Each year, the NFL community gathers in Indianapolis for the NFL Combine — a four-day showcase during which prospective college athletes are scouted. This year, the Texas Longhorns’ own Xavier Worthy and Adonai Mitchell dominated the combine with their speed and route running ability, further growing their stock, further proving to the NFL not to overlook them, and furthering the Longhorns’ historical accolades as their first potential pair of first-round wide receivers.
Mitchell started his college career at the University of Georgia before transferring to the University of Texas(UT) where he found success, gaining national attention and an invite to the combine. Come combine day he participated in drills well before Worthy, setting the bar for receivers with his 4.34 40-yard dash, an unprecedented time for a receiver of his 6’4” 196-pound frame. Although he was one of the biggest and most physical receivers to run the 40-yard dash, Mitchell set a new fastest time, catching the attention of many, and opening the door to being a first-round lock this year.
Although his performance came as a surprise to many, for Longhorn fans Mitchell’s show was expected as he quietly made his way to one of Quarterback Quinn Ewers’ top targets, racking in 55 catches, the second most on the team behind Worthy. Throughout his time at UT, Mitchell was key in bringing the Longhorns to their first and only playoff berth in the four-team era, scoring 11 touchdowns on the season. Still, some questioned Mitchell’s ability to be a real receiving threat, pointing to his one-dimensional pass-catching regime as a jump-ball receiver. He has answered those questions now.
Worthy, whose draft stock entered the combine slightly lower than Mitchell’s, spent his entire college career with the Longhorns, building chemistry with Ewers and becoming a fan favorite on and off the field. He entered the day in the last wide receivers group — players are organized alphabetically— ready to show off the same speed he showed in college. It was no question that he was fast, but when he stepped up to take his second 40-yard-dash run certainly nobody expected him to make history. Worthy ran a 4.25 on his first run, well ahead of Mitchell, just 0.3 seconds away from the combine record, and well above any other Wide Receiver. Worthy didn’t want to stop there. He wanted the record and the record he got. Flying through the 40, Worthy not only set a record 4.21 dash, but kept running, circling the arena, and showing himself off to the roars of the fans in attendance.
After the dash, Worthy disregarded the other Wide Receiver drills offered for players, having left his mark on every scout in attendance. A player once considered a second-round talent now has many predicting him to the first round as many teams will want to utilize the fastest player in combined history. Before leaving, Worthy flashed a “hook-em” to the crowd, paying homage to his college roots
Worthy and Mitchell’s performances were unforgettable, regardless of what the future holds for them. If that future isn’t a day-one draft pick, it will certainly be on an NFL team.
