Category: Texas Football

Texas running back CJ Baxter’s 2024 snapshot profile

A look at sophomore running back CJ Baxter as he heads into the 2024 season.

Texas Longhorns running back [autotag]CJ Baxter[/autotag] heads into his second season on the Forty Acres. The top-ranked running back from the 2023 recruiting cycle played in 12 games last season with six starts.

The honorable mention All-Big 12 running back took over as the premier back following the injury to Jonathan Brooks starting the next four games including the Big 12 championship game and College Football Playoff semifinal against the Washington Huskies.

The Florida native expects to have a large role in the Steve Sarkisian offense during the upcoming season. Baxter finished second on the team in rushing with 659 yards and added 156 receiving yards. Baxter earned a 74.4 offensive grade and a 74.5 running grade from PFF during his freshman season.

Preseason CJ Baxter Profile

Hometown: Edgewater, Florida

Ht: 6-1

Wt: 220

247Sports Composite Ranking:

Five-Star | No. 1 Running Back | No. 22 Overall (2023 Class)

Class in 2024: Sophomore

Career Stats

Year Games Carries Yards YPC TDs YAC
2023 12 138 659 4.8 5 408
Via Stats Perform

Depth Chart Overview

Barring something unforeseen, CJ Baxter is expected to RB1 when the team kicks off the season against the Colorado State Rams on Aug. 31 at Darrell K. Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium. Baxter should lead a stable of backs that includes Jaydon Blue and Tre Wisner. The 2024 signees Jerrick Gibson and Christian Clark likely won’t see the field much unless this depth gets tested with injuries.

CJ Baxter’s Photo Gallery

One ‘what if’ for Texas Longhorns to become CFP contenders in 2024

One “what if” that will help Texas be serious contenders in the 2024 college football season is answered.

The Texas Longhorns football program received a taste of the College Football Playoffs in 2023 after winning the Big 12 championship and finishing 12-1 ahead of the postseason. It didn’t go the way of the Burnt Orange as they were bounced in the CFP semifinal by the Washington Huskies 37-31 in the Allstate Sugar Bowl.

With the expanded field, the Longhorns should have ample opportunity to return to the playoff and avenge last season’s abrupt ending against the Huskies. Quinn Ewers returns to lead the offense once again with a new supporting cast at wide receiver that includes former Alabama Crimson Tide wideout Isaiah Bond.

The offense isn’t likely to be the reason for success or lack of success in the new-look SEC. The biggest question will reside on the defensive side of the ball. There are a handful of questions that need to be answered. One publication answered three what-ifs for the Texas Longhorns in 2024 to be serious contenders for the trophy.

According to ESPN (subscription required), one of those three “what ifs” includes the pass defense covering receivers on the back end.

Texas didn’t blitz a ton last season, which made it a bit confusing when they also didn’t contest many passes (25.2%, 103rd in FBS) and gave up a ton of big gains (46 passes of 20-plus yards, 108th). With a pair of frequently used corners departing, Sarkisian is hoping that transfers Jay’Vion Cole (San Jose State) and Andrew Mukuba (Clemson) both click alongside slot corner Jahdae Barron and excellent sophomore Malik Muhammad.

The Texas defense lost a plethora of talent on the defensive side of the ball to the NFL draft with defensive linemen Byron Murphy II (Seattle Seahawks), T’Vondre Sweat (Tennessee Titans) as well as linebackers Jaylan Ford (New Orleans Saints), Jett Bush (New England Patriots undrafted free agent) and cornerback Ryan Watts (Pittsburgh Steelers).

The team also watched Terrance Brooks transfer to the Illinois Fighting Illini and Jerrin Thompson to the Auburn Tigers. Several other contributors exited via the transfer portal as well.

Still, there is plenty of promise on the defensive side of the ball with the new additions through the transfer portal and five-star linebacker signee Colin Simmons, who should see the field plenty in his freshman season.

We will see how well this unit gels together early on with that Week 2 trip to Ann Arbor to face the defending national champion Michigan Wolverines.

One analyst predicts Texas to win a massive road game in 2024

One ESPN analyst predicts a massive win for the Texas Longhorns.

After winning last year’s national championship, the Michigan Wolverines will have a target on their back during the 2024 campaign.

