The No. 8 has long been designated for skill position players, with many legendary quarterbacks, running backs, defensive backs, and wide receivers donning the jersey number throughout their careers.
For the Texas Longhorns, the No. 8 has produced some of the most beloved players in program history, most notably at the wideout position.
The latest addition to that list is wide receiver Cam Coleman, who is about to kick off his first season with the Horns and has an opportunity to join a very short list of some of the greatest Texas wide receivers of all time. More specifically, the greatest Texas WRs who wore the No. 8 during their time on the 40 Acres.
Following in the footsteps of his brother, Jaxon Shipley came to Texas as a highly-touted, in-state wide receiver prospect, and he cemented himself as a Legend during his four-year tenure with the Horns.
During his sophomore campaign, he earned a career-high 737 receiving yards for six touchdowns, earning his place as one of the top five wideouts to wear the number at Texas.
Before switching to jersey No. 1, wide receiver Xavier Worthy suited up in No. 8, and it took just one season for him to cement himself among the greats, besting Jaxon Shipley's career-best season performance.
In 2021, Worthy earned 981 receiving yards for 12 touchdowns, all on just 62 receptions. Out of all of the legends who wore No. 8, Coleman is most closely working to follow in Worthy's footsteps.
After starting his career on the 40 Acres as a running back, Wane McGarity switched over to wide receiver, keeping his jersey as No. 8.
During his fourth season with the Longhorns, McGarity lit up the Big 12, earning 1,087 receiving yards for nine touchdowns, securing his spot as one of the best No. 8-wearing wide receivers in Texas football history.
Who else would cap off this list than the one and only Jordan Shipley?
The beloved wideout spent four years with the Longhorns and earned 3,191 receiving yards for 33 touchdowns in his career.
Beyond the impressive overall stats, Shipley had not just one, but two 1,000+-yard receiving seasons. In 2008, he earned 1,060 receiving yards for 11 touchdowns. One season later, as Texas marched into the BCS National Championship game, he earned 1,485 receiving yards for 13 touchdowns.
This season, Coleman has the stars aligned for him to join this legendary legion of Texas wide receivers: he has the all-star quarterback (Arch Manning), he's wearing the proper jersey number (No. 8), and he has all of the potential in the world to become an all-time great.
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