CJ Baxter’s journey back to the football field isn’t just a comeback—it’s a war story. The Texas Longhorns running back spent the entire 2024 season on the sidelines after a brutal knee injury—tearing his ACL and LCL during preseason camp. It wasn’t just the end of his season; it was the start of the hardest year of his life. What followed wasn’t just about healing physically. It was about learning how to sit still while the world kept moving around him, how to deal with the pain of watching his team fight on Saturdays without him, and how to mentally grind through a recovery that pushed him to the edge.

Baxter doesn’t sugarcoat it. “It was a lot, more mentally than physically,” he said. “The first two months were very brutal mentally, like watching the games. I had surgery the week before the first game … I couldn’t move around as much.” Imagine being a guy used to flying up the field at full speed and suddenly you’re just… sitting. Watching. Stuck. He was on the couch for most of the fall, watching teammates battle in games he should’ve been playing in. It wrecked him more than he expected. Football wasn’t just what he did—it was who he was.

But something shifted. Over time, the anger and frustration gave way to something else: perspective. “I’m not glad that I got injured,” he admitted. “But I’m grateful for what it did for me—mentally, physically, spiritually.” That’s not something a lot of athletes say, especially young ones. But for Baxter, this wasn’t just a rehab. It was a reset. A brutal, slow, humbling reset.

While he couldn’t run, he made sure to keep his football brain sharp. He traveled with the team. He went to practices. He watched film. He studied like he was still starting. And more than that, he became a kind of mentor—talking younger backs through reads and adjustments from the sideline. “Coach Choice would let me tell them where to go from there,” he said, turning pain into leadership. He wasn’t just a guy recovering from injury anymore. He was an extra set of eyes, an older brother, a teacher.

Off the field, he leaned on faith—finding strength in the story of Job from the Bible, someone who lost everything but never gave up. He also found inspiration close to home. His girlfriend, Texas softball star Mia Scott, was rehabbing from her own knee injury, and ended up helping lead her team to a national championship. Watching her grind through pain and then thrive reminded him of what was possible. That spark mattered more than any motivational speech.

Fast forward to summer 2025, and CJ Baxter is back. Not just jogging-through-drills back—really back. In fall camp, he’s been running with a purpose, showing flashes of the guy who was once considered the next great Texas back. He still wears a brace, and maybe he’s not at 100% quite yet, but it’s close. And it’s physical. Head coach Steve Sarkisian noticed right away, saying Baxter has been running “hard and physical.” That’s coach speak for: this guy means business.

Baxter still has a little rust—maybe he’s at 80% right now—but you wouldn’t know it watching him attack reps like it’s game day. The coaches are being smart. Sark isn’t trying to rush him into a full workload too soon. He’s seen what can happen when guys rush back from ACL tears, and he wants Baxter fully ready for the long haul, not just Week One. Sark said it himself—he’s not putting a date on Baxter’s full return. It could be the season opener, or maybe a week or two after that. Either way, it’s going to be on Baxter’s timing, not the calendar.

And while Baxter’s working his way back into form, the Texas running back room has become something of a juggernaut. Quintrevion Wisner emerged as a star during Baxter’s absence last season, rushing for over a thousand yards and locking in his spot as one of the most dangerous backs in the country. Christian Clark and Jerrick Gibson are right there too—hungry, talented, and pushing each other every day in practice. That kind of depth is rare. It’s also perfect for Baxter, who doesn’t have to carry everything on his own right away. He can work back into game shape without the pressure of being the sole engine of the offense.

Even in scrimmages, Baxter is showing flashes. In one recent scrimmage, he was a clear standout—running hard, making the right reads, and showing off that burst Texas fans remember. Alongside safety Derek Williams, he earned praise as one of the best players on the field that day. And that’s not easy to do when you’re just coming off a major injury. What’s more impressive? He practiced the next day too. That might sound small, but stacking two strong days in a row this early in recovery is a big deal. Most guys wouldn’t do that—not unless they’re really ready.

Behind the scenes, one thing has definitely changed. Tashard Choice, the Longhorns’ former running backs coach and one of Baxter’s biggest mentors, left for the NFL this offseason. Baxter didn’t hide the fact that it hurt. He said it straight—“It hurt.” But he followed that with respect: “Love T Choice.” That tells you what kind of loyalty this kid has. And while Choice is gone, the foundation he helped build in Baxter is still there.

So here we are. August 2025. The Longhorns open the season in a few weeks with a massive road trip to face Ohio State in Columbus. It’s not just a normal game—it’s a statement opportunity. Texas is ranked near the top, and people are expecting big things. For Baxter, this isn’t just a game. It’s a full-circle moment. After 12 months of darkness, watching, waiting, and wondering, he gets to strap on the helmet and go again.

He’s not saying it out loud, but you can tell—he wants to pick up where he left off. He wants to show everyone he’s not just healed, he’s better. He’s mentally sharper, spiritually tougher, and physically stronger. This isn’t the same CJ Baxter who got injured in 2024. This is version 2.0. Wiser. Hungrier. Humbled, but far from broken.

And maybe that’s what makes this story matter. It’s not just about a guy coming back from an injury. It’s about a young athlete who faced silence, setbacks, and disappointment—and found a way to stay locked in. A guy who, instead of folding, chose to lean in. Who kept watching, learning, helping, and growing, even when no one was cheering. Who believed that pain had a purpose.

When CJ Baxter steps onto the field again—whether it’s Week One or later—he won’t just be a running back in a Texas jersey. He’ll be proof that grit, patience, and a little faith can carry you through the darkest chapters. And if he really is back to form? Watch out. Because the guy who spent a year off the field is now the guy no defense wants to deal with.

He’s not just back. He’s ready to remind everyone who he is.