College Football Playoff Contender Reportedly Loses Another Running Back To Injury

Texas Longhorns running back Christian Clark sustained an injury at a fall camp practice on Monday, according to a report from OnTexasFootball .

Unfortunately for Steve Sarkisian's No. 4-ranked Longhorns, Clark is the second tailback to suffer an injury this preseason after projected starter CJ Baxter suffered a knee injury last week. Baxter will miss the entire 2024 season, while the extent of Clark's injury is unknown at this time.

Clark (6-foot, 210 pounds) signed with Texas as a four-star recruit in the class of 2024. The Phoenix, Arizona, native was rated as the No. 23 tailback in his class, per 247Sports.

Coming off its first College Football Playoff appearance in program history, Texas is considered with the top teams the sport has to offer entering the season. The offseason move from the Big 12 to the SEC has put the Longhorns in the spotlight even more.

Texas' balance on offense made defenses pay in 2023. The Longhorns finished No. 9 in the country in total offense, including an average of 289 passing yards, 188 rushing yards and 35.8 points per game.

Considering the amount of talented front sevens in the SEC, and the extended season thanks to the expanded 12-team playoff, the ground game will be paramount for Texas to reach the postseason.

The team will most likely turn to Jaydon Blue, the Longhorns third-leading rusher last season, but depth is a major concern. Jonathan Brooks led Texas in rushing in 2023 before going to the Carolina Panthers as a second-round pick. Keilan Robinson was taken in the fifth-round by the Jacksonville Jaguars.

Additionally, there is a young option in true freshman Jerrick Gibson, a former four-star recruit.

Texas will open the 2024 season at home versus Colorado State on Aug. 31 at 3:30 p.m. ET.

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