Four days until Texas Football: CJ Baxter ready for a breakout season; Austin Jordan part of the picture at Star

Inside Texas is putting a new twist on long-time photographer Will Gallagher’s time-honored countdown to Texas football kickoff. In addition to Will’s great pictures, the Inside Texas staff will go through every player on the roster by jersey number and offer a season outlook on each, from five-star to walk-on. 

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We’ll also look back at other greats to wear that day’s number, with special reverence to some of Texas’ best. 

Today is four days until kickoff. No. 4 for the Longhorns this season will be worn by CJ Baxter, a true freshman running back, and Austin Jordan, a sophomore defensive back.

CJ Baxter season outlook

Baxter’s physical talent coming out of Orlando (Fla.) Edgewater was undeniable. The No. 1 running back in the country according to the On3 Industry Ranking and On3, Baxter possessed athletic ability few in the country could match at 6-foot-1 and 218 pounds.

The questions about Baxter obviously weren’t related to his physical ability. Rather, they were related to aspects of the running back position that require reps to master. His film at Edgewater showed a disproportionate amount of gap scheme running. That’s part of Steve Sarkisian‘s offense, but only part of it. Zone schemes where finding the hole and making a quick, decisive cut to get through it are a key component to playing running back for Sark, and there wasn’t much evidence of Baxter running behind that style of blocking.

Plus, typical freshman running back adjustments like route running and pass protection were things Baxter would have to check off in order to give the coaches the ability to trust No. 4 with playing time in his debut season.

Throughout preseason camp, Baxter has done everything needed in order to earn a significant number of carries in his freshman season. That’s not suggesting he’ll unseat Jonathon Brooks, an experienced rusher with his own physical gifts. But it does mean Baxter has done everything asked of him since enrolling early and has showed enough of a proficiency in the needed areas to be a big part of Texas’ plans in 2023.

CJ Baxter as a recruit

Austin Jordan season outlook

Jordan snatched some playing time early last year at cornerback, earning rotational snaps at field corner early in the year behind D’Shawn Jamison along with Jamier Johnson and Terrance Brooks. However, most of his snaps were on special teams, where he earned 144 of his 232 total snaps.

Jordan moved to Star during the offseason. While Jahdae Barron has the first-string role safely in his grasp, Jordan is contending with fellow sophomore Jaylon Guilbeau to be the second Star. That’s a role he’ll occupy in addition to his multi-faceted special teams responsibilities.

Jordan played in all 13 games last year, primarily on special teams and totaled seven tackles (four solo) with half a tackle for loss. He was a member of the Big 12 Commissioner’s Honor Roll (fall 2022).

Austin Jordan as a recruit

Recent player to wear No. 4: Aaron Williams

Williams appeared in 37 games, including 23 starts in his last 26 games, at cornerback and on special teams before declaring for the NFL Draft as a junior after three seasons on the 40 Acres. He was on the 2010 Nagurski Trophy and Thorpe Award watch lists and a second-team All-Big 12 selection in 2010.

Williams posted 106 tackles (64 solo), three sacks, 12 TFL, three pressures, four INTs, 24 PBU, six forced fumbles, one fumble recovery and five blocked punts (No. 2 on UT’s all-time list) for his career. He also had 11 punt returns for 86 yards (7.8 ypr) for his career and was drafted with the second pick in the second round (34th overall) by the Buffalo Bills in the 2011 NFL Draft.

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All-Americans to wear No. 4

Phil Dawson, K, 1996

DeShon Elliott, DB, 2017

Anthony Fera, K, 2013

Kenny Vaccaro, S, 2012

Roy Williams, WR, 2003

Joe Cook co-authored this article