Xavier Worthy, the leading receiver for the University of Texas Longhorns, had a unique journey in the football world. Despite having exceptional talent, he couldn’t join his desired team. The WR aimed to join Michigan in 2021; however, things took a drastic turn and he ended up in Texas.
The WR’s mother, Nick Jones, explained the whole story about this transition for Xavier Worthy and why he decided to join Texas, where he is showcasing his incredible skills and talent.
Xavier Worthy’s mother once described why he moved from Michigan to Texas
Nick Jones played a significant role in helping her son achieve his goals. She shared the detailed story of how Worthy moved from Michigan to Texas.
She shared that Xavier Worthy committed to the University of Michigan in December 2020 as part of the 2021 recruiting class. He was highly regarded, being a four-star recruit and the No. 1 player in California, choosing Michigan over other top programs.
Despite proactive efforts and creative solutions by Worthy’s mother, the Michigan admissions department raised obstacles.
“Unfortunately, as his recruiting process heated up, a pandemic was going on. Worthy couldn’t take official visits and had to build relationships over video chats. He became a big believer in Michigan offensive coordinator Josh Gattis and his “Speed in Space” mantra, and that connection persuaded him to commit to Michigan in July 2020,” the WR’s mother shared.
His mother enrolled him in an online program, Apex Learning Virtual School, for the fall of 2020 to meet eligibility requirements. Two weeks before his planned move to Ann Arbor, an admissions problem surfaced.
Despite wanting to stay in Michigan, Worthy couldn’t join the team as he wasn’t allowed to enroll.
“For me, that didn’t fly,” she said. “I turned in all of his academic paperwork and applications in September. As far as I had been told, up until two weeks before, he was on track to enroll early. There was nothing missing, nothing short, they’d waived the SATs. It didn’t make sense. Something wasn’t right. What’s the problem and why am I finding out about this now?”
Trust between Worthy’s family and Michigan eroded, with the family feeling uninformed and receiving apologies without clarity.
“Michigan messed that up,” Jones said. “The trust wasn’t there. For us, trust is so big in everything. We just never felt like we were getting the truth about what happened. It was just a lot of, ‘We’re sorry.’”
Worthy returned to Fresno, reevaluating his future and missing the opportunity to play in his school’s spring season. Determined to follow Coach Sarkisian, Xavier Worthy decided to transfer to the University of Texas.
Xavier Worthy declares for 2024 NFL Draft
Xavier Worthy is declared for the 2024 NFL draft. Worthy announced this in a social media video on Tuesday after Texas lost the Sugar Bowl against Washington.
The WR expressed gratitude for his time at the University of Texas, acknowledging the highs, lows, lessons, and blessings that shaped his journey and character.
“My time here at the University of Texas has been filled with highs, lows, lessons, and blessings,” the WR said in his video. “All of them are part of my journey and who I am today. I will be eternally grateful to those who have always believed in and supported me.”
He highlighted the blessing of playing the sport he loves at a high level with talented teammates, expressing continuous thankfulness for the experience.
According to the latest B/R draft big board, Worthy is ranked as the No. 10 wide receiver and No. 44 overall player in the 2024 draft class. During his junior season, Worthy showcased his skills as a No. 1 receiver, leading Texas with 75 receptions, 1,014 yards, and scoring five touchdowns.
Xavier Worthy’s contributions extended beyond receiving, as he impressed as a punt returner, accumulating 371 yards on 23 returns with one score.
The WR’s decision to join Texas proved to be a good decision for him. Now, he has a bright future ahead in the NFL and much more to achieve.
