Five-star RB Cedric Baxter ‘primed’ for early playing time at Texas

Expect Cedric Baxter to get on the field early as a Longhorn.

Five-star running back Cedric Baxter was one of the biggest recruiting wins for Steve Sarkisian and his staff in the 2023 cycle.

Baxter is one of four five-star prospects who signed with Texas during the early signing period. The Longhorns currently sit at No. 3 in the 247Sports composite recruiting rankings.

On3 Sports deemed Baxter as a player in a great situation to make an early impact at the college level. With Texas’ running back room losing Bijan Robinson and Roschon Johnson, Baxter has the chance to climb the depth chart in a hurry.

Texas is looking to replace Doak Walker Award winner and likely first-round pick Bijan Robinson. They’re big shoes to fill, but Cedric Baxter Jr. may be up to the task. On3’s top-ranked running back prospect in the 2023 cycle was hand-picked by Steve Sarkisian and position coach Tashard Choice and looks to be an ideal fit in the offensive scheme. Baxter is a big back with power, burst and every down ability as a pass-catcher out of the backfield. Think about how Sarkisian used Najee Harris – another big, pass-catching back – in his final season at Alabama. That’s the role Baxter could see in Austin. Granted, it’s not as though he won’t have some competition for carries. We were high on Jonathon Brooks in the 2021 cycle. At the minimum Texas should have a promising 1-2 punch in replacing Robinson and Roschon Johnson.

Baxter is slated to enroll at Texas in January after a decorated career at Edgewater High School in Orlando, earning All-State honors at the highest level of football in Florida. Baxter is next in line to be the next great Texas running back.

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