Texas Football: 2 Longhorns earn superlatives at UA All-America Game

This past week, some of the nation’s best high school football players gathered in Orlando, Florida, for the 16th annual Under Armour All-America Game, including five Texas football signees. Those five signees that competed in the game included Cedric Baxter, Johntay Cook, Sydir Mitchell, Malik Muhammed, and Derek Williams.

All five future Longhorns had bright spots throughout the practices leading up to the Jan 3rd game and were praised by many on-site scouts.

Coming out of the event, 247Sports’ Director of Scouting Andrew Ivins awarded his 2023 Under Armour All-American Game superlatives. Two Longhorns made the list.

Texas football signees in the UA All-American Game Superlatives

Best Route-Runner – Johntay Cook II

DeSoto’s (TX) Johntay Cook II took home the award as the best route-runner at the event. This is a testament to just how good the five-star product is, considering the number of high-profile wideouts in Orlando.

Ivins had some high praise for the No. 35 player in the 247Sports composite rankings.

"“The future Longhorn was almost unstoppable during Sunday’s 1-on-1 session as he shook defender after defender with his quick feet and elite burst. Cook’s smaller stature might not be for everyone, but he continues to show that he can play much bigger than his height/weight suggests as he uses his natural bounce and superb body control to snag pretty much anything that enters his orbit.”"

Cook committed to the Longhorns in June 2022, just six days after Arch Manning announced his intentions to play in Austin. Since then, Cook and Manning spearheaded the recruiting efforts that helped Texas land what is shaping up to be the No. 3 class in the country.

During his senior season, Cook had 86 receptions for 1534 yards (17.8 YPC) and 22 touchdowns. He is the perfect mold for a Steve Sarkisian receiver: a burner with good hands, and, as we have learned, elite route-running capability.

Even with the recent announcement of Jordan Whittington returning for the 2023 season, I would be shocked if Cook didn’t push his way into the receiver rotation next season.

Best Program Fit – Cedric Baxter Jr.

Running back Cedric Baxter Jr was awarded the superlative for “best program fit” on the offensive side of the ball at the 2023 Under Armour All-America Game. With how Coach Steve Sarkisian has used his running backs in Austin, it is clear why Baxter received this recognition.

Baxter was the No.1 running back in the country, and rightfully so. The Edgewater High School (FL) product ran for 3026 yards (8.2 YPC) and 35 touchdowns over the past two seasons. Standing at 6-foot-1, 215-pounds, he has the ideal frame for a workhorse running back. Baxter’s lethal combination of size and speed made him one of the hardest backs to tackle in all of high school football.

Baxter scored the first touchdown of the Under-Armour All-America Game on Tuesday night and seems to be the perfect fit as the next bell cow Longhorn running back.

The fit as a three-down back in a Steve Sarkisian offense is perfect for Baxter. During seven of Sark’s eight seasons as a Division I head coach, he has had a running back rush for at least 1100 yards. In the one season, he didn’t; Sark produced two running backs with over 900 yards.

Last season we saw Bijan Robinson and Roschon Johnson perfectly coexist in the backfield as one of the best running back tandems in the country.

It will be interesting to see how Coach Sark manages the running back room during the 2023 season. Baxter is set to join a room with three talented backs: Jaydon Blue, Jonathon Brooks, and Keilan Robinson. He will undoubtedly play meaningful snaps in 2023; how many is the question?