As they look to defend their title, the roster will look different with stars such as J.J McCarthy and Blake Corum now in the NFL. Some analysts, such as ESPN’s Heather Dinich, expect the Wolverines to take a step back and lose three games, including their matchup with the Texas Longhorns.

On Get Up, Dinich said, “When I look at this team, I see three losses, Greeny. At home against Texas, at home against Oregon, and as we just talked about against the Buckeyes.”

While many are looking forward to the Longhorns’ and Wolverines’ matchup, a lot has changed since they last faced each other. The last matchup between the two historic programs came in 2005. In that game, the Longhorns emerged with a 38-37 win which springboarded them on the 2006 BCS title run.

During the Longhorns’ thrilling victory, they were led by Vince Young, who completed 18 of his 26 passes and recorded 180 passing yards. Michigan’s quarterback at the time was Chad Henne, who recorded 227 passing yards.

For Texas, this game will be a prime opportunity to prove themselves. While the Wolverines roster has undergone dramatic changes, they are still the defending champions. If the Longhorns can make  Dinich’s prediction come true, then they will get a big win out of the way early.

CJ Baxter ready to build on his freshman season success

The Orlando native is expected to make an impact on the 2024 team.

After an impressive freshman season, expectations are higher than ever for Texas Longhorns running back CJ Baxter. The Orlando native is expected to see more playing time after the Carolina Panthers selected Jonathan Brooks in the second round of the 2024 NFL draft. Baxter will be looking to make the most of his opportunity.

During his first season with the Longhorns, Baxter played in 13 games, recording 680 rushing yards. He found the end zone five times and averaged 50.7 yards a game. Baxter also finished second on the team in rushing yards, attempts, and touchdowns.

While Baxter will still have to split time this season, he proved last year that he can be a very effective player. This season, the Longhorns’ running back room will include Jaydon Blue, Tre Wisner, Jerrick Gibson, and Christian Clark. Of that group, Baxter has the most experience in the Longhorns’ offense.

Additionally, Baxter can also impact the passing game. Last season, he hauled in 25 targets for 148 yards. Regardless of the situation, he made the most of his opportunities with an almost 50-50 split between snaps as a rusher and snaps as a receiver. During the 2024 campaign, that total should change due to a heavier rushing workload.

With the regular season just weeks away, excitement is growing for what the Longhorns have in store. With Baxter taking on a more significant role, the offense should be in good hands as he is poised for a breakout season.

QB play is the key to Texas success in year 1 of SEC

Depth at the QB position could be the difference maker for the Longhorns in 2024

It may be the Texas Longhorns’ first year in the SEC, but the expectation on the Forty Acres remains to compete for a conference championship and Playoff berth.

Steve Sarkisian has assembled one of the best coaching staffs in America as proven by their work in the transfer portal this offseason. However, the key to the Longhorns’ success this season will boil down to the growth and health of third-year starting quarterback Quinn Ewers.

Ewers is widely projected as a first-round draft pick and one of the best quarterbacks in the country, but staying healthy has been an issue the last two seasons. Fortunately, Texas also has the best backup in football in Arch Manning in case of emergency. Now, with a lengthened season that includes a 12-team Playoff, depth has never been more important.

With the season just around the corner, 247 Sports highlighted the biggest strength for every team in the top 25. Brad Crawford of 247 Sports believes that the No. 3 ranked Longhorns’ quarterback room is their biggest strength.

“You could certainly go offensive line here for the Longhorns, but after Texas lost quarterback transfers Maalik Murphy to Duke and Charles Wright to Appalachian State, this offense still holds the most star-studded room in college football at the position with Quinn Ewers returning and Arch Manning — with supernova potential — behind him. Manning, despite being the top player in 2023, is seemingly content with being the Longhorns’ emergency option behind Ewers and understands that his time will come in Austin. That’s a testament to the level of buy-in at a program coming off its first College Football Playoff appearance that seems to be building considerable momentum under coach Steve Sarkisian. Considering the Longhorns’ offensive arsenal as a group topped our “sweethearts” ranking earlier this spring heading into the 2024 season, Ewers and Manning are going to have plenty of talent around them to flex a banner campaign through the air. And there’s no controversy on who will start, either.”

Contact/Follow us @LonghornsWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Texas news, notes and opinion. You can also follow Sam Murphy on Twitter @SamMurphy02.

What is the Texas Longhorns biggest weakness ahead of the 2024 college football season?

