2012 Texas Longhorns Wide Receiver: Who Steps Up?

The wide receiver group is as crucial to the prospects of the 2012 Longhorn offense as the offensive line or quarterback and though the potential certainly exists for this group to exceed expectations - and possibly even feast on defenses geared to stop the Texas running game - we're short on known playmakers, injuries to a key member of the corps would be potentially devastating, and the Longhorns are overly reliant on the potential contributions of true freshmen or unproven depth.

Ranked by pure talent and proven experience, Texas likely finds itself with the 6th best receiving corps in the league. Mull that over. However, where you start isn't where you finish (just ask Longhorn 1500 meter runner Leo Manzano) and good luck, a resurgent Mike Davis, and solid contributions from freshmen and role players will mean a surprising, dynamic unit.

These numbers from Football Study Hall tell an interesting tale. Manny Diaz reads Football Study Hall. You probably should too.

Player	Pos.	Ht, Wt	2012 Year	Rivals	Targets	Catches	Yards	Catch Rate	Target Rate	%SD	Adj. Yds/ Target
Mike Davis	WR-X	6'2, 193	Jr.	**** (6.0)	82	45	609	54.9%	24.4%	51.2%	5.6
Jaxon Shipley	WR-X	6'1, 192	So.	**** (5.9)	71	44	607	62.0%	21.1%	54.9%	7.6
Marquise Goodwin	WR-Z	5'9, 180	Sr.	*** (5.7)	58	33	421	56.9%	17.3%	48.3%	5.4
Foswhitt Whittaker	TB				23	16	145	69.6%	6.8%	43.5%	6.8
D.J. Grant	TE	6'3, 238	Sr.	**** (5.8)	22	16	180	72.7%	6.5%	40.9%	8.0
Blaine Irby	TE				17	11	157	64.7%	5.1%	58.8%	8.7
DeSean Hales	WR-H	5'11, 178	Sr.	**** (6.0)	10	2	10	20.0%	3.0%	50.0%	0.2
D.J. Monroe	TB	5'9, 175	Sr.	**** (6.0)	8	8	70	100.0%	2.4%	62.5%	11.4
Darius White	WR-Z				8	5	66	62.5%	2.4%	62.5%	7.9
Miles Onyegbule	WR-H	6'4, 235	So.	*** (5.7)	7	4	51	57.1%	2.1%	85.7%	10.4
John Harris	WR	6'3, 218	So.	**** (5.8)	2	2	13	100.0%	0.6%	50.0%	6.5
Barrett Matthews	TE	6'2, 235	Sr.	*** (5.7)	2	2	9	100.0%	0.6%	100.0%	4.5

The final column - adjusted yards per target - tells last year's tale of effectiveness and woe. It's not just that Jaxon Shipley was better than any other wide receiver (7.6 Adjusted Yards Per Target). His effectiveness was the difference between an effective opportunistic passing game and the most inept in college football (Goodwin - 5.4 Adjusted Yards Per Target, Davis, 5.6 Adjusted Yards Per Target). 7.6 vs 5.4/5.6 - damn, that's just huge.

You should also note the encouraging TE and RB efficiency numbers. They're mostly a function of play action and good play calls, but it also presages the direction of our 2012 passing game. If offered a prop bet that the Texas TE position will catch more or less than 29 balls (their aggregate in 2011) in 2012, take that over. And keep your eyes on DJ/Daje/any third down back if they can demonstrate facility catching the ball.

Let's break down personnel...

Jaxon Shipley 6-0, 190

via cdn1.sbnation.com

Incredibly quick, with strong change of direction and stop-start ability, good hands and body control, Shipley is a presence dynamic enough to force an honest defense against the Longhorn running game. Or at least create 1 on 1 match-ups for the other WRs when he draws the double team. The best true freshman Longhorn wide receiver since Roy Williams would have put up even bigger numbers (44-607-3) if he hadn't been plagued by injuries. Jaxon also threw three touchdowns, can run option, and is a potential impact player on special teams. Shipley is one of the three or four most important players on the entire team and his health is paramount to Longhorn offensive success.

