Kentucky addresses a growing position of need by landing the former 5-star running back after visiting Lexington.
Kentucky Football took a significant step toward reshaping its backfield with the addition of Texas running back transfer CJ Baxter, who committed to the Wildcats on Sunday, according to ESPN’s Pete Thamel.
Baxter previously visited Lexington when the transfer portal first opened. He was garnering heavy interest from Indiana, who looks poised to win the national championship, and is coming off a weekend visit with the Hoosiers. That speaks to how big of a get this is for Will Stein and Co.
The move comes at a critical time as Kentucky works to rebuild depth at a position that has been hit by departures this offseason and will look vastly different when the 2026 season kicks off.
The Wildcats have already confirmed the loss of two running backs, with Seth McGowan graduating and Dante Dowdell entering the transfer portal after just one season in Lexington, making Baxter’s arrival both timely and impactful.
Kentucky did land a commitment from Oklahoma transfer running back Jovantae Barnes, but he’s not expected to be a full-time RB1.
Baxter was a 5-star recruit and one of the highest-ranked players in the 2023 recruiting class when he signed with Texas. He was ranked 18th nationally and first among running backs at 247 Sports, which now has him ranked 142nd overall among transfer prospects and 11th among running backs.
Baxter made an immediate impression as a freshman, earning Freshman All-American honors and All-Big 12 Honorable Mention recognition after rushing for 659 yards on 4.8 yards per carry with five touchdowns.
Injuries slowed Baxter’s momentum over the last two seasons. He suffered a season-ending injury before his sophomore campaign and was limited to eight games in 2025. Despite those setbacks, Baxter is expected to have two years of eligibility remaining and be a major impact player for the Wildcats.
Baxter is 6-foot-1 and 227 pounds, and he brings a rare combination of size and speed. He’s a physical, downhill runner capable of moving the pile in short-yardage situations, but his breakaway ability is what made him the No. 1 running back in the country.
With Baxter joining Barnes, Jason Patterson, and Tovani Mizell, the Kentucky backfield is starting to look set for next season as the Wildcats embark on the first year of the Will Stein era.
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Category: General Sports
