Texas Football: 3 underclassmen that could win starting jobs in spring

Cedric Baxter Jr., RB

From the early returns we’ve received since he arrived on campus a couple of months ago, everything that the former elite five-star Orlando Edgewater (FL) running back recruit Baxter has done has lived up to the hype and more. We’ve often talked on the site this offseason about how Baxter has impressed multiple people in and around the program.

And it sounds like he really blew a lot of the coaches away with his work during the winter conditioning program.

He looked the part and definitely took advantage of the opportunity to get more time and focus from the coaches with some other key running backs limited in winter workouts due to various injury issues.

Heading into spring ball, it looks as if Baxter will have another huge opportunity to make an impression on his teammates and the coaching staff. There is a chance that the likes of redshirt sophomore running back Jonathon Brooks and sophomore Jaydon Blue could be limited due to various injuries in the early stages of spring practice.

Those reps that would otherwise be going to Brooks and sometimes Blue will now be divided up between guys like Baxter and redshirt senior Keilan Robinson.

I won’t say that Baxter will fully lock up the starting job if he really shines in spring ball. But it will be even harder for Sark and running backs coach Tashard Choice to give the first-team reps in fall camp to anyone at the position other than Baxter if he continues to show out as the best running back in spring camp on a consistent basis.