AUSTIN, Texas — When Texas Longhorns freshman running back Jerrick Gibson committed to position coach Tashard Choice in the summer of 2023, the path to early playing time on the Forty Acres looked difficult.
Jonathon Brooks still had two years of eligibility. The nation’s No. 1 running back in the 2023 class, CJ Baxter, had already been on campus since January. The position room also featured sophomore speedster Jaydon Blue, freshman Tre Wisner, and sophomore Savion Red.
Even when Gibson enrolled in January in the wake of Brooks declaring early for the 2024 NFL Draft, he spent the spring competing with Red and fellow early enrollee Christian Clark for the No.