With Texas football now in the offseason, the American-Statesman is breaking down each position group.
Who’s gone from the 2024 squad that went 13-3 and fell a win short a national title-game appearance? Who’s back? And what portal arrivals and freshmen from the nation’s No. 1 recruiting class have joined the team?
The Longhorns are coming off an impressive season that include a record 16-game schedule, a spot in the SEC championship game, a spot in the College Football Playoff semifinals for the second consecutive season, and a final ranking of No. 3 in the US LBM Coaches Poll for the past season. The ranking marks the best showing for the Longhorns in the final coaches poll since 2009. The 53 coaches who vote in the coaches poll listed Texas behind just national champion Ohio State and national runner-up Notre Dame.
More: Texas football: How the 2024 freshmen fared, and which ones will star in 2025?
Can Texas make another push for a CFP spot in 2025? The roster has a few holes but also boasts loads of potential, as evident by the program’s high ranking in way-too-early preseason polls.
This week, the American-Statesman will have a daily position-by-position breakdown of the 2025 Texas roster entering the offseason. We’ve already looked at quarterbacks. Today, we look at the Longhorns’ running backs.
Texas football RBs: Who’s gone?
Jaydon Blue (early NFL entry).
Texas football RBs: Who’s back?
Rising redshirt sophomore CJ Baxter; rising junior Quintrevion Wisner; rising sophomore Jerrick Gibson; rising redshirt sophomore Ryan Niblett; rising redshirt freshman Christian Clark.
Texas football RBs: Who’s new?
Freshman James Simon, a four-star recruit from Shreveport, Louisiana; freshman Rickey Stewart; a three-star recruit from Tyler.
Texas football RBs: Overview
Baxter, a presumed starter before this season, will try to bounce back from a knee injury that caused him to miss the entire 2024 season. At 6 feet, 1 inches and 220 pounds, Baxter is at least 15 pounds and 2 inches bigger than the other Texas running backs and would give the Longhorns some much-needed size in the backfield.
Wisner emerged as a reliable starter with more than 1,100 yards rushing this season, and Gibson burned a redshirt while rushing for 377 yards. Clark also missed the season with an Achilles injury but is expected to be ready for the start of the 2025 campaign. The versatile Niblett, who switched to running back in 2024 because of injuries, could move back to receiver.
Reach Texas beat reporter Thomas Jones via email at tjones@statesman.com. Follow the American-Statesman on Facebook and X for more. Your subscription makes work like this possible. Get access to all of our best content with this tremendous offer.
This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Texas 2025 RB preview: Will CJ Baxter start in revamped unit?
