​We have finally made it through a long, hot summer, and are now approximately 24 hours away from the start of the 2026 Kentucky football season. As we count down the days, we are getting to know the players on the roster. Today, were taking a look at No. 1, C.J. Baxter.Baxter is a 6’1″, 227 lb running back out of Boynton Beach, Florida. As a member of the 2023 recruiting class, he was rated five stars by 247Sports, and ranked as their No. 30 overall player.As one of the top recruits in the country, Baxter had offers from most of the top programs. In the end, he chose the Texas Longhorns over Florida State.In his freshman season, Baxter rushed for over 600 yards and scored 5 touchdowns, showing off his potential. However, he suffered a serious injury before the 2024 season, and was forced to sit out the year. When he returned, he wasn’t able to regain his previous position on the depth chart, and only had 54 carries for 196 yards last season.After the 2025 season ended, Baxter entered the transfer portal, and landed in Lexington, where he’ll try to get his career back on track. He’s a big ball carrier who can run through tackles, though he has good enough speed as well. He has also proven to be a solid receiver out of the backfield.Baxter will be the main ball carrier in coach Will Stein’s offense this year, but they’ll be careful to not overwork him. He has NFL talent, but like many of his teammates, healthy will be the big question.This article originally appeared on UK Wildcats Wire: Get to know the Kentucky football roster: No. 1 C.J. Baxter