Texas Football: 3 incoming freshman who’ll compete for a starting role in 2023

Cedric Baxter Jr., RB

Another top-ranked recruit at his position that Texas signed in the 2023 class is the elite five-star Orlando Edgewater (FL) running back Cedric Baxter Jr. The prized new addition to the running back room for Sark, RB coach Tashard Choice, and the Longhorns is clearly already making an impression since he first arrived on campus last month.

I wrote about the report that Baxter is “a sponge” in terms of what he’s picking up during his first month or so on the 40 this semester. The fact that people in and around the program are already picking up on Baxter’s tendency to soak up information so early in his time on campus is clearly a positive sign of things to come with this elite running back.

It also helps in terms of Baxter’s ability to catch the attention of the Texas coaches since he is getting more full workouts in during the winter session. As redshirt sophomore running back Jonathon Brooks and rising sophomore Jaydon Blue are recovering from various injuries, Baxter had a shot to make a really big impression on his teammates and the coaches.

The 6-foot-1 and 215-pound Baxter is a bellcow running back that essentially fits the exact mold of what Sark wants at the position. Baxter will give Sark and the Longhorns someone that can set the tone on the ground from day one.

If Baxter can continue to make a positive impression on the coaches while continuing to soak up knowledge of the offense, that will go a long way to beating out Brooks for the starting job in 2023.