Spring football is peaking from around the corner as February dissolves into March. The state of Texas is primed for a memorable year of football at the FBS level with Baylor and UTSA coming off conference championships, Houston returning most of its key players from a 12-2 squad, and Texas A&M loading up on five-star recruits. 

Dave Campbell’s Texas Football will look at the 10 best players at each position on the football field continuing with running back. We began the series by examing the top 10 quarterbacks in the FBS ranks on Monday. 

Previous positions: QB | RB |

1. Nathaniel Dell, Houston 

2021 review: 90 catches, 1,329 yards, 12 TDs

2022 outlook: Dell was electric in 2021 and he’s poised for nationally recognition in 2022 as part of a high-powered offense led by quarterback Clayton Tune. It is hard to double-team Dell in the passing game because head coach Dana Holgorsen and the offensive staff are creative in Dell’s usage. He can line up wide or in the slot. He can beat defenders vertically or take a quick pass 80 yards. Dell caught 10 passes for 150 yards in the bowl win over Auburn. 

2. Xavier Worthy, Texas

2021 review: 62 catches, 981 yards, 12 TDs

2022 outlook: Worthy was a one-man receiving core at times for Texas in 2021. His numbers should only improve as a sophomore with the arrival of quarterback Quinn Ewers from Ohio State. The pair should torment Big 12 defenses. Worthy might be the most talented wide out in Texas. The California native was a freshman All-American selection and a first-team All-Texas pick by Dave Campbell’s following the 2021 season. 

3. Zakari Franklin, UTSA

2021 review: 81 catches, 1,027 yards, 12 TDs

2022 outlook: Franklin is re-writing the short history book at UTSA for a receiver. He already holds the school record for receiving touchdowns with a year still to play. Franklin heads up one of the most talented wide receiver units in the nation, much less the state. Franklin, a product of Cedar Hill High School, is a big-play threat who can out jump most defenders and high-point the football. He plays bigger than his size suggests, and he’ll be the No. 1 target of quarterback Frank Harris for one more season. 

4. Quentin Johnston, TCU

2021 review: 33 catches, 634 yards, 6 TDs

2022 outlook: Johnston is a freakish athlete who should record higher numbers in 2022 thanks to a new offensive system brought in by head coach Sonny Dykes. Johnston was a first-team All-Big 12 selection despite only recording 33 catches in 2021. He averaged over 19 yards a reception. He’ll need to be more consistent with his hands to record bigger numbers in 2022. There aren’t any receivers in the state with as much upside as Johnston considering his frame, speed, and jumping ability. Johnston can become a household name, and a first-round draft pick in the 2023 draft, with a big year.

5. Rashee Rice Jr., SMU

2021 review: 64 catches, 670 yards, 9 TDs

2022 outlook: Rice will take over the No. 1 wide receiver role at SMU with Danny Gray and Reggie Roberson Jr. off to the NFL. Rice decided to remain with the Mustangs rather than following Dykes to TCU or entering the transfer portal. He could approach 1,000 yards receiving with quarterback Tanner Mordecai returning and first-year head coach Rhett Lashlee bringing in an attacking style of offense that Rice is familiar with from earlier in his career when Lashlee was the offensive coordinator at SMU. 

6. Ainias Smith, Texas A&M

2021 review: 47 catches, 515 yards, 4 TDs; 1 PR TD

2022 outlook: Smith can do everything on the football field. He can play outside receiver. He excels in the slot. He can even line up in the backfield. And Smith is an excellent kick returner. Smith is a true Swiss Army knife at a time when versatility is the name of the game. His numbers suffered in 2021 due to injury at the quarterback position, but he’ll be the focal point of the passing offense until new wide receivers or a go-to tight end steps up for the Aggies. 

7. Joshua Cephus, UTSA

2021 review: 71 catches, 819 yards, 6 TDs

2022 outlook: Franklin isn’t the only star wide receiver at UTSA. Cephus is poised to become a household name in college football with another strong season. He caught more than 70 passes and scored six times in 2021. Those numbers might grow even more in 2022 with UTSA likely throwing the ball more after the departure of star running back Sincere McCormick. Defenses are likely to roll coverage towards Franklin, which means 1-on-1 matchups for Cephus whether he lines up out wide or in the slot. 

8. Jake Bailey, Rice

2021 review: 56 catches, 714 yards, 2 TDs

2022 outlook: Bailey recorded 56 of Rice’s 205 receptions on the season, which is over 27 percent of the team’s catches for one player. Bailey was the highlight of the Owls’ 2021 offense and he’ll be the main target again in 2022 regardless of who earns the starting quarterback spot. Bailey put up impressive numbers despite catching passes from three different quarterbacks. 

9. Myles Price, Texas Tech

2021 review: 38 catches, 523 yards, 2 TDs

2022 outlook: Price might become the No. 1 target in Lubbock with Erik Ezukanma off to the NFL and a new regime including offensive coordinator Zach Kittley in town. Kittley’s offenses at Houston Baptist and Western Kentucky over the last two years were pass-heavy to a quick, elusive slot receiver. Price is in that same mold. He could put up video game numbers in the new offense if he can stay healthy and learn the new playbook. 

10. Marcel Barbee, Texas State

2021 review: 40 catches, 520 yards, 5 TDs

2022 outlook: The passing game for Texas State was inconsistent in 2021 and that kept Barbee from a shot at all-conference honors. With a new quarterback in town from the transfer market, Barbee could experience a coming-out party in 2022. He led the Bobcats with 40 catches in 2021. That number should be closer to 60 in 2022.