Texas Longhorns WR Xavier Worthy Named Big 12 Special Teams Player of Week
Texas Longhorns wide receiver Xavier Worthy has earned the Big 12 Conference Special Teams Player of the Week award following his performance against the BYU Cougars on Saturday.
The conference office announced Worthy as the recipient on Monday. The award marked Worthy's first weekly conference award of the 2023 season and his second recognition in his entire college career.
Worthy's previous recognition award was granted to him in September of 2021 as the Big 12 Newcomer of the Week.
Texas Longhorn WR Xavier Worthy
Jay Janner/American-Statesman-USA TODAY NETWORK
The Texas Longhorns nearly blew out the Cougars with a 35-6 victory at DKR Stadium in Austin on Saturday.
Worthy put up the first points on the scoreboard with a 74-yard punt return for a touchdown in the first quarter. His run marked the first punt return for a score by a Longhorn since 2018 and took the 10th-longest slot in Texas football program history for punt return yardage. Up until Saturday, BYU had yet to allow a punt return for a score since 2019.
In addition to his special teams touchdown, the Fresno, California native recorded four catches for a total of 27 yards. Worthy now has 33 consecutive games with a completed catch, recording the fourth-longest streak in Texas Longhorn football program history.
The Longhorns have a lot riding on their plate this upcoming weekend. The Horns will host the previous Big 12 champions, the Kansas State Wildcats, at DKR Stadium on Saturday morning. As two Big 12 losses may not grant a trip to Arlington at the end of the season, both the Longhorns and the Wildcats will be looking to secure a conference win.
