Steve Sarkisian points out standouts in new-look Texas running back room

Texas has been blessed with one of the best running back rooms in the country over the past few seasons thanks to superstar Bijan Robinson. But with the tailback off to the NFL, head coach Steve Sarkisian has to find a way to fill that production.

He has some options — most of the them freshmen and sophomores — in the room right now who can be impact players.

One of those players is a converted wide receiver in Savion Red. He caught six passes for 34 yards as a wideout last year as a freshman but has now converted to the backfield.

Sarkisian highlighted Red and Jaydon Blue after a recent practice during his press conference.

“I thought Jaydon Blue had a nice scrimmage, made some plays, especially on the perimeter,” Sarkisian said. “He’s a very explosive athlete. I thought Savion Red, from a position change standpoint, shows physicality that is really encouraging. Savion obviously played receiver a year ago. We know he’s gifted as a receiver but to really start running between the tackles, which is kind of what he did in high school as a Wildcat quarterback, that’s been encouraging.”

Blue, who is also a sophomore, had 15 carries for 33 yards in 2022.

Among the early enrollees, five-star recruit CJ Baxter would be expected to be the first-year Texas running back to contribute right away.

Baxter is the No. 30 overall recruit and No. 1 running back in the 2023 On3 Industry Ranking, a weighted average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies. The On3 Industry is a proprietary algorithm that compiles ratings and rankings from all four major recruiting media services. The On3 Industry Ranking is the most advanced, complete and unbiased rating and ranking measurement in the industry. 

“I thought for Ced Baxter, it was good for him,” Sarkisian said. “His first couple plays were not plays that he’s going to always say those are my best plays at Texas. He kind of struggled early on, but then settled in and made some plays as the scrimmage went on. So Friday, when we get back out there again in a similar format, it’s going to be big for him to take that step of, okay, now I’m comfortable with what we’re doing and and then start to see more of him of what he’s capable of doing.”