5 Greatest Wide Receivers in Texas Longhorns History

The list of Texas’ five greatest wide receivers in school history may not, at first blush, impress as much as the same list for other schools.

After all, you won’t find many 20th-century players here as the Longhorns were, for decades, known as a running team, not a passing one. But as the game has changed in the last quarter-century, Longhorns wideouts have begun to become integral parts of Texas history.

Most likely, because of the recency, you won’t be surprised by who makes this list. Only a couple of players who didn’t make the cut were even considered. But we’ll stick with these five.

Honorable Mentions

• Johnny "Lam" Jones (1976-1979)
• Kwame Cavil (1997-1999)
• B.J. Johnson (2000-2003)
• Limas Sweed (2004-2007)
• Mike Davis (2010-2013)

5. Quan Cosby (2005-2008)

Cosby ranks fourth in Texas history in receptions, seventh in yards receiving, and fifth in receiving touchdowns. He may not have ever been a No. 1, but he was pure talent for four seasons in Austin.

Consider he played two of his seasons as No. 2 behind the No. 2 player on this list and that Cosby still managed to grab 152 passes for more than 1,800 yards with 15 touchdowns over his final two seasons.

Somehow, he didn’t manage but one second-team All-Big 12 selection, but that has more to do with competition at other schools (Michael Crabtree, Dez Bryant, Jeremy Maclin) than what Cosby did on the field.

4. Xavier Worthy (2021-2023)

The youngest player on this list, we find him - ahem - worthy of inclusion. And why wouldn’t we? He ranks sixth in receptions, fourth in yards receiving, and fourth in touchdown receptions in school history.

What’s most astounding is that those rankings came through only four seasons with the Longhorns, as Worthy left after his junior year for the NFL. He earned All-Big 12 honors all three seasons, including two first-team selections.

As a freshman, he won the conference’s Offensive Freshman of the Year award and Freshman All-American honors after catching 62 passes for 981 yards and leading the Big 12 with 12 scores.

Imagine what he would have done with another season.

3. Mike Adams (1992-1996)

Adams was doing things for Texas out wide that were simply just unusual for the early-to-mid 1990s. He’s the only player from the 20th century to rank in the top seven in school history in receptions, yards receiving, and touchdowns.

Adams was a four-year starter whose teams won the conference three times while he earned two all-conference selections.

When he left after the 1996 season, he led Texas in all three big receiving categories, plus kickoff returns, return average, and all-purpose yardage.

The Longhorns haven’t had a guy like him since.

2. Jordan Shipley (2004-2009)

Shipley was a good player his first two years in Austin. He was an extraordinary one in his final two seasons.

Shipley ranks first in school history in single-season receptions (116), single-season yards receiving (1,485), and single-season touchdowns (13). All of those totals came in 2009 when he just missed winning the Biletnikoff Award because of the ridiculous season from Notre Dame’s Golden Tate.

For his career, Shipley’s receptions total rank him first while his yardage and touchdown totals are second in school history.

1. Roy Williams (2000-2003)

As good as Shipley was, WIlliams is the biggest star receiver Texas has ever had. And that stardom was immediate.

Williams earned Big 12 Offensive Freshman of the Year honors in 2000 after catching 40 passes for 809 yards with eight touchdowns. He was just getting started as he picked up first-team All-Big honors in 2001 and 2002 and then second-team All-American honors in 2003.

Williams’ 3,866 yards receiving and 36 touchdowns are tops in Texas history and his 241 catches are just seven behind Shipley for the top spot.

More Texas Longhorns Rankings

• 10 Greatest Football Players in Texas Longhorns History
• 5 Greatest Quarterbacks in Texas Longhorns History
• 5 Greatest Running Backs in Texas Longhorns History
• 5 Greatest Defensive Players in Texas Longhorns History