Wideout Cam Coleman, Texas football’s high-profile transfer from Auburn, has been an offseason star.
He boasts the viral vertical leap from a recent practice, plenty of first-round NFL draft projections for 2027, and a big contract that reportedly pays him around $3 million, although collegiate salaries inexplicably remain under wraps.
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But on Tuesday after a spring practice, Longhorns coach Steve Sarkisian gave reporters and the fans a little reminder about another Texas receiver that shines plenty bright.
“I feel like we’ve forgotten about Ryan Wingo,” Sarkisian said. “This guy was the second-team All-SEC receiver (in 2025). He’s a really good player, and we’re fortunate to have him to go along with Cam and all the guys over there.”
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Texas Longhorns wide receiver Ryan Wingo (1) celebrates after the win over Texas A&M in the Lone Star Showdown at Darrell K Royal–Texas Memorial Stadium on Friday, Nov. 28, 2025. (Aaron E. Martinez/Austin American-Statesman)
Ryan Wingo: Five-star recruit now team veteran
For those that get just as enamored by offseason moves as they do on-field production, here’s a quick reminder about what Wingo brings to the Longhorns’ offense. A 6-foot-2, 211-pounder with sprinter’s speed, Wingo arrived in Austin from St. Louis as a five-star recruit in the 2024 class. He made an immediate contribution as a freshman with 29 catches for 472 yards and a pair of touchdowns while garnering snaps in a veteran-heavy receiver rotation. Last year, he stepped into the starting lineup and had 54 catches for 834 yards and seven touchdowns.
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Wingo missed most of the spring with a wrist injury before returning this past week. But once he got back to full strength, Sarkisian and the other coaches immediately felt Wingo’s presence on the practice field.
“That’s just one thing that’s shown up to me as Ryan has been coming back into the fold: It’s like, wow, this guy’s really good,” Sarkisian said. “And he continues to get better, from where he was his freshman year to where he is now.”
And now, Wingo suddenly feels like a veteran voice in a receiving room that includes two new transfers in Coleman and Sterling Berkhalter, a second-year Texas player in Emmett Mosley V and a fleet of youngsters that includes sophomore Daylan McCutcheon, redshirt freshman Kaliq Lockett and prized freshman recruit Jermaine Bishop Jr.
“This year, for sure, I’m like an old head now,” said the affable Wingo after a recent practice. “I kind of try to mentor all of the young guys who come in and even the transfers that come in. I’m helping kind of everywhere and everybody.”
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That selfless attitude especially helps since, in theory, Wingo could cede targets to Coleman once the 2026 season kicks off Sept. 5 against visiting Texas State. Coleman, also a junior, hauled in 93 passes for 1,306 yards and 13 touchdowns in 22 career games at Auburn and could up those numbers while playing with quarterback Arch Manning in Sarkisian’s pro-style offense. But when asked how his role in the offense will look different with the arrival of Coleman, Wingo embraced the opportunities.
“I don’t really think it’s changed,” he said. “We’ve just got another great option on the other side. He’s another great playmaker, so more one-on-one matchups. It’s going to be a good season, and we’re going to be able to really showcase our abilities.”
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Steve Sarkisian: Two star receivers will open up offense
Those one-on-one matchups that Wingo mentioned have made Sarkisian excited about his play-calling options downfield. Both are All-SEC receivers accustomed to always having a safety cheat to their side of the field when a team lines up with just one safety, said Sarkisian.
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“If you’re only going to play with one safety, you can only cheat so many ways,” Sarkisian said. “And if you’re going to play with a split safety, surely that helps the run game.”
That means both Coleman and Wingo will assume the roles of chess pieces in Sarkisian’s offense, ones that can attack a defense from myriad angles. That will help the Longhorns’ offense this fall, and it will help both Coleman and Wingo when they eventually make the move to the NFL, the coach said.
“I just think them understanding (that) we’re going to ask them to do multiple things, probably more than they’ve done in their past,” he said. “And they’re more than capable of doing that, and that’s going to benefit them, not only for us and this team this year, but it’s going to benefit them for the future as they grow into their career.”