Jeff Howe

Baxter said he’s smarter as a running back now than he was as a true freshman. He banked a lot of mental reps last season while injured, which helped him get more in tune with the offense.

“I’m grateful to be back on the field,” Baxter said.

Chad Scott recruited CJ Baxter in high school. Tashard Choice leaving was hard, Baxter said, but he said Scott is “great developer” who has helped the game slow down for the running backs.

Mia Scott’s national championship trophy on Baxter’s nightstand. ”Now I’ve got to get me one,” he said.

His faith, the Texas coaching staff and the medical staff got Baxter through his first significant injury. ”I never felt alone,” he said.

“It was hard for me to do a lot of things,” Baxter said of the initial time after his knee surgery.

C4 said he was more excited to get tackled in the scrimmage than score a touchdown.

“One day at a time” is CJ Baxter’s motto right now.

“Everything people think I can’t do.” — Colin Simmons on what he’s worked on leading up to the start of the season

Simmons said Lance Jackson and Justice Terry have taken a big step forward in the last couple of practices.

“It was way back in the day,” Simmons said when he asked if he knew when the school’s single-season sack record was set.

Simmons said he’s done talking about sack numbers. He just wants to go do it.

Simmons said PK has opened his eyes to understanding the game and how he can open things up for his teammates even when he’s not rushing the passer.

Simmons said he’s going to play with hand on the ground in the NFL, so he’s starting to comfortable with it now.

“You will definitely see my hand in the dirt” in 2025, Simmons said.

Confidence is a must to play in the trenches as a freshman in the SEC, Simmons said.

How comfortable is Colin Simmons going though camp as a sophomore? ”Hella comfortable,” he said.

Eye control and football IQ are the two things Simmons mentioned that he’s tried to improve on after his freshman season.

LaAllan Clark brings the energy to the EDGE room. ”Get better every day” is Clark’s mantra, Simmons said.

“First off, I want to say that Ethan Burke looks amazing on every aspect of his game.” — Colin Simmons

I want to put another four-letter word that starts with F before Nico's name!

The omission of Tommy Nobis is all kinds of wrong.

Enjoy him while he's here.

If you need a companion piece, I highly recommend Jeff Pearlman's book, "Boys Will Be Boys."

It premieres on Netflix next Tuesday. Like most Cowboys fans, I'll watch so I can remember what it was like when the franchise was winning championships.