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Texas Longhorns RB Jaydon Blue Hopes 'To Be Gone' to NFL Draft Next Season

Texas Longhorns running back Jaydon Blue is hoping the 2024 season will earn him some NFL looks.
Zach Dimmitt|
Jan 1, 2024; New Orleans, LA, USA; Texas Longhorns running back Jaydon Blue (23)
Jan 1, 2024; New Orleans, LA, USA; Texas Longhorns running back Jaydon Blue (23) | John David Mercer-USA TODAY Sports

AUSTIN -- College and pro athletes routinely stress that it's best not to get too far ahead of yourself and to stay present, but Texas Longhorns running back Jaydon Blue is showing he's mentally mature enough to do a balancing act with the present and future.

Blue was asked Thursday when speaking to the media if the 2024 season is a "contract year" for him. While most players might brush off the question and instead say that their only focus is on the season ahead, Blue was candid when revealing the NFL future he envisions for himself.

Jan 1, 2024; New Orleans, LA, USA; Texas Longhorns running back Jaydon Blue
Jan 1, 2024; New Orleans, LA, USA; Texas Longhorns running back Jaydon Blue | Stephen Lew-USA TODAY Sports

“The plan is to be gone after this year,” Blue said. “However the year goes, we’ll see, but hopefully I’ll be gone after this year.”

Texas fans should be wary of accidentally taking these comments out of context, as the statement "hopefully I’ll be gone after this year" could certainly raise some eyebrows as a standalone sentence. But under coach Tashard Choice, Texas running backs have created an NFL-ready standard in Austin, and Blue is understandably wanting to be next in line.

He served as the third running back on the depth chart for most of last season, but the ACL injury to Jonathon Brooks forced Blue and C.J. Baxter into a bigger role. Blue showed flashes of his impressive ability in big-time moments, as he scored touchdowns in the Big 12 title game and College Football Playoff. He finished the 2023 season with 65 carries for 398 yards and three touchdowns while also showing natural pass-catching skills, tallying 14 grabs for 135 yards and another score.

Baxter and Blue are expected to be a one-two punch this upcoming season, but the latter could potentially separate himself as the lead back if how he ended last year was any indication.

Blue and the 2024 Longhorns will play in front of fans for the first time at the Orange-White Spring Game on Saturday, April 20.

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Zach Dimmitt
ZACH DIMMITT

Zach Dimmitt is the Deputy Editor for Texas Longhorns On SI and Texas A&M Aggies On SI. He also contributes as a writer for the On SI channels of the Oregon Ducks, Baltimore Ravens and Tennessee Titans. He was previously the editor-in-chief of Buffalo Bills on SI, Philadelphia Eagles on SI and Seattle Seahawks on SI. Born and raised in San Antonio, Texas, Dimmitt received his Bachelor’s Degree in journalism at the University of Texas at Austin in 2022. He originally started with SI’s Fan Nation network in 2021, providing extensive coverage of the NFL and NBA along with college football and basketball. In that time, Dimmitt has published thousands of stories and has reached millions of people across multiple fan bases. You can follow him on X at @ZachDimmitt7

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