Throughout Tuesday’s observe, Texas operating again CJ Baxter suffered a PCL/LCL tear that can require season-ending surgical procedure, per ESPN’s Pete Thamel. RB2 Jaydon Blue might emerge as a viable substitute.
Dropping Baxter earlier than the beginning of the season is dear for the Longhorns. He confirmed promise as a freshman, speeding for 659 yards and 5 touchdowns on 138 carries in 13 video games.
Blue is proficient, although. ESPN’s Dave Wilson noted Blue and Baxter had been not too long ago named to the Doak Walker Award watch record, honoring the nation’s prime operating again. The duo was additionally anticipated to separate carries this season.
Blue’s small pattern measurement might increase issues. 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 turn into a top quality starter.
Former Texas RB Jonathon Brooks noticed little enjoying time via his first two seasons when he sat behind Bijan Robinson and Roschon Johnson. In 2023, Brooks broke out speeding for 1,139 yards in 11 video games. The Carolina Panthers took him with the forty sixth total decide of the 2024 NFL Draft. Blue feels he might comply with the same path.
“I at all times use JB as the instance. He did not play a lot his first two years and he performed lots final 12 months and he went to the [NFL] after one 12 months,” Blue stated Tuesday, via Danny Davis of the Austin American-Statesman. “I at all times look again at that and it places a number of perception in me that if I simply keep affected person and work then all the things I would like [will happen].”
Baxter’s damage is not best, however Blue might step up and assist the Longhorns earn their second consecutive School Soccer Playoff berth.