CJ Baxter is far more comfortable heading into his second season at Texas

CJ Baxter was always confident during his freshman year at Texas. After all, he was the first true freshman running back to start his first career game at Texas since Ricky Williams. Players who lack confidence aren’t capable of accomplishing that feat at a program thought to be in an elite tier of running back prowess.

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But confidence doesn’t necessarily mean comfort. Baxter suffered injuries that limited him across the first few weeks of the season, weeks that saw him cede RB1 duties to a surging Jonathon Brooks. When Brooks went down, Baxter took over and provided a good amount of high quality play. Across the final four games after Brooks went down with a season-ending knee injury, Baxter tallied 51 carries for 269 yards and two touchdowns. He also hauled in 12 receptions for 93 yards.

Still, there were some signs of freshman hesitancy in those contests, even though he added touchdowns in both the Big 12 Championship and the College Football Playoff semifinal. Ahead of his sophomore season, one where he and Jaydon Blue will lead the running back room during the Longhorns’ first year in the SEC, Baxter has a far more relaxed aura surrounding him.

That was made evident in his meeting with the media on Thursday night in Austin. Baxter handled every question with aplomb, and exuded the type of confidence typically associated with superstar players.

There are multiple on- and off-field factors that figure into his increased readiness. A gap scheme runner at Orlando (Fla.) Edgewater, Baxter adjusted to running behind multifaceted blocking schemes during his first year at Texas. Now, it feels like it’s nearly second nature to the top running back in the 2023 class.

Much of that was due to coaching efforts from Tashard Choice.

“When I got here, it was an adjustment,” Baxter said Thursday. “We run a lot of zone here. From day one when I got here, he made sure I got it down, got it down, got it down. This spring that just passed, I focused on it a lot. Then in the summer, I focused on it more. Even now, he’s finding new ways to coach it. Not only are we getting better, he’s getting better too.”

After all that work?

“I’m very comfortable running it now,” Baxter said.

Similar applied to pass protection, something that often is a major adjustment for freshman running backs. Baxter again credited Choice for helping improve the 6-foot-1, 220-pound rusher’s ability in that area.

“In order to be on the field, you’ve got to be able to protect the quarterback,” Baxter said. “(Choice) does a great job of not only coaching it but showing it once we get out there on the field. He emphasizes it a lot. I feel like since I’ve been here from January 2023 until now, I’ve only gotten better at it.”

Off-the-field, Baxter is willing to do whatever it takes for the team to have success. Asked if he though he’d split carries with Blue this year and his thoughts on it, Baxter didn’t seem worried about having to share the workload again in 2024.

“Whatever it is, we’re both willing to accept that role,” Baxter said. “Whoever has the hot hand, we’re willing to do that. If he has the hot hand or I have the hot hand, we’re willing to do whatever it takes to win.”

He even mentioned growing closer with Blue over the offseason. Baxter mentioned Blue was the type of player who lets others know when they’ve been beaten. That’s not limited to Campbell-Williams Field or the Denius Fields. It even extends to the pickleball court.

But even with the competition on the hardcourt and on the turf, Baxter feels like he’s part of a tight-knit room whether that’s referring to Blue, Tre Wisner, new walk-on addition Nik Sanders, or even veteran walk-on Collin Page.

“We feel like we’re all in there together,” Baxter said.

Development is an ongoing process. For Baxter, it took time and effort on multiple fronts to gain the level of comfort he boasted on Thursday. He gave every question a thoughtful answer. A few hours earlier at practice, he gave every rep during the media viewing window his full effort.

His development has him primed for a strong second campaign at Texas, possibly as Steve Sarkisian‘s lead back.

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If he’s anything like he was in the press setting on Thursday, Baxter will be more comfortable than ever between the white lines when suiting up for the Longhorns this season.