AUSTIN – The Texas Longhorns have been searching for answers to the running back question after season-ending injuries to CJ Baxter and Christian Clark.

Now it looks like they have found one.

According to an announcement on his personal Instagram account, former Kansas and SMU running back Velton Gardner has joined the Longhorns, where he will join Jaydon Blue, Jerrick Gibson and Tre Wisner in the backfield.

As a recruit, Gardner was a three-star prospect out of Skyline (Dallas, TX) and ranked as the No. 817 player in the country and the No. 106 player in Texas according to the 247 Composite Rankings.

He then moved to Kansas, where he was considered one of the most promising young players.

A seasoned veteran, Gardner has played in 37 games over the course of his five-year career, rushing 229 times for 1,024 yards and six touchdowns and catching 22 passes for 73 yards.

Gardner began his career with the Jayhawks, where he appeared in 19 games from 2019 to 2011, completing 127 carries for 529 yards and four scores while averaging 4.1 yards per carry.

He then transferred to SMU, where he appeared in 18 games and rushed 102 times for 505 yards and two scores, averaging 5.0 yards per carry. Gardner also played in two bowl games with the Mustangs.

With Gardner at the helm, the Mustangs went 18-9 in two seasons, won the AAC title, and played in the New Mexico Bowl and the Fenway Bowl.