Assessing the impact of CJ Baxter's season-ending injury on Texas

Texas took a tough blow last week when reports surfaced that starting running back CJ Baxter would miss the entire 2024 season following a knee injury suffered during fall camp.

Inside Texas‘ Joe Cook has boots on the ground in Austin following Baxter’s injury, recently revealing the details and the instant reactions within the program following the devastating loss to the Longhorns’ offense at the On3 Roundtable.

“Some reports that it was a contact injury, not a non-contact one, but still one that was honestly Texas’ first fully padded practice and it happens during that during a contact drill,” Cook revealed. “Baxter was expected to be running back one, probably running back 1-A with Jaydon Blue being running back 1-B. But still the guy that Steve Sarkisian was going to really rely on not just for every down snaps and carries, but for tough yardage and for a lot of different things.”

“Sark even talked on Thursday about how if you asked players in the in the locker room, Baxter would be one of the favorites among the 120 Longhorns. So to lose him, obviously is a big blow.”

Both on and off the field Baxter’s injury has a significant impact on Texas this season, emerging last year as a true freshman following a similar injury to Jonathan Brooks and ending the season with 659 yards and five touchdowns on 138 carries along with 156 receiving yards. As the Longhorns will now look upon other players in the backfield to fill the void.

“But this is why Tashard Choice, running backs coach, recruits two running backs every single cycle. They want to have enough guys, and elite talented guys, to where if something happens to a position that gets 20 or so touches a game they’re ready,” Cook explained. “And that could mean playing some sophomores like Tre Wisner, could include some freshmen like Christian Clark and Jerrick Gibson.”

Unfortunately for Texas, the next man up mentality has had to be adopted in recent history with several rushers going down with injuries. But a fall off in production has rarely been seen thanks to their depth and talent at the position.

Depth that will likely be tested more than ever as Texas has the remainder of fall camp to figure out how they’ll distribute carries this upcoming season.

“They have some experienced walk-on, some physically developed walk-ons, but they don’t want to get to that point. But a lot more focus now with Baxter down for the season, hopefully back in 2025 fully ready to go. A lot more focus goes on Jaydon Blue, and then of course to probably Tre Wisner but it depends on what happens in the little competition that’s sure to ensue between Wisner, Gibson, and Clark,” Cook concluded.