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Bohls, Golden: Isaiah Neyor's out, so who'll catch on for Texas opposite Xavier Worthy?

kirk bohls and cedric golden, austin american-statesman
·7 min read
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Wyoming transfer Isaiah Neyor was expected to pair with Xavier Worthy to power this year's Texas wide receivers corps. But Neyor will miss the season with a knee injury, leaving a void in the starting lineup.
Wyoming transfer Isaiah Neyor was expected to pair with Xavier Worthy to power this year's Texas wide receivers corps. But Neyor will miss the season with a knee injury, leaving a void in the starting lineup.

One week from now, these college football questions will get really serious. Until then, it's pure speculation. This week, we speculate about the state of Texas' passing game, who the best player in the Big 12 will be, and how Casey Thompson will fare in a Cornhuskers jersey:

1. Which Texas wideout replaces injured Isaiah Neyor as the Longhorns' No. 2 receiver?

Bohls: It’d be nice to ease the heralded Troy Omeire in that role, but I'm not sure if he’ll ever be full strength with his knees. So look for Steve Sarkisian to roll Iowa State transfer Tarique Milton into that spot alongside Xavier Worthy and Jordan Whittington to keep it as a position of strength.

Golden: A healthy Whittington can be a No. 1 wideout if he stays healthy, but he figures to play more in the slot. It’s early yet, but freshman Brenen Thompson — who won the 100 and 200 for Class 3A Spearman in the spring — has the kind of speed that will stretch the field. He had a case of the dropsies at the full practice I watched but will have the opportunity to make an impact.

More: Brian Davis breaks down every Longhorn in his analysis of Texas' roster

2. Heading into the season, which three players are the leading contenders to be the Big 12's player of the year?

Bohls: Texas running back Bijan Robinson should dominate this category, with Worthy right there with him and new Oklahoma quarterback Dillon Gabriel edging out Kansas State do-it-all back Deuce Vaughn.

Golden: Texas' Robinson, Oklahoma's Gabriel and Kansas State's Vaughn.

3. After Bijan Robinson and Xavier Worthy, which Longhorn has the potential to be a first-round NFL draft pick?

Bohls: Write it down. True freshman Kelvin Banks Jr., who figures to be Texas’ starting left tackle in his first collegiate game next week, will be a high first-round draft choice in three years. He’s that good.

Golden: Banks is just a freshman, but he’s already a grown man. When he walked past me at a practice earlier this summer, he reminded me of my first year on the beat. Way back in 2002, our staff was covering the football players moving into Jester Hall, and a redshirt freshman tackle by the name of Jonathan Scott walked past me. You had to be there, but at that moment I thought he was an NFL tackle. He went on to play nine years in the NFL, winning a Super Bowl with the Pittsburgh Steelers. Twenty years later, Banks has that same look about him.

More: From Bama to Baylor, Danny Davis takes a closer look at Texas' schedule

4. Name the first big upset of the season.

Bohls: I’ll take East Carolina over North Carolina State in Week One. Even though I have the No. 13 Wolfpack in my top 10, the Pirates out of the AAC almost beat UCF and Houston on the road last year; have 15 starters back after a 7-5 year, including quarterback Holton Ahlers and running back Keaton Mitchell; and added North Carolina tailback transfer Kamarro Edmonds. And Mike Houston’s bunch covered the spread against its last seven FBS opponents.

Golden: The Pitt Panthers should be on upset alert because there’s something about those scary MAC teams. Western Michigan beat the Panthers 44-41 in overtime last season and will make it happen again at home Sept. 17.

Bohls: Steve Sarkisian's future at Texas hinges on getting his Quinn Ewers decision right

5. Pick the winners of the 10 conferences.

Bohls: Alabama still rules the roost in the SEC and beyond. Ohio State is my No. 1 team and might go through the Big Ten unscathed. Whether it’s D.J. Uiagalelei or Westlake freshman Cade Klubnik at the helm (by October), Clemson has one of the nation’s best defenses and will return to power in the ACC. I’m betting a much stronger defense helps Oklahoma get by Baylor and Oklahoma State (both are Sooners home games) in the Big 12. Utah will rise to the top in the Pac-12. Powerful Houston takes the AAC before it joins the Big 12 next summer, Fresno State holds off San Diego State and Boise State to win the Mountain West, Appalachian State plays Texas A&M and North Carolina out of conference but wins the Sun Belt, UTSA nips UAB in Conference USA and Toledo captures the MAC.

Golden: Oklahoma in the Big 12, Alabama in the SEC, Utah in the Pac-12, Ohio State in the Big Ten, Clemson  in the ACC, Cincinnati in the AAC, UTSA in Conference USA, Appalachian State in the Sun Belt, Miami to win the MAC, and Fresno State to win the Mountain West.

6. Name a long shot Heisman Trophy candidate.

Bohls: They might not win enough games to make him a serious contender, but USC quarterback Caleb Williams will put up big numbers to throw his hat in the ring after throwing 21 touchdown passes with four picks as a Sooner.

Golden: Ohio State will most definitely send quarterback CJ Stroud to New York, but wideout Jaxon Smith-Njigba is poised for a huge season after catching 95 passes for 1,606 yards and nine touchdowns last year while sharing targets with Garrett Wilson and Chris Olave. He can go ever bigger this season.

7. Besides Ohio State's Ryan Day, what head coach could be in line to win his first national title?

Bohls: Lincoln Riley didn’t leave Oklahoma just for the beaches. He’ll get it going in a hurry with all the California talent around him, and quarterbacks do flock to him. Here’s betting he wins one at USC in three years.

Golden: Brian Kelly will get all the money and resources he needs to get LSU back into the winner’s circle. He's no stranger to reaching the title game — going back to his days at Notre Dame — and while we understand he's now in an SEC minefield, he'll be given every opportunity to get the Tigers back into the College Football Playoff.

8. Which teams out there should the Big Ten still add?

Bohls: I’m betting Notre Dame stiffs the Big Ten, so it'll add Oregon, Washington, Stanford and Cal because the league is hellbent on getting to 20 teams and will give those Pac-12 schools easier travel partners. That will kill the Pac-12, by the way, and send the remnants to the Big 12.

Golden: Oregon has a huge following, and the Pac-12 is reeling. With all that Nike money Phil Knight is pumping into the program along with its massive marketing reach, the Ducks would be ideal for the Big Ten even with the nightmare road trips that would follow entrance into the league.

9. Do you think former Texas quarterback Casey Thompson will have a good season at Nebraska?

Bohls: I do. I’m a Thompson fan and hope he's fully recovered from thumb surgery and brings Cornhuskers fans hope for the future and beleaguered Scott Frost a chance to stick around Lincoln beyond this make-or-break season.

Golden: Sure. With former Pittsburgh offensive coordinator Mark Whipple as a mentor, the Huskers will air it out, which is Thompson’s strength. Expect him to have 10 touchdown passes in the the first three games, all favorable matchups against Northwestern, North Dakota and Georgia Southern.

10. If you could land and NIL deal to represent a product, what product would it be?

Bohls: Not Rogaine, but probably before too long. I’d say Whataburger might be a strong choice — cut the onions — although if Franklin's calls, I’ll listen.

Golden: I’d love to have a paid gig with an oil company like Chevron with bonuses attached to sales. Those guys are the only ones not complaining about prices.

This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Texas has its quarterback, but who exactly who will he be throwing to?