Texas WR Isaiah Bond Makes NFL Draft Decision

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Max Escarpio | Last updated Jan 14, 2025 11:12 AM ET

The Texas Longhorns are now headed into the Arch Manning era, following a successful season in their first year in the SEC.

Texas finished the season 13-3, losing 28-14 to the Ohio State Buckeyes in the semifinals of the College Football Playoff on Friday.

Following the season, as the team is expected to turn the page from Quinn Ewers to Manning at quarterback, a couple of Texas stars have decided whether they will return to the Longhorns, enter the transfer portal or declare for the 2025 NFL Draft.

On Tuesday, wide receiver Isaiah Bond declared for the draft, per ESPN's Pete Thamel. It's a major loss for a program expected to be a national title contender again next season.

Texas wide receiver Isaiah Bond is leaving school early to enter the NFL draft, he told ESPN. Bond projects as one of the fastest players in the upcoming draft, and he ranks as the No. 6 wide receiver in Mel Kiper Jr.’s NFL draft rankings. pic.twitter.com/jqi4XxSc3H
— Pete Thamel (@PeteThamel) January 14, 2025

Bond played one season with the Longhorns after transferring from the Alabama Crimson Tide last offseason. He finished the 2024 season with 34 receptions for 540 yards and five touchdowns.

In his three-year college career, from 2022-24, Bond totaled 100 receptions for 1,428 yards and 10 touchdowns.

Despite nursing an ankle injury, Bond served as one of Texas' most reliable wire receivers, ranking third in receptions and second in receiving yards at the position. Bond served as a safety blanket in the slot for Ewers in 2024, but Manning won't have that privilege in 2025.

The loss of Bond comes just one day after Texas' leading receiver, Matthew Golden, declared for the draft. Golden led the team with nine touchdowns and 987 yards on 58 receptions.

Manning will now be without Texas' top two receivers in 2025.

Manning originally committed to Texas as the No. 1 player in the class of 2023, per 247Sports. During his two-year college career, where he's mostly served as the backup to Ewers, Manning has passed for nine touchdowns and 969 yards with a 66.3 completion percentage.

He's also added four touchdowns and 115 yards on the ground.

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

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