Earlier this month, Texas receiver Cam Coleman caught a football and some attention.
While running across the field during a practice, Coleman leaped in the air and used his left hand to snag a ball that had been thrown behind him. Texas posted a video of Coleman’s one-handed highlight on its social media platforms, a clip that has been viewed 14 million times on the Longhorns’ X account and liked more than 175,000 times on Instagram.
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MORE: Cam Coleman wows Texas, college football fans with one-handed catch
They say that a picture — or in this case, a video — is worth a thousand words. And that’s probably a good thing because the soft-spoken Coleman didn’t have too much to say about his catch during a media session Thursday with local reporters:
Tell us about the catch. “I (saw) the ball and I grabbed it,” Coleman said with a smile.
Is it that simple? “Yes sir.”
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Was that your best catch of camp? “Yes sir, probably.”
Did you make catches like that at Auburn? “Yes sir, I did.”
Coleman’s viral moment, however, wasn’t just for Texas fans. Longhorns detractors would note that Coleman made the catch on a poorly thrown pass and that the 15-second clip was conveniently edited to not show the quarterback. During an appearance this week on “The Herd with Colin Cowherd,” Texas coach Steve Sarkisian added context to the highlight: Sarkisian confirmed that Arch Manning was indeed the quarterback on that play.
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“It was under a little duress,” Sarkisian said. “We were practicing at a high level.”
Texas Longhorns receiver Cam Coleman (8) walks the field during practice on fan day at Darrell K Royal–Texas Memorial Stadium on Saturday, Aril 18, 2026 in Austin.
Aaron E. Martinez/Austin American-Statesman
Cam Coleman reminds Texas coach of a NFL star WR
When addressing Coleman’s catch, Sarkisian noted that “everybody’s got strengths and weaknesses in their game, and one of his strengths is his catch radius. But beyond that, it’s the balance and body control.” Sarkisian was then asked if he had ever coached someone with the skill set of the 6-foot-3, 204-pound Coleman, who caught 93 passes at Auburn the past two years.
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“I would probably say Julio Jones at Atlanta,” Sarkisian said. “Julio was similar that way, that had that ability to high-point those balls the way that he does and can still be a vertical threat.”
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PHOTO: Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Julio Jones (11) misses the catch against Los Angeles Rams cornerback Jalen Ramsey (20) during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 20, 2019, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/John Bazemore)
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Being mentioned in the same sentence at Jones is certainly high praise for Coleman. The 6-foot-3, 220-pound Jones was a seven-time Pro Bowler for the Falcons and is Atlanta’s all-time leader in receptions and receiving yards. Sarkisian was Jones’ offensive coordinator with the Falcons from 2017-18.
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“That (comparison) means a lot. I’ve just got to keep working,” Coleman said.
Texas Longhorns receiver Cam Coleman (8) talks to receiver Ryan Wingo (1) during practice on fan day at Darrell K Royal–Texas Memorial Stadium on Saturday, Aril 18, 2026 in Austin.
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Cam Coleman, Ryan Wingo emerge as Biletnikoff contenders
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When/where: 2:30 p.m. Sept. 5 at Royal-Memorial Stadium.
TV/radio: ESPN; 1300 AM, 98.1 FM.
This week, Coleman was among the 44 players listed on the preseason watch list for the Biletnikoff Award. Texas junior Ryan Wingo also made the cut.
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Since 1994, the Biletnikoff Award has been given to the best receiver in college football. No Longhorn has ever won it. In fact, Jordan Shipley is the only UT player to be named a finalist for the Biletnikoff, and he ceded that honor to Notre Dame’s Golden Tate in 2009.
Wingo is coming off a sophomore season in which he led Texas with 54 receptions for 834 yards and seven touchdowns. Last year at Auburn, Coleman turned 56 receptions into 708 yards and five scores.
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“We’ve got a really good receiving room,” Wingo said this summer. “It’s going to be a fun year.”