During Tuesday’s practice, Texas running back CJ Baxter suffered a PCL/LCL tear that will require season-ending surgery, per ESPN’s Pete Thamel. RB2 Jaydon Blue could emerge as a viable replacement.
Losing Baxter before the start of the season is costly for the Longhorns. He showed promise as a freshman, rushing for 659 yards and five touchdowns on 138 carries in 13 games.
Blue is talented, though. ESPN’s Dave Wilson noted Blue and Baxter were recently named to the Doak Walker Award watch list, honoring the nation’s top running back. The duo was also expected to split carries this season.
Blue’s small sample size may raise concerns. In two seasons with the Longhorns, he only has 80 carries for 431 yards and three touchdowns. That doesn’t mean Blue — a former four-star recruit, per 247 Sports — can’t become a quality starter.
Former Texas RB Jonathon Brooks saw little playing time through his first two seasons when he sat behind Bijan Robinson and Roschon Johnson. In 2023, Brooks broke out rushing for 1,139 yards in 11 games. The Carolina Panthers took him with the 46th overall pick of the 2024 NFL Draft. Blue feels he could follow a similar path.
“I always use JB as the example. He didn’t play much his first two years and he played a lot last year and he went to the [NFL] after one year,” Blue said Tuesday, via Danny Davis of the Austin American-Statesman. “I always look back at that and it puts a lot of belief in me that if I just stay patient and work then everything I want [will happen].”
Baxter’s injury isn’t ideal, but Blue could step up and help the Longhorns earn their second consecutive College Football Playoff berth.