The Texas Longhorns are headed into 2026 with the kind of roster that keeps NFL scouts parked in Austin all fall, and one name could climb into first-round territory before December even hits: Ryan Wingo.
Texas already has the usual headliners people will circle for the 2027 NFL Draft - Arch Manning, edge Colin Simmons, guard Brandon Baker and wide receiver Cam Coleman. But Wingo belongs in that conversation too, and his role may actually become more dangerous with Coleman in the mix.
Wingo enters his junior season after putting together a big 2025 campaign. He led Texas in receptions, receiving yards and touchdown catches, finishing with 54 catches for 834 yards and seven scores. Those numbers made him one of the most productive players on the roster, and now his situation is shifting in a way that could help him even more.
Coleman is expected to draw plenty of attention this season, and the Longhorns are counting on him to be a major weapon. The former Auburn star may not have had the runway to fully shine last year because of the talent around him, but that changes now. He should be the No. 1 target for Manning, and that kind of spotlight tends to change how defenses play the entire offense.
That’s where Wingo can cash in. With defenses forced to tilt toward Coleman, Wingo should find more room to operate and more chances to make plays. In other words, the arrival of another elite receiver may not take anything away from Wingo - it may unlock even more for him.
By December, scouts are expected to be paying close attention to what Wingo is doing in this offense. And with the amount of talent Texas has on that side of the ball, they’re likely to be watching all season long.
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