Texas Football: 5 WR targets in transfer portal to replace Jake Smith

Malachi Wideman, WR

Another potential long-term depth play for Sark and the Longhorns at the wide receiver position this offseason would be getting someone like the former Tennessee Volunteers blue-chip recruit and sophomore Malachi Wideman. The 6-foot-4 and 200-pound Venice, FL, native Wideman has a lot of potential that he has yet to reach.

In his one season playing for Tennessee, Wideman only saw targets in one game, where he registered one catch for 24 yards and no touchdowns. That lone catch in Wideman’s time with the Vols came in a loss for former head coach Jeremy Pruitt to the SEC East foe Kentucky Wildcats.

Wideman did get looks on offense and special teams in a few snaps in other games last fall. But that loss to Kentucky was the only one where he got actual targets in the passing game. He was targeted three times in that game, resulting in the one catch. He’s still only run 13 total routes in his career in college football game action.

Moreover, Wideman does have a lot of potential as a gifted outside receiver. This is something that could help the Longhorns shore up the depth at two of their wide receiver spots. Wideman could also be the type of wide receiver that Sark loves to turn to on corner routes and third-and-long.

Texas was not one of the 15 schools that sent Wideman a scholarship offer coming out of Venice High School in Florida. He ranked as the nation’s No. 117 2020 high school prospect, No. 22 wide receiver, and No. 19 prospect out of Florida (247Sports Composite).