Losing two running backs to the NFL is plenty of reason to worry for the Texas Longhorns, and the returning stable of backs is young and inexperienced. Texas running backs make up the thinnest position on the team aside from the linebackers. Unlike the linebacker corps, there’s not a player like Jaylan Ford who’s head and shoulders above his peers. What the Longhorns do have coming back is a group of ball carriers brimming with potential.
Texas enjoyed a productive running back tandem last season thanks to Bijan Robinson and Roschon Johnson. Robinson was drafted in the first round by the Atlanta Falcons, and Johnson was picked up by the Chicago Bears in the fourth round. Robinson and Johnson marshaled Texas through last year’s 8-5 campaign. The Longhorns are expected to win the Big 12, and to do so they need the new backfield to get up to speed quickly. This is the 2023 class of running backs that has emerged.
Outlining the 2023 Texas Running Backs
5. Ky Woods, Sophomore
This is your guy if you like all-purpose backs. Ky Woods was a second-team Class 6A All-State player coming out of Clear Springs High School near Houston. He can run, catch, and return kicks. The five-foot-nine-inch, 175-pound dynamo showed up in the Spring game with a 35-yard catch and carried the ball five times for 21 yards. He’s a shifty scatback about to make his college debut after not seeing action last season.
Woods can provide the versatility to keep the game plan ticking for Offensive Coordinator Kyle Flood. The sophomore must prove he can handle the rigors of college football. He was named District Ironman in high school because he was on the field almost all the time, so that should count for something.
4. Jaydon Blue, Sophomore
Jaydon Blue is another product of the greater Houston area. He skipped his final season of high school and played in nine games last year as a freshman. The high levels of production from Robinson and Johnson limited Blue to 15 carries and 33 yards.
There were reports in the offseason that Blue was considering whether to enter the transfer portal. He opted to stick with the Longhorns and appears ready to move up the depth chart. He had 10 carries for 52 yards and a touchdown in the Spring game, which was the best performance by a running back in the scrimmage. His combination of size (6’0″, 190 pounds) and speed makes him an interesting prospect who came out of high school as one of the best prep runners in the nation.
3. Keilan Robinson, Senior
The lone senior in the running backs room is the glue that holds it together. Keilan Robinson has played in 24 games for Texas since transferring from Alabama after the 2020 season. During a press conference, he said the loss of two players to the NFL could spread the workload among the running backs this year, and nobody has a problem with it. “The way we see it, everybody’s going to eat,” Robinson said. “It doesn’t matter how many bites somebody takes. Everybody’s going to eat.”
Robinson has proved he can do it all. He can run with the ball, catch it, and is an effective kick and punt returner. He also returned a blocked punt for a touchdown last year against Louisiana-Monroe. It seems a sure bet he’ll get more touches as a running back this season.
2. CJ Baxter, Freshman
You know a player is special when he earns a nickname before ever playing a college game, and C4 is no exception. Baxter checks in at six-foot-one-inch and 218 pounds, and he appears ready to step onto the field right away as a true freshman.
Texas fans have been abuzz about Baxter since he enrolled in time for Spring ball. He carried the ball 11 times for 28 yards and a touchdown in the Spring game. His performance during Fall camp has fueled the hype even further. By all accounts coming out of Austin, he’s ready to play and make an impact.
1. Jonathon Brooks, Sophomore
This is the leader of the Texas running backs. Jonathon Brooks is coming into his third year at Texas after playing in seven games last year as a redshirt freshman. He’s won over Head Coach Steve Sarkisian with his consistency and dedication. Brooks waited his turn behind the dynamic duo of Robinson and Johnson, and now he’s the starter.
He earned playing time almost right away after a very good prep career at Class 3A Hallettsville. Brooks was highly regarded coming out of high school despite playing at a small school. Now the number one running back at Texas, he preaches the team mentality. He said to the media, “I just want the team to win. Whether that’s me getting five carries, 20 carries, it doesn’t matter to me. I want to win.”
Photo courtesy: Jay Biggerstaff-USA TODAY Sports
