What Steve Sarkisian said about Matthew Golden going to the Green Bay Packers

After Texas wide receiver Matthew Golden was picked by the Green Bay Packers with the No. 23 overall pick in the 2025 draft, Longhorns head coach Steve Sarkisian came through about the draft’s fastest pass-catcher in a statement released by the school.

[Join Inside Texas TODAY and get FOUR MONTHS for just ONE DOLLAR!]

The Houston native is the first Longhorn drafted by the Packers since TE Jermichael Finley was taken in the third round of the 2008 NFL Draft. Golden is additionally the first wide receiver drafted in the first round by Green Bay since 2002 (Javon Walker).

“He showed everyone his speed and explosiveness at the combine, but what a great player Matthew Golden is,” Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian said. “What I really loved about him was the way he worked, his commitment to his craft and how he got better as the year went on. He came to us from more of an air raid system at Houston, so the transition wasn’t as easy, but the end result was that he was our most productive and reliable receiver.”

“He’s a fantastic player. Matt showed everyone how fast he was with that 40 time, but his short area quickness, how he gets in and out of breaks makes him truly elite. He has extremely strong hands, makes contested catches, can do it at all three levels – whether it’s the short game, the intermediate, the deep balls – and he’s at his best in the most critical moments. You top that off with the blue-collar attitude he has, the fact that he’s a great teammate who you can really count on day in and day out, that’s what really separates him. He works, he’s no nonsense, he’s tough and does the dirty work blocking linebackers, safeties and event defensive ends. All in all, I think this guy is getting all that he deserves, and Green Bay is going to love him.”

In his lone season with Texas, Golden powered the Horns’ receiving corps while doubling as the team’s kick returner. He started all 16 games this past season and led the team in receiving yards (987) and receiving touchdowns (9) while ranking second on the squad in receptions (58). Golden averaged a team-high 17.03 yards per catch and recorded two 100-yard receiving games. In the SEC Championship vs. Georgia on Dec. 7, he gathered eight receptions for a career-high 162 yards. He also corralled seven receptions for 149 yards and a score in the CFP Quarterfinal at the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl against Arizona State on Jan. 1. As the team’s primary kick returner, Golden amassed 285 return yards on 14 attempts (20.4 ypr).

The post What Steve Sarkisian said about Matthew Golden going to the Green Bay Packers appeared first on On3.