Texas Longhorns Head Coach Steve Sarkisian Faces 2025 With Two Loaded Wide Receiver Rooms and Fierce Internal Competition Brewing

As the 2025 college football season approaches, the Texas Longhorns stand on the brink of something special under the continued leadership of head coach Steve Sarkisian. Now entering his fifth season in Austin, Sarkisian has completely reshaped the culture and talent pipeline at Texas, and perhaps nowhere is that more evident than in the wide receiver room—or rather, wide receiver rooms. With the return of explosive playmakers like DeAndre Moore Jr. and Ryan Wing, along with a wave of blue-chip recruits and portal additions such as Emmett Mosley V, the Longhorns are stacked at the position. But this abundance of talent creates a unique and enviable problem for Sarkisian: how to manage two highly competitive wide receiver rooms while molding a roster worthy of championship contention.

The 2024 campaign saw the Longhorns make significant strides offensively, even as they transitioned out of the Quinn Ewers era and embraced a new chapter at quarterback. Moore, a junior entering his most critical season yet, emerged as a steady and dangerous presence in the passing game last year, showing a deeper understanding of route nuance and an ability to make contested catches. Moore’s maturity and commitment have made him a natural leader among the receivers. On the other side, sophomore sensation Ryan Wing gave fans a glimpse into the future with his sheer athleticism, blazing speed, and ability to take the top off any defense. His growth as a route-runner and improved hands throughout the offseason make him a serious threat to be a breakout star nationally in 2025.

But Moore and Wing are just the foundation. Behind them lies an avalanche of competition. One of the most intriguing offseason additions is Emmett Mosley V, a transfer with serious pedigree and a high football IQ. The former Notre Dame commit brings fluidity, explosiveness, and a high level of polish for someone still developing physically. Mosley’s route-running and separation ability have already caught the eyes of Texas coaches during spring camp. With his versatility to play inside or outside, he’ll likely carve out an immediate role, even in such a crowded field.

Texas’ coaching staff has opted to split the wide receiver group into two rooms this offseason—a move Sarkisian explained was necessary to ensure that every player gets proper development attention. With such a large pool of contributors vying for snaps, segmenting the units allows position coaches to focus more intently on individual needs and matchup roles. It’s a strategic decision not only for performance but also for maintaining morale and cohesion. Wide receiver coach Chris Jackson, who enters his second year in Austin, oversees both groups but leads with an energy and detail-oriented approach that resonates well with younger players.

In one room, the veteran core—Moore, Mosley, and junior Brenen Thompson—operate with a businesslike intensity. They’re the mentors, setting the tone in drills and passing concepts. In the other room, underclassmen and newer arrivals, such as redshirt freshman Malik Elzy and early enrollee Jahari Rogers, are being groomed for immediate impact. This approach has turned practices into battles. Reps are earned, not given. And the message from Sarkisian is clear: the best will play, no matter the year, hype, or past résumé.

The Longhorns’ 2025 recruiting class was a top-five group nationally, and part of that haul included high-profile receivers who are already pushing for playing time. Rogers, in particular, is drawing rave reviews from both teammates and staff for his burst, football IQ, and willingness to block. At 6-foot-2, he adds another big-bodied target to an offense that is increasingly reliant on balance between the short game and vertical shots.

The portal was also kind to Texas. Sarkisian landed a few lesser-known but productive players from Group of Five programs who are expected to provide depth and situational flexibility. This includes redshirt senior Theo Owens from Tulane, who brings special teams experience and a savvy understanding of zone coverage pockets. Owens may not be a WR1 candidate, but his route crispness and toughness have made him a valuable voice in the room.

The biggest test for Sarkisian and his offensive staff will be managing the egos and expectations that come with such a deep pool. At programs like Texas, it’s not uncommon for four-star athletes to wait a season or more before seeing meaningful snaps. But the modern NIL era and transfer portal realities have accelerated career timelines. Sarkisian has emphasized transparency and accountability in his meetings with receivers. He wants competition, but he also wants buy-in. Receivers need to know the plan, trust the process, and put team success ahead of personal stats.

One way Sarkisian hopes to keep everyone involved is through a creative rotation scheme that mixes personnel groupings and tempo to keep defenses on their heels. Texas ran a lot of 11 and 12 personnel in 2024, and while the tight end will still feature heavily, there’s an expectation that the 2025 offense will go even wider and faster. That means more three and four-receiver sets, which opens opportunities for depth players to flash in-game.

Quarterback chemistry will also be vital. With Arch Manning expected to take full command of the offense in 2025, his relationship with each receiver is under the microscope. Manning, known for his poise and preparation, has reportedly spent extra time building rapport with both rooms. Private throwing sessions, film breakdowns, and late-night text threads breaking down defensive tendencies are now routine. The trust he builds in June could determine who he looks to in October on 3rd-and-7.

If the competition within the wide receiver rooms was designed to elevate everyone, early returns suggest it’s working. Practices have been fast and physical. There’s talk of a culture shift—where receivers don’t just want to make highlight grabs, but are willing to block downfield, run decoy routes, and sacrifice touches for the greater goal. This buy-in may ultimately be what separates Texas from the other title contenders. Plenty of schools have talent. Not many have unity and depth at the same position group.

The Longhorns enter the 2025 season with College Football Playoff aspirations. The offense is loaded, the defense returns most of its core, and special teams remain steady. But if Texas is to take the next step—beating the Georgias, Michigans, and Alabamas of the world—it’ll likely hinge on whether this two-room experiment at receiver pays off. Can Sarkisian manage the depth chart, keep players engaged, and field a unit that remains fresh, explosive, and unselfish across a grueling SEC schedule?

Those questions will be answered in due time. But one thing is already certain: the Texas wide receiver room—scratch that, rooms—are overflowing with potential. From Moore’s veteran swagger to Wing’s electric ceiling, from Mosley’s polish to the raw athleticism of newcomers like Rogers and Elzy, there’s no shortage of options. The challenge now lies in refining that talent into a cohesive, lethal unit.

Sarkisian’s reputation as an offensive savant has already been well-earned. But 2025 may present his most intricate puzzle yet. Balancing egos, extracting performance, and keeping competition healthy without crossing into division will take as much leadership as Xs and Os. If he gets it right, the Longhorns won’t just be fast—they’ll be deep, diverse, and devastating.

With two wide receiver rooms and only one ball, every practice snap counts. For Sarkisian, it’s not about finding “the” guy. It’s about building an army of receivers ready to rise on any given Saturday. And by all indications, that army is already forming—one rep, one catch, and one fierce competition at a time.