Game log · Week-by-week
2026 season · 2 games
| Wk | Opp | CAR | YDS | AVG | TD | LONG | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wk 1 | W 45-13vs Youngstown State | 9 | 48 | 5.3 | 2 | 15 | Season-high 48 yds |
| Wk 2 | L 17-45vs Alabama | 11 | 29 | 2.6 | 0 | 12 | |
| Total | 20 | 77 | 4.0 | 2 | 15 |
#1
CJ Baxter
Senior running back for Kentucky. 2026: 2 games with a box-score line.
6′1″ · 230 lb · Boynton Beach, FL
CFB Index 31 · #304 of 326 RBsHigh confidenceTransferred Texas → Kentucky for 2026
CFB Index
A single number blending on-field production (an EPA-based value lane) with box-score output for this player's position.
0-100, scaled within each position's own cohort — not directly comparable across positions.
The numbers
77
rushing yards · 2026
2 TD · 3.9 per carry · 2 catches
2 games into 2026 so far -- Best game: 48 rush yds, 2 TD, vs Youngstown State
His career numbers, season by seasonThe story
4 running back for Kentucky. 2026: 2 games with a box-score line.
- Signed as a 5-star recruit to Texas in 2023.
- Transferred from Texas to Kentucky in 2026.
Buzz vs Tape
Fans warmer than rivals
His own fans are far more bullish than the rival fanbase.
20.4own fans
-10rival fans
The Kentucky Wildcats set the stage for an epic showdown as Kenny Minchey shines against Youngstown State, fueling hopes for a stunning upset over Alabama. Can Minchey's efficiency and poise translate against the Crimson Tide’s formidable…
Also worth knowing:
In Their Words
128 windows · 2026 fan posts
wisner×669.0kentucky×20.1back×7.3
CJ Baxter
Just keeps getting the ball, series after series. Across three seasons and two programs, two head coaches: Steve Sarkisian and Will Stein. The receipt on tape: 48 rush yds, 2 rush TD against Youngstown State, Week 1, 2026.
77 RUSH YDS · 2 RUSH TD · 20 CARRIES
Low coverage — composed from the verified record.
- season totals
- positional archetype classification
- head-coach lineage
- game log
His career
4 programs, one constant: he played.
202313 games
- Signed with Texas5-star out of Edgewater
2026
- Entered the portal
- Entered the portal
- Entered the portal
Career arc
HS
Recruit
★★★★★
CFB
College
2 teams
NFL
NFL Draft
—
Coaching lineage · 2023–2026
2 coachesCoaching transition mid-career: Mark Stoops → Will Stein. Worth noting in scheme + development context.
Where He Ended Up · Transfer
Transferred to Kentucky
2025Texas
2026Kentucky
2026 snapshot
Season context · Team result + system
2023Texas12-2HC: Steve Sarkisian · Balanced
2025Texas10-3HC: Steve Sarkisian · Balanced
2026Kentucky1-1HC: Will Stein · Balanced, slow tempo
Where this profile ranks vs the RB cohort
Box-score percentiles
High confidence
Concern: rush yards (0th percentile).
Box-score rates (8)
Percentiles versus same-position peers with enough snaps this season, based on box-score rates.
Splits & context
Splits
Per-game splits
Through 2 games: 38.5 YDS/g, 4.0 YPC, 1.0 TD/g — splits start at 3 games.
Supporting cast · Scheme
Staff and system around the player
Head Coach
Will Stein
Scheme reads (pass share, tempo, sack rate) need at least 3 team games — 2 games in so far.
Awards
Player standing · 2026
Backup
On the two-deep and pushing for snaps.
Roster2-deepStarterRecognizedEliteApex
Career stats
Signature game
SIGNATURE GAME · Week 1 · 2026
W 45–13
48 rush yds (9 car) · 2 TD
Dominant 32-point win at home against Youngstown State.
