CJ Baxter being monitored day-to-day, per Steve Sarkisian, Morice Blackwell in rehab process

Texas true freshman running back CJ Baxter is day-to-day following an injury sustained late in Saturday’s 34-24 win over Alabama, according to head coach Steve Sarkisian.

Baxter had also left the Longhorns’ season opener with an injury.

“Cedric, knock on wood, not quite as serious as we may have originally thought,” Sarkisian said during his Monday press conference. “We’re gonna monitor him day to day. He was at practice today, very limited. So we’ll monitor him on that front.”

Baxter finished Saturday’s game with 11 carries for 31 yards and eight receptions for 21 yards. He earned the starting spot for the second straight week.

During Week 1 versus Rice, Baxter had five carries for 38 yards.

Jonathan Brooks is the team’s leading rusher through two games with 26 carries for 109 yards and a touchdown.

One of the key players of Texas’ highly-regarded 2023 recruiting class, Baxter was a five-star running back coming out of Orlando (Fla.) Edgewater. He ranked as the No. 30 recruit and No. 1 running back in the 2023 On3 Industry Ranking, a weighted average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies.

Sarkisian also provided an update on the status of linebacker Morice Blackwell.

Blackwell has not played this season after tearing his MCL in late August. However, the recovery is expected to take two-to-four weeks, according to a Facebook post from his mother.

“Mo Blackwell is still in the rehab process,” Sarkisian said. “He was running almost full speed today. Again, he’ll be day to day as we move throughout the week.”

Getting both players back at full health will be a major victory for the Longhorns, whether that comes this week against Wyoming or in the weeks to come.

The expectations for Texas have heightened following its momentous win over the Crimson Tide. The program now ranks in the top four with the College Football Playoff considered a real possibility for the team.

Fox Sports analyst Joel Klatt is already saying the team is a favorite to make it to the Final Four come December. It would be the team’s firs time making it to the College Football Playoff.

“Texas, you better hold a high standard for yourself because it’s real now,” Klatt said. “Now it’s like this. It’s not ‘is Texas back,’ it’s more is Texas elite and is it real? Yeah, it’s real. This is real. This is a team, I can’t believe I’m saying this, this is a team that can play for a national championship.”