Texas Longhorns Land Commitment From Elite Transfer WR: Game-Changer for the 2025 Season

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The rich just got richer in Austin.

The Texas Longhorns, already boasting one of the most dynamic quarterback rooms in college football and a top-10 roster heading into the 2025 season, added even more firepower with the commitment of elite transfer wide receiver Malik Benson from Alabama. With Benson announcing his move to Texas via social media on Sunday, the Longhorns have not only addressed one of their biggest offseason needs—they’ve sent a warning shot to the rest of the college football world.

“I’m coming to Austin to finish what I started,” Benson wrote in his announcement. “Let’s go win a natty. Hook ’em.”

That message couldn’t be clearer. Texas, under head coach Steve Sarkisian, is building to win now—and Malik Benson may be the final piece of the puzzle for a College Football Playoff run.

Who Is Malik Benson?

Malik Benson isn’t your typical transfer. The 6-foot, 195-pound wideout from Lansing, Kansas, was one of the most coveted junior college prospects in the country in 2022, and he signed with Alabama in what was seen as a massive recruiting win for Nick Saban. Regarded as the No. 1 JUCO player in the nation out of Hutchinson Community College, Benson was widely expected to be the next breakout Alabama receiver.

While his time in Tuscaloosa had flashes of brilliance, Benson never quite carved out a consistent role in Alabama’s deep receiving room, particularly as freshmen like Ryan Williams and Jalen Hale emerged. In 2024, Benson recorded 31 receptions for 498 yards and 5 touchdowns, often showing his deep-ball prowess and explosiveness after the catch. But a crowded rotation and schematic shifts left him wanting more.

With one year of eligibility remaining, Benson entered the transfer portal in search of opportunity—and Texas provided it.

A Match Made in Offensive Heaven

Benson’s commitment to the Longhorns is more than a headline—it’s a perfect schematic fit.

Under Sarkisian, Texas runs a pro-style, spread offense that emphasizes vertical routes, quick-hitting RPOs, and mismatches in space. It’s an offense that turned Xavier Worthy into a first-round pick and showcased AD Mitchell as a premier deep threat. With both those players off to the NFL, the Longhorns were in desperate need of an experienced outside receiver who could stretch the field.

Enter Benson.

He runs a verified 4.39 in the 40-yard dash and is known for his sudden acceleration and route precision. In Sarkisian’s offense, he projects as a Z-receiver—tasked with exploiting single coverage on vertical routes, hitches, and post corners. Paired with rising star quarterback Arch Manning, Benson could become one of the most dangerous big-play threats in the Big 12—and beyond.

“Malik brings us speed, maturity, and the ability to take the top off a defense,” Sarkisian said in a statement. “He’s going to fit seamlessly into what we do. This is a win for our team, our offense, and our future.”

The Timing Couldn’t Be Better

Benson’s arrival comes at a critical moment in the evolution of Texas football.

Fresh off their first College Football Playoff appearance and with Arch Manning poised to take the reins full-time at quarterback, the Longhorns are in transition from playoff participant to legitimate championship contender. The offensive line returns four starters. The running back room is stacked. The defense, under Pete Kwiatkowski, is physical and fast.

But the one glaring question entering spring was the wide receiver group.

Jordan Whittington graduated. Xavier Worthy and AD Mitchell declared for the draft. Ja’Tavion Sanders—perhaps the most talented tight end in school history—is also gone. That left Isaiah Neyor, Johntay Cook II, and a few rising sophomores to shoulder the load.

While Cook is expected to have a breakout campaign, and Texas landed five-star freshman Ryan Wingo, neither had the high-level college experience that Benson brings. Benson, with two years in Alabama’s system and matchups against SEC defenses under his belt, provides immediate leadership and production.

He’s not just a stopgap—he’s a weapon.

The Sarkisian Effect: Portal Masterclass

This move is another testament to Steve Sarkisian’s mastery of the transfer portal.

Since taking over at Texas, Sarkisian has blended elite high school recruiting with portal precision. In 2023, he landed AD Mitchell from Georgia. In 2024, it was edge rusher Trey Moore from UTSA and cornerback Jabbar Muhammad from Washington. Now, with Benson, Sarkisian is once again showing that Texas is not only a top-tier recruiter—it’s a top-tier destination.

And Benson didn’t make this decision lightly.

