Throughout Tuesday’s apply, Texas working again CJ Baxter suffered a PCL/LCL tear that can require season-ending surgical procedure, per ESPN’s Pete Thamel. RB2 Jaydon Blue may emerge as a viable alternative.
Dropping Baxter earlier than the beginning of the season is dear for the Longhorns. He confirmed promise as a freshman, dashing for 659 yards and 5 touchdowns on 138 carries in 13 video games.
Blue is proficient, although. ESPN’s Dave Wilson famous Blue and Baxter had been just lately named to the Doak Walker Award watch checklist, honoring the nation’s prime working again. The duo was additionally anticipated to separate carries this season.
Blue’s small pattern measurement could increase considerations. In two seasons with the Longhorns, he solely has 80 carries for 431 yards and three touchdowns. That does not imply Blue — a former four-star recruit, per 247 Sports activities — cannot change into a high quality starter.
Former Texas RB Jonathon Brooks noticed little taking part in time via his first two seasons when he sat behind Bijan Robinson and Roschon Johnson. In 2023, Brooks broke out dashing for 1,139 yards in 11 video games. The Carolina Panthers took him with the forty sixth total choose of the 2024 NFL Draft. Blue feels he may observe an identical path.
“I all the time use JB as the instance. He did not play a lot his first two years and he performed lots final yr and he went to the [NFL] after one yr,” Blue mentioned Tuesday, through Danny Davis of the Austin American-Statesman. “I all the time look again at that and it places lots of perception in me that if I simply keep affected person and work then every thing I would like [will happen].”
Baxter’s harm is not ideally suited, however Blue may step up and assist the Longhorns earn their second consecutive School Soccer Playoff berth.
