Texas Football: Cedric Baxter Jr. is ‘a sponge’ in winter workouts
A few weeks into winter workouts, the Texas football program has a lot of new early enrollees in the mix from the 2023 recruiting class. One of those highly anticipated new enrollees for head coach Steve Sarkisian and this Texas program is the former elite five-star Orlando Edgewater (FL) running back recruit Cedric Baxter Jr.
The elite Florida running back was one of the biggest wins for Sark and the Longhorns in the 2023 class. Baxter was also one of three recruits that the Longhorns signed in the 2023 class that ranked as the best in his position in the nation.
Baxter was expected to come in and make a big splash in this running back room. And that appears to be what he’s done since he first arrived in Austin a few weeks ago.
According to a report from Horns247 on Feb. 2 (paid content), Baxter has essentially been “a sponge” in winter workouts thus far. This report also noted from a team source that the “best thing about him is he likes to get after it and work” in regard to the impression that Baxter is giving off in his time on campus thus far.
New Texas football RB Cedric Baxter Jr. soaking up the opportunity in winter workouts
It sounds like an opportunity for more focus from the coaching staff at running back surfaced for Baxter in the early stages of winter workouts given some other injuries at the position. Redshirt sophomore running back Jonathon Brooks is working his way back from hernia surgery and sophomore Jaydon Blue recently battled a shoulder injury.
And from what we’re hearing about the immediate impression that Baxter is making on the staff and people around the program, he’s definitely taking advantage of this opportunity of late.
Baxter is expected to compete with the likes of Brooks, Blue, and redshirt senior running back Keilan Robinson for reps out of the backfield in spring ball. Another name to watch here could be the former three-star DeSoto running back recruit and incoming freshman Tre Wisner. He is the other running back recruit that the Longhorns signed in the 2023 class.
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The arrival of Baxter on campus is obviously a big deal, though. Sark, running backs coach Tashard Choice, and the Longhorns are looking to replace the losses of Bijan Robinson and Roschon Johnson in 2023. Baxter gives Sark the bellcow running back that can really set the tone on the ground that is so critical to making his offensive system work.