According to sources close to the situation, Benson received offers from USC, Oregon, Ole Miss, and Florida State. He took visits to Eugene and Tallahassee but was blown away by Sarkisian’s plan and the immediate opportunity to step into a WR1 role.

“It felt like family from the first visit,” Benson told 247Sports. “Coach Sark has a vision for me, and the chance to play with Arch was big too. He’s the real deal.”

Inside the Locker Room: Reactions from the Team

Benson’s commitment has already sent ripples through the Longhorns locker room.

Arch Manning, who had built strong chemistry with Cook and Wingo in spring ball, now has another weapon to develop timing with. Players say Manning was among the first to reach out to Benson, offering to get workouts started as early as this week.

“This dude is electric,” Manning said during a donor event. “We’re going to have some fun.”

Wide receiver coach Chris Jackson emphasized the importance of competition.

“Adding Malik raises the bar for everyone. It makes Johntay better. It makes Wingo better. And it gives Arch another option. If you want to win big, you need a room full of alphas—and that’s what we’re building.”

The Big 12 Implications: Texas Reloads, Not Rebuilds

While Oklahoma and Kansas State are expected to contend in the new-look Big 12, Texas just reaffirmed its status as the league’s alpha.

The addition of Benson shores up the Longhorns’ biggest question mark and provides the kind of veteran receiver needed to win big road games. The 2025 schedule features hostile matchups at Utah and Kansas State and a neutral-site Red River showdown that could have CFP implications once again.

Benson’s ability to beat press coverage and win 1-on-1 matchups on the outside will be key. So will his veteran mindset.

“Championships aren’t won in November,” Benson said in an interview with Longhorn Network. “They’re won in the summer—when no one’s watching. That’s where I want to lead.”

What This Means for the Receiver Room

With Benson in the fold, here’s how the Texas receiver depth chart could shake out heading into fall camp:

• Z Receiver (Outside): Malik Benson / Isaiah Neyor
• X Receiver (Outside): Johntay Cook II / DeAndre Moore Jr.
• Slot (H): Ryan Wingo / Casey Cain / Jordan Tyson

Texas now has a diverse group of weapons—speedsters, physical route-runners, and young playmakers—and the flexibility to rotate packages and personnel.

More importantly, Arch Manning now has a proven deep threat he can trust in crunch time.

NFL Potential: Why Scouts Love Benson

NFL scouts have been eyeing Malik Benson for years. At Hutchinson Community College, he averaged over 25 yards per catch and consistently blew by defenders. His Alabama tape, while limited in volume, showed glimpses of elite speed and body control.

With a full season in Sarkisian’s system, scouts believe Benson could rise into the Day 2 range in the 2026 NFL Draft.

“He reminds me a little of Zay Flowers with more size,” one scout told The Athletic. “If he gets 60-plus catches in that offense, he’s a legit second-round guy. Maybe higher.”

For Benson, the focus is now on production and polish.

“I want to show I can be a complete receiver,” he said. “I’ve been working on my blocking, my footwork, my hands in traffic. This year, it’s about dominating every snap.”

Fan Reaction: Buzz in Austin

It didn’t take long for Longhorn Nation to rally around their new star.

Within minutes of Benson’s commitment post on X (formerly Twitter), Texas fans flooded social media with highlights, welcome messages, and bold predictions.

One fan wrote: “We lost Worthy and Mitchell and still upgraded. Welcome to WRU, Malik!”

Another added: “Arch to Benson is about to be a PROBLEM.”

Merchandise featuring “Hook ’Em Benson” is already popping up on custom apparel sites, and his jersey is expected to be one of the top-selling NIL items this summer.

The Window Is Wide Open

There are no more excuses.

With Arch Manning at quarterback, a deep running back rotation, a veteran offensive line, and now a legitimate No. 1 receiver in Malik Benson, Texas has the pieces to contend for a national title.

Sarkisian has been methodically building this roster for three years, balancing five-star talent with experienced portal additions. Now, as the Longhorns prepare for their second season in the College Football Playoff era, the message is clear: Texas isn’t just back. Texas is built.

“We want to be the last team standing,” Sarkisian said at the start of spring camp. “And we’re going to do everything in our power to make that happen.”

Malik Benson’s commitment is more than just a roster move—it’s a statement. A signal to the rest of college football that Texas is ready to play grown-man ball.

And with Arch Manning throwing him passes?

Good luck to the defenses trying to stop it.