Texas running back CJ Baxter will miss the 2024 season after sustaining a torn LCL and PCL in his right knee during practice on Tuesday, the university announced. The top running back prospect from the 2023 recruiting cycle was expected to take on a large role for the Longhorns this fall as the starter after Jonathon Brooks departed for the NFL.
Baxter opened the 2023 season as the starter but got nicked up in the first two games vs. Rice and Alabama, ceding the starting role to Brooks. Baxter stepped back into the starting job last fall after Brooks tore his ACL against TCU on Nov. 11. Baxter finished his freshman campaign with 659 yards rushing and five touchdowns on 138 attempts. His 659 rushing yards ranked No. 8 in FBS among freshmen.
Baxter also proved to be a security blanket for QB Quinn Ewers in the passing game, catching 24 passes for 156 yards.
With Baxter lost for the season, Texas will likely turn to Jaydon Blue, who rushed for 398 yards and three touchdowns and caught 14 passes for 135 yards and another score last season. His teammates believe he could be special. In the final three games of the 2023 season, Blue averaged over seven yards per carry and accounted for 310 all-purpose yards – highlighted by a 10-carry, 121-yard night in Texas' rout of Texas Tech that showcased his elite speed.
Sophomore Tre Wisner, who Horns247 says program sources have been excited about, could be the presumed next-up player.
Freshmen Jerrick Gibson and Christian Clark could also see their respective roles increase due to Baxter's injury. Texas' running back depth is a point of pride for running backs coach Tashard Choice.
Texas ranked in the top 15 among Power Five schools last season in rush yards per game (188.4), yards per rush (five) and rushing touchdowns (tied for 13th).
After finishing his 2023 season on a high note personally, Baxter told reporters following a recent Longhorn practice that he'd spent his offseason working on running with better pad level and learning how to diagnose the weak spots fronts. Baxter wanted to take his game up a notch, but his main goal was to help Texas get over the hump after coming up short of reaching the national championship game.
"We got far last year, but we know how it feels to get that far and not go out on top," Baxter said, via Horns247. "This year, we don't want to go that far and not finish the job."
Texas debuted earlier this week at No. 4 in the preseason Coaches Poll as it enters its first year as a member of the SEC. The Longhorns open up the season against Colorado State on Aug. 31.