Texas running back CJ Baxter will miss the 2024 season after suffering a knee injury at practice on Tuesday, according to multiple reports.
On Wednesday, the school announced that Baxter will undergo season-ending surgery to repair torn lateral and posterior collateral ligaments (LCL and PCL) after an MRI confirmed the extent of his injury.
Baxter suffered the injury during the first fully padded practice of fall camp and was expected to be the Longhorns’ starter after a breakout campaign in 2023. As a freshman, Baxter rushed for 659 yards on 138 carries (4.8 ypc) and five rushing scores. He also logged 156 yards on 24 receptions.
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Listed at 6-foot-1, 220 pounds, Baxter was the No. 24 overall prospect and No. 1 running back in the Class of 2025.
As a true freshman in 2023, Baxter earned second-team All-America honors from The Athletic, Freshman All-American Honorable mention by College Football Network, honorable mention All-Big 12 honors, and was named honorable mention Big 12 Offensive Newcomer of the Year.
With Baxter out for the year, Texas will likely turn to Jaydon Blue as the starter in 2024. Blue, along with Baxter, were named to the Doak Walker Award watch list on Tuesday, as both players have shown the ability to be homerun hitters for the Longhorns’ offense.
In 2023, Blue totaled 398 yards on 65 carries (6.1 ypc) with three touchdowns as a reserve player behind Baxter and Jonathan Brooks, the starter at the beginning of the year.