While the Longhorns have been busy improving their roster, there is room for improvement

With college football in full swing in just over a month, nationwide programs are preparing for the 2024 campaign. While the Texas Longhorns have been busy adding to their roster, there is room for improvement. On Friday, ESPN ranked each team’s weakness, and for the Longhorns, it was their pass defense.

Last season, the Longhorns ranked No. 116 in pass defense, allowing 254.4 yards per game. Michael Penix Jr. took advantage of their struggles in the Sugar Bowl, completing 76 % of his passes for 420 yards. The spring game provided little encouragement as the quarterbacks lit up the defense. Despite their struggles, Texas has added a few talented players in the last few months.

The new faces include safety Andrew Mukuba and linebacker Trey Moore in the transfer portal. They will also welcome five-star edge rusher Colin Simmons, who will hope to help improve a pass rush that finished 63rd in sack rate last season.

Although the Longhorns are projected to have a talented offense, they need the defense to step up. They finished last season with 12 wins but are now in a tough conference with a smaller room for error. Disrupting the passing game would go a long way in making a good first impression in the SEC.

How the passing defense improves will be a storyline to watch when the Longhorns are back in action.

Where Texas football is projected to finish according to SEC media poll

SEC media projects Longhorns Longhorns to compete for a conference title in year one

For the first time, the 2024 SEC media days included recently added conference members the Oklahoma Sooners and Texas Longhorns. The move from the Big 12 has been brewing for nearly three years, but the move became official back on July 1st.

When the two schools decided to leave the Big 12 in 2021, the majority of people thought that the transition would be seamless for the Sooners while the Longhorns might struggle, but perceptions have changed.

Since then, former OU head coach Lincoln Riley bolted out West for the USC Trojans job leaving new head coach Brent Venables and company to play catch up. The Sooners are coming off of a 10-win season in 2023, but with a gauntlet of a schedule in 2024, they might be closer to 6-6 than 10-2 in the SEC.

As for the Longhorns, they are coming off a Big 12 title and Playoff berth with sky-high expectations. QB Quinn Ewers returns to the Forty Acres for his third year as a starter and has an incredible chance to buff his draft stock with one of the top receiving corps in college football.

According to a preseason poll of media covering SEC media days, the Georgia Bulldogs are expected to win the conference with the Texas Longhorns finishing second. Georgia received 165 of the total 213 votes while Texas had 27.

Funny enough, the Vanderbilt Commodores earned two votes while Oklahoma received none.

Contact/Follow us @LonghornsWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Texas news, notes and opinion. You can also follow Sam Murphy on Twitter @SamMurphy02.

One analyst touts Texas’ wide receiver room among best in the country

It is an embarrassment of riches in the wide receiver room.

Part of it might be the release of ‘College Football 25’ and some of it might be because of SEC media days this past week, but it’s finally starting to feel like we are on the verge of another college football season.

Everyone knows the struggles the Texas Longhorns will face in 2024 as they transition to the toughest league in college football, but I don’t think the move could have come at a better time for the former Big 12 powerhouse. This upcoming season will be the first year of the 12-team Playoff format. This means that you can lose a game, maybe even two, and your Playoff chances won’t be dead as they were in the four-team.

Another massive obstacle Steve Sarkisian and Texas have to overcome this year is a major loss of production on the offensive side of the ball. The Longhorns lost top wide receivers Xavier Worthy and AD Mitchell, tight end Ja’Tavion Sanders, and running back Jonothan Brooks to the 2024 NFL draft.

However, Sarkisian and company addressed the need immediately as they landed three super-talented wide receivers via the transfer portal this offseason Isaiah Bond, Matthew Golden, and Silas Bolden.

Following SEC media days, 247 Sports broke down the biggest hot take for every member of the conference in 2024. Brad Crawford of 247 Sports says his hot take for the Longhorns is that they have the best wide receiver room in college football saying,

“Considering talented slot threat Silas Bolden from Oregon State may not start at Texas this season, that should tell you the amount of riches Steve Sarkisian has at the wideout spot. This is the best group he’s had since 2020 at Alabama when he helped DeVonta Smith win the Heisman as his offensive coordinator under Nick Saban. Former five-star signee Johntay Cook II is battling Bolden for one of those three starting spots, while Alabama transfer Isaiah Bond and former Houston star Matthew Golden are expected to be first on the field elsewhere. Quinn Ewers has a wealth of options on the outside.”

