Texas Football: 4 takeaways from dismantling of Baylor in Waco

Jonathon Brooks is the answer at RB and CJ Baxter Jr. is the future

For the last two weeks, arguably the best player for Texas on offense was redshirt sophomore running back Jonathon Brooks. He managed back-to-back 100-rushing yard performances for the first time in his collegiate career.

Brooks registered over 100 yards on the ground against Baylor and nearly six yards per carry after posting over 150 rushing yards in Texas’ win over the Wyoming Cowboys at home in Week 3. He also had a nice one-handed catch that went for 18 yards to set Texas up inside the 10-yard line in the first half.

Brooks made many Baylor defenders miss in this game, registering at least five missed tackles forced. This comes one week after Brooks led all Power Five running backs in missed tackles forced (per PFF) in Week 3 against Wyoming.

With true freshman running back CJ Baxter Jr. dealing with various injury issues the last few weeks that caused him to miss the Wyoming game last weekend, Brooks has risen to the occasion in a big way. But I don’t want to take too much of the spotlight away from Baxter; he was good on the work he got in this win over Baylor.

Baxter amassed 37 total yards and his first career rushing touchdown. He looked good in space on a few touches in this game.

Brooks has proven deserving of the leading RB role early this season, while Baxter will be a force to be reckoned with on the 40 for a long time once he gets fully healthy and his feet wet.