns this fall. But the name that a good portion of the fan base anticipate will step up in a big way this coming season is rising sophomore wide receiver and the former Gatorade National High School Football Player of the Year Jake Smith.

The Arizona native and former four-star wide receiver recruit Smith had an up and down true freshman season last fall. Smith wound up catching 25 passes, for 274 yards and six touchdowns. Few expected that he would be as much of a red zone threat for star quarterback Sam Ehlinger as he was last season.

As a slipper slot wide receiver, Smith was a key red zone target that could shimmy his way through opposing defenses. Much of the production that Smith compiled was in the early portion of the regular season. Five of his six receiving touchdowns came in his first six games of the 2019 regular season that he played in. He also had a big game in the regular season finale against the Texas Tech Red Raiders, with 51 yards and one touchdown.

Smith is also a versatile threat that can make an impact in a number of different offensive looks and on special teams. It should either be Smith or to-be redshirt freshman wideout Jordan Whittington that starts at the Z-slot this coming season. Smith would be the best option out of the gates, given his experience and success at times last season.