With K. Minchey — 301 yds · 4 TD · 0 INT · 17 rush yds (1 car) · T. O'Hara — 42 AVG · 1 IN 20 · 45 LONG
Signature plays
Signature plays · top plays by |EPA|
The plays that mattered most
- Week 1 · Youngstown State · 4&2 · Q2 · EPA +2.85Willie Rodriguez 2 Yd pass from CJ Baxter (Adam Zouagui Kick)
- Week 1 · Youngstown State · 1&15 · Q1 · EPA +2.83(11:36) Shotgun #1 C.Baxter rush middle for 15 yards gain to the YSU00 TOUCHDOWN, clock 11:29, 1ST DOWN #88 A.Zouagui kick attempt good (H: #93 W.Berry, LS: #97 S.Radnoti)
- Week 1 · Youngstown State · 2&3 · Q1 · EPA +2.23(06:28) #1 C.Baxter rush left for 5 yards gain to the YSU00 TOUCHDOWN, clock 06:25, 1ST DOWN #88 A.Zouagui kick attempt good (H: #93 W.Berry, LS: #47 S.Radnoti)
- Week 2 · Alabama · 2&1 · Q4 · EPA -2.11(15:00) Shotgun #1 C.Baxter rush middle for 6 yards loss to the UK28 (#10 J.Edwards)
- Week 2 · Alabama · 1&10 · Q1 · EPA +1.37(14:17) Shotgun #3 K.Minchey pass complete short middle to #1 C.Baxter caught at UK41, for 9 yards to the UK47 (#4 L.Metz)
- Week 2 · Alabama · 4&7 · Q2 · EPA -1.02(00:34) Shotgun #1 C.Baxter rush middle for 10 yards loss to the UK47 fumbled by #1 C.Baxter at ALA49 recovered by UK #3 K.Minchey at UK47, End Of Play
- Week 1 · Youngstown State · 1&10 · Q1 · EPA +0.92(10:00) Shotgun #1 C.Baxter rush left for 10 yards gain to the UK50 (#18 D.Tunis; #1 C.Smith), 1ST DOWN
- Week 2 · Alabama · 1&10 · Q2 · EPA -0.83(08:13) Shotgun #1 C.Baxter rush middle for 1 yard gain to the UK36 (#18 B.Hubbard)
- Week 2 · Alabama · 1&10 · Q1 · EPA -0.77(05:17) Shotgun #1 C.Baxter rush left for 1 yard gain to the UK33 (#99 T.Green; #7 C.Woodson)
- Week 2 · Alabama · 1&20 · Q2 · EPA +0.63(01:59) Shotgun #1 C.Baxter rush middle for 12 yards gain to the UK27 (#7 C.Woodson; #4 L.Metz)
Game log
How he plays
Play style
Built to take 20+ carries per game. Volume is the value.
CFB Index positional classification
DNA match
Player DNA
Workhorse
Built to take 20+ carries per game. Volume is the value.
RB
His 2025 production profile sits closest to Cameren Smith’s 2025 season.
Matches Cameren on
Yards / carry
Receiving share
Total rush EPA (college ability)
Differs from Cameren on
Class year (lower)
Height (higher)
Through 3 college seasons, his career arc tracks closest to Andrew Body’s path through Alabama State.
Matches Andrew on
Yards per carry
As a sophomore, his production profile tracks closest to Cameren Smith's sophomore season at Charlotte (2025).
71%match
Matches Cameren on
Total rush EPA (college ability)
Height
Receiving share
Differs from Cameren on
Class year (lower)
The backfield · Kentucky
- #26Jason Patterson225 rushing yards · 2025
- #1CJ Baxter196 rushing yards · 2025
- #2Jovantae Barnes45 rushing yards · 2025
- #21Tovani Mizell10 rushing yards · 2025
- #28Ahmir Smith1 game · 2026
3 more on the roster · Kentucky team page
Stats from CFBD · ESPN · fan discourse. Every figure computed from source tables — not invented. Methodology