CJ Vogel - recalculating expectations for CJ Baxter
Posted 2 hours ago
Following a busy weekend in Austin, where the first fall camp scrimmage drew significant attention, one of the most notable developments has been the return and involvement of running back CJ Baxter.
The third-year back was a full participant in the scrimmage and, according to multiple accounts, exceeded expectations with both his performance and usage. While Texas implemented a quick whistle in certain situations, one of the standout moments — already well-documented here at OTF — was Baxter’s goal-line touchdown run, an area that has been a persistent challenge for the Longhorn offense in recent seasons. Perhaps most encouraging was the fact that Baxter was practicing live, without a green non-contact jersey, and ran with a high level of competitiveness.
Baxter showed no signs of physical limitation during the first live-action period of camp. In the weeks leading up to this point, expectations for his early season workload had been tempered. However, after several conversations over the weekend, it now appears realistic to envision Baxter receiving 8–12 carries in the season opener at Columbus.
This is an encouraging sign not only for the Texas offense but also a credit to Baxter’s commitment to his recovery and rehabilitation process. At this stage, I am more confident than at any point this offseason that Baxter will play a meaningful role in week one against Ohio State. If the current trajectory continues, Texas fans should expect to see him on the field when the season kicks off in 20 days.