Running Back Preview: Looking at who will contribute for Texas in 2024

How much will Texas split carries in 2024?

Running backs highlight much of the history of Texas football. More rushing success could be on its way this season.

There’s an impressive track record of bell cow backs carrying the team on the field. This year could see multiple backs contribute.

Cedric Baxter Jr. and Jaydon Blue return for another season after carrying the rushing attack after Jonathon Brooks’ injury. In Baxter and Blue, Texas has what could be a top one-two punch in the SEC.

Regardless of what coaches say, it’s easy to see a world in which both backs share carries fairly evenly. Albeit, Baxter might be the first to receive carries with Blue seeing several touches as a change of pace back.

The above two players aren’t the only ones in contention to get the football. Elite running back prospect Jerrick Gibson showed up physically ready for the college game. And if last year with a freshman CJ Baxter is any indication, Texas isn’t afraid to play its young players early.

Gibson and fellow freshman Christian Clark have high ceilings at Texas, but could be ready to play this season.

Second-year running back Tre Wisner could also carve a role for himself in the offense. Wisner isn’t built like your typical running back but has a versatile skill set that could provide value this season.

The Texas running back room has at least five players who could positively impact games if called upon to play. No room is completely injury proof but this position is close. We’ll follow how the room takes shape this spring.

Texas RB commit Cedric Baxter Jr puts up another star showing

Cedric Baxter Jr is off to a dominant start to his senior season. 

Four-star running back Cedric Baxter Jr is off to a dominant start to his senior season.

The Texas Longhorn commit exploded for 201 yards and three touchdowns while leading Edgewater High School to a 28-19 win on Friday.

Big-time performances like this are becoming a common occurrence for Baxter. He has already surpassed 1,000 rushing yards through just five games to start the year.

Baxter is listed as the No. 2 running back in the nation and the No. 7 overall prospect in the state of Florida according to the 247Sports composite rankings. His play on the field is proving Baxter is worthy of a rankings bump in the near future.

Texas coaches are chomping at the bit to get Baxter on campus. He brings game-breaking speed along with a powerful running style. Baxter has the looks of a future superstar at the next level.

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This 4-star Texas RB commit is visiting Florida over the weekend

The Gators are getting a big week one visitor in four-star Texas running back commit Cedric Baxter Jr., who previously named the Gators to his top five.

Florida is still pursuing four-star running back [autotag]Cedric Baxter Jr[/autotag]., a class of 2023 commit to the University of Texas. According to 247Sports, Baxter will be in town this weekend for Florida’s season opener against Utah. He’ll join many of the nation’s top recruits on a busy recruiting weekend for the Gators, but most are still uncommitted.

Swamp 247Sports spoke with Baxter’s father about his son’s continued recruitment despite locking in a decision earlier this month. Florida was one of five finalists on the table that day, and Baxter still thinks fondly of the program

“Florida was high up there. He likes Napier. He likes Coach (Jabbar) Juluke and he likes how they use two, three backs. They all get their fair share of carries. Like every high school kid ranked like he is, that dream is the NFL and that will definitely save his body a little bit.”

Napier’s staff will see what they can do to get Baxter to flip, but his father said that he thinks his son is locked in with Texas. Although there was talk of making this an official visit, leaving the door open for one down the line could be a good omen for the Gators.

Baxter could also end up taking trips to Miami and Texas A&M to get all five official visits used up.

The 247Sports composite ranks Baxter as the No. 50 overall recruit in the class of 2023 and No. 4 among running backs. On3 is extremely high on him, ranking him No. 28 nationally and No. 1 at his position.

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2023 four-star running back Cedric Baxter commits to Texas

Hook ’em! Cedric Baxter is On3’s No. 1 running back in the country for the 2023 class.

Texas’ fantastic summer on the recruiting trail continues as the Longhorns have added four-star running back Cedric Baxter to its 2023 class. Continue reading “2023 four-star running back Cedric Baxter commits to Texas”

Texas football has four-star RB Cedric Baxter Jr. on its mind

Cedric Baxter’s commitment date gets us nearly halfway to football season.

Texas fans are thinking of the next recruiting announcement that involves the Longhorns. It appears the recruiting staff has its sight set on an announcement too.

Texas Longhorns recruiting operations coordinator, Tyler Johnson, took to Twitter to let fans know she has August 10 on her mind.

That date is the day of Cedric Baxter’s commitment announcement. The Florida native is in consideration for the No. 1 running back ranking in the 2023 class.

Some anticipate Baxter could bring another player or two with him from the state of Florida. Adding another borderline five-star talent could have a snowball effect with some of the more contested recruiting battles in this cycle.

Texas will try to reel in the special running back before the start of the football season. More important than the rankings bump Texas could enjoy from his commitment, he would give Steve Sarkisian yet another impact player for the class of 2023.

Baxter is the No. 3 running back and No. 46 overall player in the On3 consensus.

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Florida football in top 4 for elite RB, August commitment date set

One of the best running back recruits in the country has set a commitment date and narrowed things down to four schools, including Florida.

One of the nation’s top running backs, [autotag]Cedric Baxter Jr[/autotag] out of Edgewater High in Orlando, Florida, took a major step forward in their recruitment on Tuesday. Baxter named the Gators to his top four along with Miami, Texas and Texas A&M, according to a report from On3’s Hayes Fawcett, and he set a commitment date for August 10.