Contact/Follow us @LonghornsWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Texas news, notes and opinion. You can also follow Sam Murphy on Twitter @SamMurphy02.

247 Sports projects Texas to play Florida State in the CFP Peach Bowl

Texas projected to play Florida State in the Peach Bowl playoff game according to 247 Sports

The Texas Longhorns may be transitioning to the toughest conference in college football, the SEC, but the expectations are still to compete for a conference title and Playoff bid.

The schedule is no joke for the Longhorns in 2024 with a road trip to the Michigan Wolverines, a visit from the Georgia Bulldogs, and renewed rivalry games against the Arkansas Razorbacks and Texas A&M Aggies. Fortunately, Texas enters the season with one of the three or four best rosters in college football despite massive turnover from last year’s team.

In 2023, Ewers guided the Longhorns to their first Playoff appearance and should take another massive step forward in his third year as a starter. Brad Crawford of 247 Sports projects that Ewers will lead them to their second consecutive Playoff appearance as he projects each SEC members potential bowl games.

Crawford projects that the Longhorns will finish second in the SEC behind Georgia and will earn the No. 5 seed in the Playoff. They will take on the No. 12 seeded Group of Five champion Liberty Flames in the first round saying,

“Back in a major game for the second-straight year under Jamey Chadwell, this time, Liberty should get to the playoff as the Group of Five’s unbeaten representative. The schedule is out of a bakery shop, so if there’s another Group of Five team with better wins saddled with a single loss, perhaps they get the nod. As for Texas, a projected second-place finish in the SEC in this spot puts the Longhorns with the No. 5 seed and a first-round home game with a guaranteed sellout coming.”

After being the Flames, Crawford expects Texas to take on the Florida State Seminoles in the Peach Bowl. Crawford says of the first-ever potential matchup between the two blue bloods,

“Can the Longhorns get back to the final four to cap their first season in the SEC? It’s possible. No disrespect to the Seminoles, our projected ACC champion, but battling this roster will be their toughest task of the season if we get to that point. Texas has a Herculean two-deep in terms of talent, while Florida State once again largely rebuilt its lineup through college football’s version of free agency. Surprisingly, these two bluebloods have never met on the gridiron.”

Contact/Follow us @LonghornsWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Texas news, notes and opinion. You can also follow Sam Murphy on Twitter @SamMurphy02.

Quinn Ewers falls two spots in post media days QB power rankings

Texas QB Quinn Ewers falls two spots in 247 Sports SEC QB rankings after media days

The SEC has been widely regarded as the best league in the sport for many years, but with the addition of two more major blue-blood programs, it’s hard to argue otherwise. Of 16 members in the conference, you could bet that over half of them start the 2024 season in the top 25 rankings.

Traditionally, the SEC has been known for being defensively dominant, and it still is, but it has become just as good on the offensive side of the ball. For example, four of the last five Heisman Trophy winners have been offensive players from the SEC with the 2023 winner being former LSU Tigers QB Jayden Daniels. However, 2024 will be the best quarterback play we have ever seen in the conference from a depth level. Granted having two more teams helps, but there are several high-caliber quarterbacks and no bad starters.

247 Sports ranked all 16 quarterbacks in the conference post-spring ball, but they have re-ranked them following media days. According to Brad Crawford of 247 SPorts, Texas Longhorns quarterback Quinn Ewers was No. 2 in the post-spring ball rankings, but fell to No. 4 in the updated rankings saying,

“The slide from second to fourth in these preseason SEC quarterback rankings for Quinn Ewers is more about the players who leaped in front of him and less about the Texas superstar. He wasn’t downgraded. However, none of those guys have a five-star behind them bound to get snaps, either. Steve Sarkisian said there is a misconception outside the program that Ewers and Arch Manning do not get along and that could not be further from the truth. They are friends. There are four SEC quarterbacks capable of being eventual Heisman finalists and Ewers is part of that group.”

Crawford ranked Alabama Crimson Tide’s Jalen Milroe No. 3, Georgia Bulldogs’ Carson Beck No. 2, and Ole Miss Rebels Jaxson Dart No. 1.

Contact/Follow us @LonghornsWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Texas news, notes and opinion. You can also follow Sam Murphy on Twitter @SamMurphy02.