Texas Longhorns coaches figuring out how to maximize one of the deepest wide receiver rooms in the nation

For all the legitimate handwringing about running back injuries , you should see how Texas coach Steve Sarkisian lights up when asked about his receivers.

Is Texas deep enough to sub three receivers at a time? “Easily,” Sarkisian shot back. “Yeah, we could very easily do that.”

Texas’ three transfer portal acquisitions this offseason have already paid dividends during training camp. Fans should expect to see healthy doses of Isaiah Bond (Alabama), Matthew Golden (Houston), and Silas Bolden (Oregon State) this fall.

But don’t sleep on Johntay Cook II, who averaged 17 yards on eight catches last season. DeAndre Moore Jr. is a sophomore with experience. Ryan Wingo is a high-flying freshman who had four catches for 81 yards and two touchdowns in Texas’ spring game.

Think that’s enough? Sarkisian went another step further and doted on redshirt freshman Ryan Niblett, who wants some playing time, too.

“You know, it’s a tough deal, man. As I’ve said, we have six guys that I feel very comfortable with playing in the games,” Sarkisian said Monday after practice.

“And I would say coming out of Saturday, I would say seven,” the coach quickly added. “Ryan Niblett has really come on here in the last week, week and a half, and I have been very impressed with him. Not only offensively, but also on special teams. So that's a credit to him.”

Sarkisian said he pulled Niblett to the side Monday and told the Houston Eisenhower product, “I was really proud of him, because he just continued to work.”

Six receivers? Maybe seven? So far at UT, Sarkisian has picked out two or three receivers and leaned on them heavily. Last season, Xavier Worthy and Adonai Mitchell were the two main threats with tight end Ja’Tavion Sanders used in various ways. Those three combined for 2,542 receiving yards and 18 touchdowns.

Graybeard Jordan Whittington also had a dynamic senior season, picking and choosing his spots en route to 505 receiving yards on 42 catches.

One of the biggest challenges in training camp is figuring out where and when to use each receiver to maximize everyone’s skill sets.

“I think what we've found out coming out of Saturday is the right combination of guys on the field,” Sarkisian said. “Who's your speed guys, and who's good at doing what? And as a play caller, understanding who you want on the field for what.”

Sarkisian compared it to NFL decision making — pairing play calls with specific receiver sets. “It’s a shift and a change, and that’s OK, but I think it’s the right combination of players on the field is probably more important than who’s the top three.”

Quarterback Quinn Ewers sounds impressed. Cook and Moore lead the list of receivers he’s worked with the most.

“I think another big thing is they're starting to understand why coach Sark is calling this play instead of calling another play,” Ewers said. “And I think just their understanding of the game has improved a lot. They both got to sit behind guys like J-Whitt, AD and Xavier, so they got to see what it looks like. I think they're in a good position right now.”