10 most important offensive players on Texas's roster for the 2024 season
5. Johntay Cook II, WR
Sophomore Johntay Cook II is a true breakout candidate for the Longhorns this season. Cook is Texas's most experienced returning wide receiver this year after he received some reps as a true freshman in live-game action last season.
While that doesn't say much that Cook is Texas's most experienced returning wideout, it does mean that his opportunity is coming to truly prove his rating as a top-tier five-star wide receiver recruit in the 2023 class.
4. Jaydon Blue/CJ Baxter Jr., RB
Texas's running back room looks to be in as good of shape as it ever has in recent years under Tashard Choice, with multiple blue-chip recruits ready to contribute this fall. Led by sophomore CJ Baxter Jr. and junior Jaydon Blue, Texas has a dynamic running back duo who can contribute in multiple ways on the ground and in the receiving game.
Baxter and Blue showed what they can do for Texas's offense running the ball and making plays out in space after junior starter Jonathon Brooks went down for the season with an ACL tear last fall in Big 12 play.
It's likely that Blue and Baxter will be duking it out for who will get the most starting reps out of the backfield pretty deep into preseason camp.
3. Isaiah Bond, WR
Who I would say is the leading candidate for the most receiving yards and targets this season in Texas's receiving corps is the Alabama transfer Bond. Bond is probably Texas's most explosive and flat-out talented wideout. That says a lot since Sarkisian seems to be higher on this wide receiver room than any he's ever heard in his four years at Texas as the head coach.
And while this might be bold to say, I could see Bond being just as good if not better at wide receiver for Texas than their top wideouts from the past few years, including Xavier Worthy and Adonai Mitchell.
Bond has great speed, good hands, and excellent route running. He will be a huge issue for opposing defenses in the SEC this year as the likely top target in the receiving corps for Ewers at quarterback.