AUSTIN — The Texas Longhorns’ running back corps has been plagued by injuries once again as the regular season nears.
On Tuesday, Texas Athletics announced that freshman running back Christian Clark has suffered a torn Achilles during Monday’s practice and will be sidelined for the entire 2024 season.
“Texas freshman running back Christian Clark sustained a torn Achilles tendon in practice on Monday. He will need surgery and will be out for the season,” the team stated.
The Longhorns had already lost sophomore running back CJ Baxter for the season, leaving them to rely on a trio of Jaydon Blue, Tre Wisner, and Jerrick Gibson with Clark now unavailable. Additionally, Texas is experimenting with different players in the backfield during practice to see if new solutions emerge.
“We’re exploring various options and considering creative approaches, whether that involves players on the offensive side or potentially even defensive players,” Texas coach Steve Sarkisian said on Monday. “We’re taking it one day at a time. We have time to assess how these changes might affect both the offense and other positions.”
Clark, a three-star recruit in the 2024 class, chose Texas over several prestigious programs like Georgia, Florida State, Alabama, and Oregon. He cited his strong rapport with Coach Steve Sarkisian and running backs coach Tashard Choice as key factors in his decision.
“I’ve built a strong relationship with Coach Choice, Coach Sark, and the rest of the UT staff,” Clark told On3 during his recruitment. “Their plan for me involves developing both on and off the field. Their offensive scheme will allow me to demonstrate my versatility, whether catching passes from the backfield, playing in the slot, or running the football.”
In his senior year, Clark rushed 135 times for 801 yards and six touchdowns, with 12 receptions for 144 yards. Over his high school career from 2021 to 2023, he accumulated 318 carries for 1,890 yards and 24 touchdowns, along with 54 catches for 553 yards and five additional scores.
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