Texas RB CJ Baxter plans to enter NCAA Transfer Portal

A sizable blow is being levied to Texas’ running back room. CJ Baxter is planning to enter the NCAA transfer portal, per On3’s Pete Nakos.

Baxter played high school football at Edgewater (Orlando, FL), where he was a five-star prospect. He was the No. 30 overall recruit in the 2023 cycle, according to the Rivals Industry Ranking, a weighted algorithm that complies all major recruiting media services.

To keep up with the latest players on the move, check out On3’s Transfer Portal wire. The On3 Transfer Portal Instagram account and Twitter account are excellent resources to stay up to date with the latest moves.

Baxter leaves Austin having appeared in 21 games, totaling 855 rushing yards and four touchdowns while adding 36 receptions for 197 yards and another score. He arrived with immediate expectations as a true freshman, rushing for 659 yards and five touchdowns in Year 1, but injuries limited his workload later during his time in Austin.

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The hope was that 2024 would be Baxter’s true ascension. Instead, a knee injury wiped out his sophomore campaign entirely. His return in 2025 never fully ignited either. Baxter finished with just 196 rushing yards and no touchdowns, unable to reclaim the role many envisioned when he committed to the Longhorns.

Now, the former blue-chip recruit will look to reset his career elsewhere. His departure leaves Texas with four scholarship running backs currently in the room, beginning with Tre Wisner, who could consider leaving for the NFL. James Simon and Christian Clark, both of whom saw early-season action, and freshman Rickey Stewart Jr. remain as well.

For the Longhorns, Baxter’s exit marks the latest roster shift as Steve Sarkisian continues reshaping Texas ahead of looking to bounce back in 2026. How the rest of the team looks remains to be seen, but the running back will be somewhere else.