OTF Premium Call Your Shot – Returnmen in 2025

[CJ Vogel]

The Texas staff answered a lot of questions about the 2025 roster in the spring. Several impactful transfer portal additions were made at key positions – both specialist positions, wide receiver, tight end, line backer, defensive line x5 and even quarterback.

With those moves, the Texas roster holds depth at just about every position on the field. 

But one position remains answerless – the return game.

In the spring, there were a few names that popped up immediately on day one: Aaron Butler, Daylan McCutcheon and Ryan Wingo. Though, as the spring continued, more options started to arise.

By the end of the 15 practices, OTF had heard the names of Ryan Niblett and Warren Roberson on the defensive side of the ball getting looks. As well as Jaime Ffrench joining the race as well.

Of course we need to mention DeAndre Moore who was sidelined in the spring with a toe injury, as well as new Stanford WR transfer Emmett Mosley V.

In 2024, only Silas Bolden recorded a return in the punt game, while Matthew Golden held all but one of the kickoff returns, the other going to Bolden as well. I don't think it is beyond having your best WR at the position of returnman if the payoff is worth the risk. Xavier Worthy in 2023 was one of the country's best at fielding punts and though the kickoff return game never quite materialized last fall, Texas never wavered on having Golden back deep.

So, with the position seemingly up in the air, call your shot on who you would like to see at both kickoff and punt return in 2025.

***

My best guess is this:

• Kickoff – DeAndre Moore
• Punt – Ryan Niblett or Emmett Mosley

[CJ Vogel]

 

Oddly, the last two punt return touchdowns from Texas have each been from 75 yards out.

[qaertyisthatdude]

D Moore seems like a lock for being the KR.  I’d love to see a healthy Jonah Williams as the PR, but I think Niblett gets the nod due to being more experienced.

[CJ Vogel]

1 minute ago, qaertyisthatdude said:

D Moore seems like a lock for being the KR.  I’d love to see a healthy Jonah Williams as the PR, but I think Niblett gets the nod due to being more experienced.

Jonah would be really fun as a punt returnman.

[qaertyisthatdude]

1 minute ago, CJ Vogel said:

 

Oddly, the last two punt return touchdowns from Texas have each been from 75 yards out.

This punt return, though not for a TD, was pretty sweet in Dallas.  Glad it wasn’t called back due to a random hold or block in the back.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=wBvgVV_TbRI

[CJ Vogel]

1 minute ago, qaertyisthatdude said:

This punt return, though not for a TD, was pretty sweet in Dallas.  Glad it wasn’t called back due to a random hold or block in the back.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=wBvgVV_TbRI

I guess all that Texas needs is to field punts from the 20-25 yard line and that's the sweet spot for a return lol

[CJ Vogel]

Jonah in the return game.

[UTexas]

3 minutes ago, CJ Vogel said:

Jonah in the return game.

I'd take that for sure.

[CJ Vogel]

Can I interest anyone in Parker Livingstone?

[Chris Evans]

Moore is too important. Niblett, livingstone, butler, Jonah. 

[cmk4pres]

10 minutes ago, CJ Vogel said:

Jonah in the return game.

This is one of my guesses 

[CJ Vogel]

Just now, Chris Evans said:

Moore is too important. Niblett, livingstone, butler, Jonah. 

I get the argument, but it didn't stop Texas from trotting out Matthew Golden on KOR in 24 or Xavier Worthy on PR in 23.

[ElCafetero]

6 minutes ago, CJ Vogel said:

Can I interest anyone in Parker Livingstone?

thats not Parker livingstone

thats Jordan Shipley 

[GetHooked]

I'd like to see Niblett returning punts.  It would be great to get a loyal Longhorn on the field.  (And a fast one, too)

[Atxdubstep]

I would like to see Jonah as PR. It would be also serve as a last line of defense if the other team runs a fake punt

[CJ Vogel]

27 minutes ago, Atxdubstep said:

I would like to see Jonah as PR. It would be also serve as a last line of defense if the other team runs a fake punt

That's something I hadn't thought about. Not a bad idea.

[NothinButDaHorns34]

I will go with a veteran, who loves being a Texas longhorn, with long speed and it’s obvious the coaching staff trust switching him to multiple positions in ryan niblett. 

[Jarveaux]

5 hours ago, CJ Vogel said:

Can I interest anyone in Parker Livingstone?

He’s definitely underrated. I believe PL will be the “Big Surprise “ of the 2025 season. Sark probably does also.

[GoHorns1]

5 hours ago, Chris Evans said:

Moore is too important. Niblett, livingstone, butler, Jonah. 

Matthew Golden last years kickoff return man.

[GoHorns1]

Kickoffs Ryan Niblett 

Punt Jonah Williams

[Red Five]

5 hours ago, ElCafetero said:

thats not Parker livingstone

thats Jordan Shipley 

Well they're both white I guess. Shipley's speed/quickness was on a completely different level. 

[MarkInAustin]

If Niblett's hands check out he should be the primary KR.

 

Jonah as PR is too sensible.  Judges fly balls now.  As mentioned, keeps a safety on the field.

[cottoncitysmooth]

Id vote butler. His twitch and speed can be used at either. Niblett as well as a KR. Possibly Filsame? He did have good track times, has good size and would be another safety back there like mentioned before with Jonah

[qaertyisthatdude]

7 minutes ago, cottoncitysmooth said:

Id vote butler. His twitch and speed can be used at either. Niblett as well as a KR. Possibly Filsame? He did have good track times, has good size and would be another safety back there like mentioned before with Jonah

That's what I'm thinking too.  Gotta find a way to get Niblett and Butler's speed on the field in some way so they don't portal out after this upcoming season.  Could have Jonah as a PR and have Niblett and Butler back there as KRs like Tyreek Hill and Mecole Hardman or Devin Hester and Johnny Knox back in the day.  Jeff Banks and Matt Moran have so many options to make both PR and KR more lethal in 2025.  That's why I think they didn't want to use that last scholarship spot on a return specialist from the portal.

[thatdude2]

Somebody gotta say it, Arch!

But I’ll go with Niblett and James Simon