Spring Ball Agenda | Target Splits

We continue trekking forward closer to the beginning of spring football. It is getting ever so close, but first, there remains some topics that need to be discussed.

Today, that topic is with the reload going on in the wide receiver room and how Steve Sarkisian and Chris Jackson might be able to deploy the new group of weapons.

***

For this exercise, I wanted to take a look into a number of categories from the 2023 season – alignment by position (slot vs. outside), average distance of target, yards after catch and drop rate. Of course, numbers will be limited for Johntay Cook who is expecting to make a leap into the rotation fully for the first time as a Longhorn this fall, and there won't be official numbers on Ryan Wingo – more so just an education guess based off of high school tape.

But to the numbers we go, starting with overall receiving numbers.

• Isaiah Bond           – 48 rec., 668 yards, 4 TD, 13.9 YPC
• Matthew Golden   – 38 rec., 404 yards, 6 TD, 10.6 YPC
• Silas Bolden          – 54 rec., 746 yards, 5 TD, 13.8 YPC
• Johntay Cook        – 8 rec., 136 yards, 0 TD, 17.0 YPC

Following the departures to the NFL and the transfer portal after the 2023 season, Texas had just eight career receptions returning to the field among seven wide receivers expected to be on roster (four of which true freshmen). Of course, the additions to this room have been well-document as they should be. Texas is adding big time talent with a wealth of experience.

The questions as posed at the top is now, how will Texas use it?

First, a look at alignment should give an idea of how each WR was used at previous stops. We know Texas wants position-less wide receivers on roster, but this will give an idea of each player's strength so far.

Alignment:

• Isaiah Bond           – Slot (58.6%) | Out wide (40.9%)
• Matthew Golden   – Slot (34.5%) | Out wide (65.5%)
• Silas Bolden          – Slot (18.8%)  | Out wide (80.8%)  
• Johntay Cook       – Slot (17.8%)  | Out Wide (82.1%)

Biggest number here is Isaiah Bond's usage from the slot. I was a bit surprised to see Silas Bolden's split. However, if you watch Bolden's tape from Oregon State, he does not play small on the outside. He can go get just about anything and has a much larger catch radius than his frame might insist.

Ironically, Johntay Cook's most impactful plays, the 50-yard reception against Baylor and Worthy's long TD vs. Alabama, came when Cook was lined up on the interior as well.

Average Distance of Target:

• Isaiah Bond           – 12.8 yards
• Matthew Golden   – 8.3 yards
• Silas Bolden          – 12.2 yards
• Johntay Cook       – 11.1 yards

A fair balance of distance per target across the board here. The outlier being Matthew Golden who was not targeted down the field often and instead used much more in the quick, short game while at Houston.

Yards After Catch Per Reception

• Isaiah Bond           – 4.6 yards
• Matthew Golden   – 5.9 yards
• Silas Bolden          – 5.1 yards
• Johntay Cook       – 8.3 yards

Nothing too crazy here. Though you can see the shorter distance of target for Golden plays into his favor a bit in this category. Johntay's long reception vs. Baylor and catch from Arch Manning help him, though obviously without the same volume.

Drop Rate

• Isaiah Bond           –  3.6% (two drops)
• Matthew Golden   – 13.3% (six drops)
• Silas Bolden          – 3.9%  (two drops)
• Johntay Cook       –  11.1% (one drop)

Golden's drop rate might be a bit of a concern. He was not targeted down the field very often, leading me to believe there may be some concern with the quick routes here. Otherwise, a drop rate below 5.0% is consider good in the college ranks. AD Mitchell's drop rate of 1.8% last season was considered elite.

***

So where does this lead us? After seeing Ryan Wingo get run in the slot during the All American week and again on his tape, it would not surprise me to see him used there at times to begin his college career. He is that much of a mismatch on the field to just throw out wide.

I do think you will continue to see Isaiah Bond in the slot. But the interesting part is Silas Bolden. The gadget term gets used often due to his height, but he is a true receiver and has proven to produce at high levels of ball when thrown outwide. This is the versatility that Texas will get to deploy next fall.

Five really talented wide receivers that will get to torment defenses any chance they can. Steve Sarkisian and Chris Jackson will be salivating this spring when getting to test out the new wheels of the offense.