Texas Football: Predicting Longhorns’ Week 1 two-deep depth chart

Field receiver

Starter: Xavier Worthy (JR)

Backup: Isaiah Neyor (RS-JR) OR Johntay Cook II (FR)

Wide receiver is the deepest and most talented position group on offense for Sark and the Longhorns heading into the season. Depth at field receiver, featuring junior standout Xavier Worthy and true freshman Johntay Cook II, is a big reason why there is so much excitement surrounding Texas’ receiving corps in 2023.

Worthy is primed for a bounce-back 2023 campaign after regressing year-over-year last fall. We mentioned on the site on Aug. 24 that Worthy has looked “unguardable” throughout fall practice.

Behind Worthy at field receiver could also be redshirt junior wideout Isaiah Neyor. The former Wyoming transfer cross-trained at field receiver and boundary in fall camp. The Longhorns will get Neyor involved in any way they can in the passing game this fall.

Slot receiver

Starter: Jordan Whittington (RS-SR)

Backup: DeAndre Moore Jr. (FR)

Texas gets a huge piece of the receiving corps back this year with the return of redshirt senior slot receiver Jordan Whittington. As a master working between the numbers out of the slot and a reliable blocker in the run game, Whittington’s value to the receiving corps shouldn’t be overlooked this fall.

True freshman DeAndre Moore Jr. will contribute in a backup role at slot this season. Moore proved himself during spring ball and was consistent while getting second-team slot receiver reps in fall camp.

Boundary receiver

Starter: AD Mitchell (JR)

Backup: Casey Cain (RS-SO)

All the hype surrounding the former Georgia Bulldogs junior transfer boundary receiver AD Mitchell is warranted this fall. Mitchell has a natural connection with redshirt sophomore quarterback Quinn Ewers. He’ll stretch the field and give Ewers another big target to throw to on the boundary this season.

If something were to happen to Mitchell during the season, Neyor would probably be the next in line at boundary receiver. Heading into Week 1, though, redshirt sophomore Casey Cain will likely be the backup at boundary receiver.

Tight end

Starter: JT Sanders (JR)

Starter 2: Gunnar Helm (JR)

Backup: Spencer Shannon (FR) OR Juan Davis (JR)

Special teams coordinator/tight ends coach Jeff Banks and the Longhorns lacked depth beyond the top two players at tight end heading into fall camp. Junior tight ends JT Sanders and Gunnar Helm are a solid duo, especially with the former’s ability in the receiving game.

But there are question marks heading into the season regarding who the backup will be at tight end behind Sanders and Helm.