Skip to main content
texas logo

CJ Baxter talks about his recovery, coaching others during the 2024 season

Joe Cookby:Joe Cook•12/30/24•

josephcook89

On3 image
CJ Baxter (Will Gallagher/Inside Texas)

ATLANTA — Texas running back CJ Baxter was declared out for the season on August 7th following a severe knee injury suffered during preseason camp. On3’s Pete Nakos reported in the days following that Baxter had torn both his LCL and his ACL in his right knee but avoided any damage to his PCL.

[Join Inside Texas TODAY and get 7 days for just ONE DOLLAR!]

Baxter has been on the road to recovery since.

“It’s going good,” Baxter said Monday. “One day at a time.”

What stage is he in for that process?

“I’m pretty much doing everything, just slowly but surely,” Baxter said. “I just tell myself every day to do everything one day at a time. I’m not looking too far ahead.”

Baxter, who began his true freshman 2023 season as the Longhorns’ starter, rushed 138 times for 659 yards and five touchdowns during Texas’ run to the Big 12 Championship and the College Football Playoff. A few early bumps and bruises suffered versus Rice and Alabama limited his availability, and Jonathon Brooks took advantage and the No. 1 running back spot.

When Brooks was lost for the year against TCU, Baxter took over and ran well. The very next game, he tallied 20 carries for 117 yards against Iowa State, then posted nine carries for 45 yards against Texas Tech in a blowout. He scored touchdowns versus Oklahoma State and Washington in the postseason, but did have a costly fumble versus the Huskies.

Entering the 2024 campaign, the first-string running back spot was thought to be his with Jaydon Blue and Quintrevion Wisner assisting when Baxter needed a break.

That changed when Baxter suffered his injury, and changed further when Christian Clark was also lost for the year just a couple of days after Baxter went down. Texas required more production from the sophomore Wisner and true freshman Jerrick Gibson, and Baxter made a point to help those two however he could.

“Playing a lot as a freshman and having that experience, Tre and Jerrick didn’t have that much in-game experience,” Baxter said. “Giving them what I see when we’re in games. Sometimes, (Tashard) Choice may not see something I see, or vice versa. Coach Choice will let me tell them where to go from there because I played. I know what they’re thinking and what they’re seeing. Just stuff like that, little stuff.”

“It’s really nothing big. They’re playing extremely well. Proud of them.”

Baxter has been able to watch Wisner and Blue succeed. Wisner has 973 yards on 191 carries along with five touchdowns. Blue has 710 yards on 126 carries and eight scores. Even Gibson has added 377 yards on 77 carries and four touchdowns.

“I’m extremely proud of them both because I know the work that they put in throughout the week and the work they put in this offseason,” Baxter said. “I’m extremely proud of Tre because I don’t think many people expected him to do it. Knowing Tre and how hard he works, he deserves it.”

Baxter was asked if spring football was within the realm of possibility and did not give a solid answer, saying it’s a process he has to take day-by-day at this juncture.

[Subscribe to the Inside Texas YouTube channel!]

However, if he’s unable to participate fully physically, Baxter will be able to impart knowledge and lead in the running back room to help the 2025 Longhorns as he did for the 2024 squad.

You may also like