AUSTIN – The Texas Longhorns have a lot of good and talented receivers heading into the SEC, but second-year wide receiver Ryan Niblett is proving he belongs there.
Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian met with the media on Monday and announced that Niblett has earned playing time ahead of the regular season after continuing to put in impressive performances on both offense and special teams throughout training camp.
Sarkisian acknowledged that Niblett’s recent play at the receiver position has the Longhorns seven deep, as multiple wideouts will be battling for playing time each Saturday.
“That’s a tough one, man,” Sarkisian said of how to handle the WR rotation. “Like I said, we’ve got six guys that I’m very comfortable with in the game. And on Saturday, I’d say it’s seven. Ryan Niblett has really developed well here over the last week and a half and (I’m) very impressed with him, not only offensively but on special teams. And that’s to his credit. I told him that on the field today. I’m really proud of him for just continuing to work.”
Despite Niblett’s development, he is still a hidden spot on a roster that includes three talented transfers in Silas Bolden, Isaiah Bond and Matthew Golden, as well as second-year receivers Johntay Cook II and DeAndre Moore Jr. Five-star freshman Ryan Wingo showed off his skills in the spring game in April with four catches for 81 yards and two touchdowns and appears to be living up to expectations through the 2025 season.
Last season, Niblett appeared in three games as a freshman but failed to record a single catch. That should change in the 2024 season, but it could be another injury or two before the former four-star recruit is targeted again.
If No. 4 Texas can build a big lead in its regular-season opener against Colorado State on Aug. 31, Niblett could expect to have a solid stat sheet at the start of his sophomore year.
