Joel Klatt Ranks Two WRs Ahead of Texas' Matthew Golden

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Grant Bricker | Last updated Apr 7, 2025 5:20 PM ET

The Texas Longhorns had the tough task of retooling their wide receiver room after losing Xavier Worthy and Adonai Mitchell to the NFL.

However, head coach Steve Sarkisian looked to the transfer portal for answers and found Isaiah Bond (Alabama), Matthew Golden (Houston) and Silas Bolden (Oregon State).

Golden led Texas in 2024, with 987 receiving yards and nine touchdowns. In a recent edition of "The Joel Klatt Show," Golden came in at No. 22 in Joel Klatt's 2025 NFL Draft prospect rankings.

The only receivers ranked ahead of him were Emeka Egbuka of the Ohio State Buckeyes and Tetairoa McMillan from the Arizona Wildcats.

"He emerged this season," Klatt said. "If you've heard me talk about the wide receivers, he emerged as the number one threat. I really like that ability for him to transfer in and then become the number one threat as the season progressed, and then when they needed not only early, but late in the season specifically, and specifically like the Arizona State game, they went to Matthew Golden, and he was big in those games. He ran 4.29. He's not not a huge guy, but he can fly."

Golden nearly missed having more receiving yards in one year at Texas than he did in the two he spent with Houston. Golden had 988 receiving yards in his two seasons with the Cougars.

Egbuka finished the season with 1,011 receiving yards and 10 touchdowns. McMillan had 1,319 receiving yards and eight touchdowns for Arizona in 2024.

He was a four-star prospect in the 2022 class out of Houston, Texas. He was the No. 9 wide receiver in the On3 Transfer Portal Industry Rankings.

Golden flashed his talent at the NFL Combine, running a 4.29 second 40-yard dash, the fastest among wide receivers.

The 2025 NFL Draft will be from April 24-26 in Green Bay, Wisconsin.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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