Joel Klatt evaluates the importance of CJ Baxter in Texas' backfield

As Texas aims to replace the production of Bijan Robinson, FOX Sports analyst Joel Klatt believes CJ Baxter will play a key role. The five-star true freshman figures to begin the season behind Jonathon Brooks and Jaydon Blue on the depth chart, but Klatt doesn’t see it being long before Baxter moves his way up.

Robinson was arguably the best running back in the country this past season, ranking fifth in the FBS with 1,580 yards and 18 touchdowns. Texas also loses Robinson’s backup, Roschon Johnson, leaving the backfield as the biggest question mark for the offense in 2023. That’s why Klatt labeled Baxter as a “shoe-filler” for the Longhorns, saying a big part of their success hinges on his ability to step up.

“The nation’s No. 1 running back recruit in CJ Baxter replacing the nation’s No. 1 running back in Bijan Robinson,” Klatt said on his podcast. “This one’s interesting because Bijan didn’t get a ton of carries as a true freshman, in particular in his first six games.

“So I don’t necessarily think that CJ Baxter’s gonna come in and set the world on fire right away as a first-year player. But eventually what we saw in Bijan’s first season is that he was the best player on the field at the end of the year. That’s probably what you’re gonna start to get.”

Baxter ranked as the No. 30 overall player and No. 1 running back in the 2023 cycle according to the On3 Industry Ranking, a weighted average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies. He’s already made an impression on his teammates in the spring and fall camp, with quarterback Quinn Ewers praising his mindset.

Brooks and Blue were also highly rated recruits coming out of high school, with both earning four-star status. Brooks rushed for 340 yards and six touchdowns (five in 2022) over his first two years in Austin, while Blue played a limited role last season as a true freshman.

The Texas offense is already expected to be explosive thanks to the return of Ewers and its top three pass catcher from 2022. However, if the Longhorns are to win the Big 12 as predicted, Klatt sees these three running backs — and Baxter in particular — being critically important.

“This is an offense that has 10 starters back,” he said. “So whoever takes the snaps at running back — maybe it’s CJ Baxter or some of these other guys early but maybe Baxter later in the season — their contribution and what they can do for this offense is so important because Bijan was so important. The way that he caught it out of the backfield. His explosiveness.

“If they can replace Bijan with a host of these guys and these first-year shoe-fillers come in and actually fill the shoes, then watch out for Texas. If Baxter is a player into the year, they could be playing for and winning the Big 12 championship.”

CJ Baxter is set to make his Texas debut when the Longhorns kick off the 2023 season at 2:30 p.m. CT on Sept. 2 against Rice.