That’s some significant movement for a player ranked No. 1 among running backs by On3, and he must be close to a decision if he’s setting a five-week timeline for himself. Speaking to Fawcett, Baxter touched on each of his four finalists. Texas is the current leader on the site’s Recruiting Prediction Machine at 75.9%, but that’s likely because it’s the only program to have hosted him on an official visit so far.

“Coach Napier and Juluke want me bad,” Baxter said. “They feel like I can be a program changer. I love how they rotate their backs and don’t put wear and tear on your body. They want to win as well. The whole staff is genuine people and don’t fake it.”

The Gators have hosted him six times overall and four times since the year began. With recruiting being in a dead period until July 25, Florida will have to do its best to drive home the pitch over the phone. The final week of the month is a quiet period, but recruits in the class of 2023 (Baxter) aren’t able to make official visits at that point.

Fortunately, the Gators have a solid relationship with Baxter and could work out an unofficial visit or plan an official for after his commitment. He’s supposed to visit Miami on Nov. 5, and Billy Napier and Co. have made it clear that they want to get the last word with the blue-chip recruit.

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Texas receives crystal ball prediction for four-star RB Cedric Baxter Jr.

Baxter is a top priority for Steve Sarkisian and running backs coach Tashard Choice. 

The huge Manning domino is expected to have a ripple effect across the country.

The Longhorns are trending in the right direction for multiple top prospects after the news of Arch Manning’s commitment to Texas broke on Thursday.

Four-star running back Cerdic Baxter Jr received three 247Sports crystal ball projections to Texas. Baxter is a top priority for Steve Sarkisian and running backs coach Tashard Choice.

247Sports composite ranks Baxter as the No. 3 running back in the nation and the No. 11 overall prospect in the state of Florida in the 2023 cycle.

Texas is competing with Florida, Miami, Texas A&M and Arkansas to land a commitment from the elite running back.

Baxter was impressed by the program during his official visit in the second week of June. Texas appears to be in good shape with the Orlando product.

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Three 2023 prospects to watch for Texas after Arch Manning’s commitment

Arch Manning has the ability to bring several highly rated prospects to Austin along with him.

Five-star quarterback Arch Manning has been the most important recruit for Texas football in 2023. Continue reading “Three 2023 prospects to watch for Texas after Arch Manning’s commitment”

This top-3 2023 running back recruit just scheduled another UF visit

Hopefully Cedric Baxter Jr likes what he sees in Gainesville.

Head coach [autotag]Billy Napier[/autotag] and his staff have a huge hill to climb when it comes to getting Florida football’s recruiting back on track but nobody can doubt that the program is pushing hard for the best prep prospects in the nation. Among the blue-chippers the Gators are vying for during Napier’s debut is four-star running back [autotag]Cedric Baxter Jr[/autotag]. out of Orlando (Florida) Edgewater, who has not been a stranger to the university’s campus.

The 6-foot-1-inch, 215-pound ball-carrier has made several trips up to Gainesville during his recruitment and recently decided to drop in for an unofficial visit this weekend, according to Swamp247. There appears to be a growing mutual fondness between the prep prospect and the Gators as running backs coach [autotag]Jabbar Juluke[/autotag]’s philosophies seem to jibe well with the in-state target.

“With Florida, I like the way they use their running backs,” Baxter told Swamp247. “They are going to use at least three back a game and they are all going to get at least 10 carries, minimum. That saves your body for the next level. So, it’s that and then I feel like a priority for them.”

The four other schools vying for the coveted running back are the Alabama Crimson Tide, Miami Hurricanes, Texas Longhorns and Texas A&M Aggies. He has only used one of his official visits so far, stopping in Austin to see the Longhorns on June 10 and is not expected to make any more in the near future, likely saving them for after the fall football season.

Baxter is currently ranked No. 46 overall and No. 3 nationally at his position according to the 247Sports composite, while the On3 consensus him at Nos. 43 and 3, respectively. On3’s Recruiting Prediction Machine currently has Florida out in front of the other suitors with a 54% chance of signing him, while Texas and Miami follow at 13% and 10.5%, respectively.

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Elite RB Cedric Baxter Jr. sets official visit with Texas

Baxter is one of Texas’ top priorities for the 2023 cycle.

Texas will have some elite talents on campus this summer as official visit announcements continue to roll in for the Longhorns.

Four-star running back Cedric Baxter Jr. is the next high profile recruit to lock in an official visit date. The Orlando product will be in Austin from June 10-12.

247Sports ranks Baxter as the No. 2 running back in the country and the No. 7 overall prospect in the state of Florida. He turned in an all-state junior campaign where he rushed for 1,718 yards and 26 touchdowns on an 8.3 yards per carry clip.

Recruiting analyst Andrew Ivins of 247Sports gave high praise for Baxter in his scouting report, even comparing him to former Alabama running back Brian Robinson.

A potential workhorse or feature back. The first one off the bus with his 6-foot-1, 215-pound frame. Could eventually push 230 pounds or more once in a college strength program. Played primarily safety and a little wide receiver before settling in as the starting running back at one of Orlando’s top high school programs. Produced right away as a junior averaging just over 8.5 yards per carry while facing stiff competition week in and week out. Owns a bit of an upright running style, but makes it work as he quickly picks a lane and attacks it with a full head of steam. Does a nice job of navigating his way through traffic and will use swift little cuts to get around defenders. More than capable of breaking multiple arms tackles and seems to always be falling forward.

Baxter named Texas in his top five schools along with Florida, Miami, Texas A&M and Arkansas.

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