Texas will now enter the 2024 season without its two best runners from 2023.
According to Rivals’ Orangebloods, RB CJ Baxter suffered a season-ending knee injury in practice on Monday. An MRI following the injury revealed that Baxter suffered a torn LCL and PCL.
I just learned that Texas running back CJ Baxter is expected to miss the season after suffering a torn ACL during practice on Tuesday. Baxter’s injury will require surgery and recovery time is between six and nine months. pic.twitter.com/LDlWSbBdfQ
— Anwar Richardson (@AnwarRichardson) 7 August 2024
Baxter was the Longhorns’ No. 2 running back in 2023 and emerged as the team’s first choice at the end of the season when star rusher Jonathon Brooks tore his ACL. Baxter had 138 carries for 659 yards and five touchdowns and also caught 24 passes for 156 yards as a true freshman.
Brooks tore his ACL in the 11th game of the season and had rushed for 1,139 yards and 10 touchdowns before his injury. He was selected in the second round of the 2024 NFL Draft by the Carolina Panthers.
With Brooks in the NFL and Baxter out for the rest of the season, Jaydon Blue is Texas’ best available runner. Last season, he had 65 carries for 398 yards and three scores. The Longhorns are pretty thin behind him.
Texas could end up relying on freshmen behind Blue and has signed two four-star backs in its 2024 recruiting class. Christian Clark was the No. 6 running back in the country and Jerrick Gibson was the No. 11 rusher. One or both could end up getting a lot of playing time.
Texas has serious playoff hopes after reaching the postseason for the first time in 2023. The Longhorns should be a contender for the SEC title in their first year in the conference with the return of QB Quinn Ewers and a veteran defense.
Nebraska and Notre Dame suffer important OL injuries
Baxter’s knee injury isn’t the only major injury on offense sustained in the first few days of fall camp. Notre Dame offensive lineman Charles Jagusah tore a pectoral muscle during practice and is expected to miss the season. Jagusah was slated to replace Joe Alt at left tackle now that Alt is with the Los Angeles Chargers, and started in Alt’s place during the Sun Bowl. Notre Dame must replace three starters from last season’s offensive line.
Nebraska LT Tedd Prochazka also suffered a season-ending knee injury on Monday. Prochazka was expected to start at left tackle in 2023 after starting there five times in 2023. It is the second serious knee injury of Prochazka’s career, as he played in just seven games in his first two seasons in Lincoln.
