Texas running back C.J. Baxter suffered a knee injury that will sideline him for the season, sources confirm to Dave Campbell’s Texas Football. The former five-star from Florida was injured on a “freak play” on Tuesday on the Forty Acres. Baxter was the projected starter at running back for the Horns after rushing for 659 yards and five touchdowns on 138 attempts as a true freshman. He also caught 24 passes for 156 yards. Orangebloods.com was first to report. 

With Baxter out for the season, the Longhorns have lost four of their top five rushers from 2023 with Jonathon Brooks now in the NFL and Keilan Robinson and Savion Red no longer on the team. The load shifts towards Jaydon Blue, who was expected to receive a ton of touches even before Baxter was injured. Blue became a game-changer for Texas towards the end of the season and ended 2023 with a 6.1 yards per carry average. 

The biggest hurdle for Texas without Baxter isn’t at stater because Blue was 1B with Baxter heading into camp. It’s the depth. Blue has only carried the ball 80 times as a collegiate athlete so expecting the junior from Klein to transform into a bell cow is a tough ask. He’ll need to share the load because of the demands of the position on a 6-foot, 200-pound frame. Tre Wisner might be the first guy to emerge as the No. 2 running back. The former state champion at DeSoto is a gamer with a diverse skill set. Freshman Jerrick Gibson will also see an increased role. 

Texas enters the 2024 season as the second favorite in the SEC behind Georgia. The Longhorns return Quinn Ewers at quarterback and four of five starters along the offensive line. They added the most talented wide receiver portal class in the nation, including Isaiah Bond from Alabama. The loss of Baxter still hurts, however, especially if one of the young unproven backs such as Wisner and Gibson faulter. 

Texas begins the season at home against Colorado State on Aug. 31. Business picks up in Week 2 with a trip to Michigan.