OTF Premium Texas Player Availability (Thursday, August 14)

[Jeff Howe]

His faith, the Texas coaching staff and the medical staff got Baxter through his first significant injury.

”I never felt alone,” he said.

[CJ Vogel]

 

[Jeff Howe]

Mia Scott’s national championship trophy on Baxter’s nightstand.

”Now I’ve got to get me one,” he said.

[Jeff Howe]

Chad Scott recruited CJ Baxter in high school. Tashard Choice leaving was hard, Baxter said, but he said Scott is “great developer” who has helped the game slow down for the running backs.

[Jeff Howe]

“I’m grateful to be back on the field,” Baxter said. 

[Jeff Howe]

Baxter said he’s smarter as a running back now than he was as a true freshman. He banked a lot of mental reps last season while injured, which helped him get more in tune with the offense.

[CJ Vogel]

Cj Baxter says although he didn’t play last year, he became a true student of the game. In large part because of the off. staff and Coach Choice providing an iPad for him to get a script of plays with in 2024.

[Jeff Howe]

Jelani McDonald is up now.

[Jeff Howe]

McDonald said the biggest difference for him between playing STAR and safety is that there’s nobody behind him to clean up a mistake when he’s at safety.

[Jeff Howe]

McDonald said Derek Williams Jr. has “looked fantastic” since coming back from his knee injury.

[Jeff Howe]

McDonald said growing mentally as a player and understanding the game are where he’s made the most growth since he was a freshman.

[CJ Vogel]

McDonald says he knows he has to set up this fall, says he has put it on him self to make sure he gets the backend of the secondary to where it needs to be. 

[Jeff Howe]

“Not at all,” McDonald said when asked if there’s going to be any drop-off in communication with Jahdae Barron and Andrew Mukuba gone.

[Jeff Howe]

“That’s what I’m here for,” McDonald said when asked the pride he takes in being a big hitter who protects his area.

[Jeff Howe]

Graceson Littleton and Kobe Black are the two defensive backs McDonald named when talking about big hitters in the secondary.

[CJ Vogel]

Jelani McDonald was asked about Graceson Littleton and what stands out about him.

”His love for the game.”

[CJ Vogel]

McDonald says he models his game after Kyle Hamilton. 

[Jeff Howe]

“We try to, but it’s hard when you’re going against a great offense,” McDonald said when asked if there’s defense is dominating the offense in camp.

[Jeff Howe]

“That’s me,” McDonald said when asked why he switched to No. 4.

[CJ Vogel]

Ryan Wingo time. 

[Jeff Howe]

Ryan Wingo said sitting back and watching the veterans in front of him helped him get better as a freshman.

[Jeff Howe]

“I felt like I was pretty consistent throughout the season,” Wingo said when asked if he felt he hit a wall at some point last season.

[Jeff Howe]

Wingo said it was “fun” to go to the Big House and play Michigan last year. He’s looking forward to the environment in Columbus on Aug. 30.

[Jeff Howe]

“If you want a complete receiver, that’s the guy you want,” Wingo said of what makes DeAndre Moore a first-round caliber wide receiver.

[Jeff Howe]

“We’ll see at the end of the year, but I’ll say we’re even right now.” — Wingo on the difference between the 2024 and 2025 offenses