Which wideout will become WR1 for Quinn Ewers and the Texas Longhorns in 2024?

The Longhorns have depth, and a lot of it, at almost every position on the roster. However, head coach Steve Sarkisian has built complete powerhouses in some roles, including the wide receiver job.

From transfer wideout Isaiah Bond to returner Johntay Cook to freshman phenom Ryan Wingo, the Horns have talent up to their eyeballs at the receiver position. However, that will lead to Sarkisian having to make a few tough game-time decisions.

So, as the SEC and the upcoming season rapidly approach, which top-tier wide receiver will become Quinn Ewers’ go-to guy in 2024?

The case for Isaiah Bond

Isaiah Bond is new to the Longhorn football program but he won’t be new to playing in the highly-competitive SEC.

Bond started his collegiate career with two years for the Alabama Crimson Tide, and while he wasn’t the go-to guy in Tuscaloosa, he wracked up some fairly impressive numbers.

Last season, Bond was far from WR1 for Jalen Milroe but he still had 48 catches for an impressive 668 receiving yards. He scored 4 touchdowns, including one against the No. 17 Tennessee Volunteers.

While Bond lacks experience in Sarkisian’s program, his knowledge of the SEC and ability to produce against top teams will be vital to the Horns’ success on offense this season.

The case for Johntay Cook

Cook is one of the more experienced returning Longhorns at the wide receiver position, and he just has one season with Texas under his belt.

With stars like Xavier Worthy, Adonai Mitchell, and Jordan Whittington filling the starting roles, Cook was unfortunately placed on the back burner last season.

Despite being a backup at the receiver position, Cook still had 8 catches for 136 yards, averaging 17 yards per reception.

Cook’s familiarity with the Texas football program gives him a leg up on Bond but his minimal experience as a start knocks him down a peg or two.

The case for Ryan Wingo

Young Ryan Wingo is already expected to become a star for the Longhorns, with many people projecting him to be selected in the first round of the 2027 NFL Draft.

Wingo's list of accolades could go on forever, and they will only continue to grow. In high school, he was an All-America and two-time All-State honoree in Missuori.

Wingo was selected to play in the 2024 All-America Bowl game for high schoolers, was ranked as the No. 5 athlete nationally, the No. 2 wide receiver, and the No. 2 athlete coming out of Missouri by 247Sports.

Wingo only played in one game during his senior season of high school football after being injured during his junior year. However, he was a four-year varsity athlete and had 48 receptions for 889 yards over just 15 games.

More wide receiver depth

Matthew Golden and DeAndre Moore are two of the more experienced players on Texas' roster who will most likely fall just short of earning a starting role in 2024.

However, both Moore and Golden show a ton of promise and could soon become dominate athletes within Sarkisian's program.

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