CJ Baxter pens emotional letter on his season-ending injury ahead of Texas A&M game

Texas running back CJ Baxter saw his second season in Austin end before it even began. The former five-start recruit took a routine handoff during a preseason practice in August when he heard a pop in his right knee.

It was later revealed he suffered injuries to his LCL and PCL in his right knee that required season-ending surgery It was a critical blow for Baxter, who was expected to assume the lead role in the backfield after finishing second on the team in rushing as a true freshman. There was so much running through his head at the time.

Baxter wondered whether he would ever be the same player he was before the injury. In an article in the Players Tribune, he detailed the tough emotions he went through.

“It’s a crazy thing to go from being a starting running back to having to learn how to walk and run again at age 19. There were a lot of days early on during rehab that it was tough to get out of bed. Both physically tough, but also mentally draining. Because playing running back, that was always something that came completely natural to me. Now I’m literally back at square one — doing these exercises moving my leg with the goal of increasing the range of motion just a few centimeters. That wasn’t natural at all. That was just pain. 

“I think the biggest thought that consumed me was, ‘What if I’m not the same player?'”

Baxter went on to explain how safeties coach Blake Gideon encouraged him to read the story of Job in the bible. For those unfamiliar, Job has all of his material possessions and his family taken away from him as a test of his faith in God. In spite of this, he chooses to continue believing in God and that things will get better.

The story resonated with CJ Baxter and helped him start to view his injury from a different perspective. Although he wasn’t able to be on the field, he started looking for other ways he could still be a part of the team. It’s not the situation he would prefer to be in, but he’s still happy to offer advice as well as encouragement to his teammates from the sidelines.

That includes this week in what is unquestionably the biggest game of the year for the Longhorns. Texas is set to face Texas A&M for the first time in two decades, and if that weren’t already enough to set the stage, the winner punches a ticket to the SEC Championship.

CJ Baxter won’t be able to help his team on the field, but he knows he can still make an impact.

“All of my goals in life are still very much ahead of me,” he wrote. “Next season, I know that I can still be the best running back in the country. I can still be drafted to play in the NFL and play alongside Jonathan (Brooks), Bijan (Robinson), Roschon (Johnson) and all the other amazing running backs this school has produced. And I’m going to be able to approach it all from a place of gratitude. Just loving football more than I ever have before — because I know what it’s like have it taken away.

“But right now, my goal is to be the best teammate I’ve ever been. Because even if I can’t be out there on the field against A&M, I know my voice holds weight. Whether it’s giving advice to the younger players or just keeping a positive vibe when things are tense, there’s power in taking ownership of the ways you’re able to contribute to the culture — even when you’re hurting.”