Texas Longhorns RB C.J. Baxter Ready for Challenge of Replacing Jonathon Brooks

Texas Longhorns running back C.J. Baxter has big shoes to fill, but he is ready for the challenge.

Texas Longhorns running back CJ Baxter (4) celebrates a first down during the Sugar Bowl College / Aaron E. Martinez/American-Statesman /

Last season, Texas Longhorns running back Jonathon Brooks took the country by storm, becoming an instant star and rushing for more than 1,139 yards and 10 touchdowns in 10 games.

Unfortunately, that production came to a screeching halt in the fourth quarter of their Nov. 11 matchup vs. TCU, when Brooks went down with a torn ACL, ending his season.

Suffice it to say, the hole left by Brooks' absence was massive, with the responsibilities on the ground shifting to two young and unproven - albeit elite - talents in C.J. Baxter and Jaydon Blue.

Luckily for Texas, both Baxter and Blue were ready for the challenge and excelled with the opportunity.

Texas Longhorns running back CJ Baxter (4) celebrates a first down during the Sugar Bowl College / Aaron E. Martinez/American-Statesman /

“When JB went down, me, Jaydon (Blue), and the rest of the backs knew we had to step up,” Baxter Jr. said. “What Jonathon did in the early part of the season was tremendous, the numbers he put up and the production he put up. When that happened, with me playing a lot I knew I had to step up.”

Now, Brooks is off to the NFL, and the burden of carrying the run game will fall on Baxter and Blue for the entirety of the 2024 season next fall.

That said, this won't be Baxter's first time entering the season as RB1.

Heading into the season opener in 2023, Baxter held the starting title over Brooks, only to lose his grip on the job after suffering an injury vs. Alabama in Week 2. Not only that, be he was also dealing with the challenges of learning the offense as a true freshman.

But in retrospect, while that was all frustrating for Baxter at the time, it was also a challenge that helped him grow, mature, and become a better football player.

“When I look back, I was like ‘God did this on purpose,'” Baxter said. “He made me go through what I went through my freshman year and my freshman year of college because he was challenging me to see how I respond.”

Midway through spring football, Baxter has taken those lessons and cemented himself as a key member of the offense heading into next season.

Only this time, he is ready to take things to the next level and do his best to help lead the Longhorns back to the College Football Playoff.

“I felt like last year was more thinking and trying to get my foot in,” Baxter Jr. said. “Now I feel like I can just go in and play.”