Texas Football: 3 offensive standouts from win over West Virginia
By Shane Black
Still thinking about this @XavierWorthy catch tbh 🤯 pic.twitter.com/y6R7AZTlOW
— Texas Football (@TexasFootball) October 2, 2022
Xavier Worthy, WR
It was a vintage performance for Xavier Worthy inside DKR Stadium on Saturday night. The sophomore wide receiver hauled in seven receptions for 119 yards and two scores to lead the Longhorns in all receiving categories.
Worthy, who was deemed questionable throughout the week after suffering a lower-body injury in Lubbock, started the game at his normal Z-WR position. After limping off the field on the first possession, Worthy shrugged off whatever nagging injury was bothering him.
On the second possession of the game, he caught two passes, including a 15-yard touchdown strike on a beautifully ran route to the short corner of the end-zone.
TEXAS TOUCHDOWN! 😤@XavierWorthy brings it in for @TexasFootball ! pic.twitter.com/C2L5lurpgN
— FOX College Football (@CFBONFOX) October 2, 2022
Worthy’s second touchdown snag was a little less straightforward.
HE STICKS IT 🙌 @XavierWorthy with the follow through for the touchdown! @TexasFootball pic.twitter.com/FG1CvYnAw6
— FOX College Football (@CFBONFOX) October 2, 2022
The concentration from Worthy on that catch was impeccable as he continues to show why he was named a preseason AP Second Team All-American.
I like the way Coach Sarkisian used Worthy in Saturday night’s game plan. He gave him the ball a few times on screen passes while taking four or five shots over the top.
Worthy’s top skill is his speed. It is important that this offense continues to target Worthy over the top even if they are not connecting. The threat of #8 getting behind the opposing defense does wonders in opening up the box.
This game was certainly a slump-buster for Worthy, who had yet to have a game with over five receptions or 100 yards this season.
What cannot be overshadowed, however, is the arm accuracy of the sophomore which was shown off late in the first quarter.
ON THE DOT!! 🎯 @Jatavionsanders with the TD catch for @TexasFootball pic.twitter.com/TS65GGtqmV
— FOX College Football (@CFBONFOX) October 2, 2022
In the first pass attempt of his career, Worthy found tight end Ja’Tavion Sanders downfield for a 33-yard touchdown. Worthy’s pass, which hit Sanders in stride, traveled 35 yards in the air.
It was a breath of fresh air to see Sark draw up a trick play that worked for this Texas offense.
Worthy was the offensive standout in this win over West Virginia. This is a welcomed site as he tries to replicate his 2021 261-yard, two-score performance against Oklahoma this week.