Mike Davis 6-1, 195

via cdn0.sbnation.com

As disappointing by the end of his sophomore campaign as he was promising as a freshman, Davis was a net negative in the Longhorn offense after mid-season. He dropped easy balls, sulked when QB play stunk instead of offering support, and ran routes that mocked Euclid. His last game was a 0 catch shutout against Cal (preceded by one catch for 7 yards against Texas A&M; 5 catches for 48 yards against a Baylor secondary that Shipley and Goodwin both torched). By all acounts, Davis had a promising offseason, and we all wish the best for him, but when you anoint yourself as Magic Mike and your Twitter quote is:

Im just a person that don't give a fu%$ about nothing or nobody

....you're firmly encamped in the No-Man's land between bravado and blowhard if you don't perform. Davis has shown a sneaky ability to get open downfield despite a lack of top end speed and, particularly in his freshman year, showed legitimate skills as a route runner and after the catch. While Shipley's health is paramount for passing game success, the second priority is for Davis to take over as a reliable #2 who can punish single coverage. Will Magic Mike pull a disappearing act?

Marquise Goodwin 5-9, 175

via cdn3.sbnation.com

Though his track speed hasn't always translated cleanly to the field and reasonable corner play can negate his potential impact by banishing him to the wrong side of the deep sideline, Goodwin is a tough little customer and a major asset when he gets the right match-ups, or can catch a ball on the move. Last year, Goodwin caught 33 balls for 421 yards and 2 TDs, made a nice contribution in the rushing game (22 carries, 220 yards), and stepped up down the stretch when he was (mis)cast as our #1 WR. Goodwin caught 18 balls for 238 yards and 2 TDs in his last three games, and, while encouraging, our good feelings for Marquise shouldn't be confused with effectiveness when cast as a primary WR. The number don't lie: his Adjusted Targeting numbers were poorer than fan whipping post Mike Davis. My immediate concern is potential injury in his transition from the linear world of long jump to the stop-start of football.

DeSean Hales - 5-9, 175

A possible Gaskamp Award candidate, the senior Hales is the receiving corps' answer to the scrimmaging magnificence of Jeremy Hills. He's always had quickness and the ability to clown a flat-footed defensive back, but his effectiveness seems to fade quickly when faced with a reroute at the LOS by a guy on scholarship. He has 13 catches for 87 yards in his career and a few key catches in his final campaign could offer a Brian Carter style legacy.

John Harris - 6-2, 218

A personal favorite for his love of contact in the three games before his season ending injury, the sophomore Harris is a former high school multi-tool with a fantastic frame, a football player's mentality, and reliable hands. And he can throw a touchdown pass, if needed. What isn't known about Harris is what he adds to the position in terms of actual stress on a defense. Is he a blocker who can work underneath and catch an occasional ball or is he a physical chain mover who can do some things after the catch bullying smaller DBs?

Miles Onyegbule - 6-4, 235

MO came here with similar skill set to John Harris (former high school option QB turned WR) though on an even bigger frame and is currently somewhere between a TE and a WR. Absent an offseason increase in speed, I don't see his easy best use in receiving roles likely filled by Grant, McFarland, Harris, Caleb Jones.

Bryant Jackson - 6-2, 200

The redshirt sophomore moved from DB to WR to add depth and he's finally starting to fill out a rangy frame. Little is known of Jackson at his new position (though he played both ways in high school) and he's one of a few possible big body options to add depth and move the chains on 3rd and 8.

The Freshmen

Counting on freshman WR contribution is dicey, particularly if your offense relies on a WR's ability to make a good decision about when to run to open grass or soldier through the route. In combination with inexperienced QB play, it can be frustrating. Still, if these youngsters are given specific niches and tasks and are able to fill in around reliable and productive assets like Shipley, Goodwin and, hopefully, Mike Davis, they can serve as a needed injection of athleticism and big play ability. We need 'em.

Marcus Johnson - 6-1, 190

The talk of offseason 7on7 play, Johnson is a player to watch in Fall Camp. One of his strengths is his ability to work downfield and he has a loping, elongated stride that lulls DBs into complacency.

Caleb Jones - 6-3, 211

There was a wide chasm of opinion on his upside, but one thing that's quickly evident in his tape is ridiculously good hands, small space athletic ability, and outstanding ball skills. Although 4.4 speed is lovely, the list of dominating big body college WRs without it is long. He could contribute immediately moving chains.

Kendall Sanders - 6-0, 182

Our rawest talent at wide out is the best pure athlete of the three. We're talking Curtis Brown quicks. The same things that intrigue me about Sanders at cornerback are all translatable to receiver: long arms, quickness, ability to create in the broken field, quick feet on a long frame. How quickly can he ramp up? We'll see him in the screen game, at minimum.

Final Word on maximization

1. Keep Shipley healthy

2. Mike Davis must come through

3. Goodwin at WR #3, not #1 or #2

4. A big body WR must step up to extend drives and reduce wear and tear on the three aforementioned

5. Look for TE and RB positions to combine on 60+ catches as a means to supplement WR play

6. Any value add from a freshman, Hales, or someone unexpected is quite valuable