A look at Texas's RB room after CJ Baxter Jr.'s injury
Per Anwar Richardson of Orangebloods/Rivals, Texas football sophomore running back CJ Baxter Jr. is expected to miss the 2024 season due to a knee injury he suffered in fall practice on Aug. 6. Baxter reportedly suffered a torn LCL/PCL when he took a hit to his knee during Texas's first full pads practice of preseason camp on Tuesday afternoon.
Texas football's RB depth will be put to the test after CJ Baxter Jr.'s season-ending knee injury in preseason camp
Baxter will undergo surgery for his knee injury and is expected to recover in six to nine months from now.
This is really unfortunate news for Baxter and Texas. The sophomore running back from Florida was expected to be one of the lead running backs for the Longhorns this fall, along with junior Jaydon Blue.
Baxter and Blue split the workload down the stretch last season for the Longhorns' backfield after junior starter Jonathon Brooks suffered a season-ending knee injury against TCU. As a unit, Baxter and Blue combined for over 1,000 rushing yards and nearly 1,500 total yards from scrimmage for Texas last year.
Here's a look at Texas's running back room and who will need to step up after the news of Baxter's season-ending knee injury early in preseason camp this fall.
Jaydon Blue
Tashard Choice and Steve Sarkisian will now give the lead-back duties to Blue in fall practice after the unfortunate injury news for Baxter this week. Blue has been excellent early in fall practice for the Longhorns, showing good field vision, physicality, and explosiveness running and catching the football out of the backfield in team drills.
Blue entered preseason camp as Texas's most experienced running back, competing with Baxter for the first-team practice reps out of the backfield this fall.
Over the last few years, Blue has seen plenty of running back talent ahead of him on the depth chart for Texas. He's been a part of running back rooms in the last few years at Texas that also included Bijan Robinson, Roschon Johnson, Brooks, and Keilan Robinson.
It's now Blue's turn to step up to the plate and show he can handle the responsibilities of being the lead back consistently for the Longhorns' offense this fall after Baxter's injury.