Longhorns football loses RB CJ Baxter to the transfer portal. The sophomore had 855 rushing yards on 192 carries at Texas.
The Longhorns’ running back depth took a hit on Monday. After three years with Texas, CJ Baxter announced that he was entering the transfer portal. Although Baxter’s time in Austin is not ending as he hoped, he has plenty left in the tank to make a difference in another program.
During his time as a Longhorn, Baxter recorded 855 rushing yards on 192 carries. He also found the end zone five times, averaging 4.5 yards a carry. While the talented sophomore battled injuries at times, he was solid when healthy. However, in a running back room that included Quintrevion Wisner this year and will welcome Derrek Cooper next season, there is no clear path to extended playing time.
Although Baxter did most of his damage on the ground, he also chipped in on the passing game. He hauled in 36 catches for 197 yards. The Florida native did add one receiving touchdown to his resume this season, which was the first of his career.
When Baxter arrived on campus, the expectations were high. He was ranked No. 30 overall recruit in the 2023 class by Rivals. Unfortunately, due to injuries, he was unable to meet expectations, which has led him to pursue a new opportunity.
For teams in need of help at running back, Baxter should draw plenty of interest. He was the BIG 12’s offensive newcomer of the year as a true freshman in 2023, rushing for over 650 yards. If the former five-star recruit can rediscover that form, then he will still have a successful career.
For Texas, the focus will be to improve its depth if the opportunity arises.
