Texas lands commitment from Orlando Edgewater 4-star RB Cedric Baxter Jr.

ORLANDO, Fla. — Five hats on the table proved not to be enough for Cedric Baxter Jr. as he sat on the stage of Edgewater High's auditorium.

"Special delivery," Kyle Hayes, the ceremony's emcee, bellowed from offstage as he walked across and presented a white box to the 6-foot-1, 215-pound running back.

What could easily have turned out to be a tremendous plot twist instead resulted in the evening's predicted outcome. Baxter rummaged through the package, revealed a cowboy hat and flashed the iconic "Hook 'Em" hand sign to the raucous crowd gathered.

Baxter announced his verbal commitment Wednesday evening to Texas, choosing the Longhorns over rival Texas A&M and a trio of in-state schools — Florida, Miami and UCF, a surprise late addition to the mix.

"The weight of the world, I feel like, is off my shoulders," Baxter said. "I didn't rush anything. I'm happy with the decision I made."

On3 Sports ranks Baxter the No. 1 running back recruit in the country for the class of 2023, while 247Sports' composite scores have him fourth. With his addition, the Longhorns have the No. 3 class in the country, boosted by five top-50 commits — quarterback Arch Manning, safety Derek Williams, wide receiver Johntay Cook II, cornerback Malik Muhammad and Baxter.

He's the second commit from Orlando as well, joining Dr. Phillips' massive 6-foot-6, 345-pound offensive tackle Payton Kirkland.

"I feel like we're bringing a different attitude to Austin, a different tenacity, a different speed, a different aggressiveness," said Kirkland, who attended the festivities and donned a burnt orange T-shirt. "Cedric's a high-character guy. … On top of that, he's an amazing athlete. I don't think there's anybody with his athleticism in the country at the running back position. He'll put on weight and be the No. 1 running back in college football by the end of his career."

Baxter said his relationship with running backs coach Tashard Choice was the primary factor in his decision. Choice recruited and offered Baxter at each of his previous two stops, Georgia Tech and USC.

"I committed to Florida State my freshman year because that was my dream school and all I had known growing up. Even when I was committed there, (Choice) always recruited me.

"I love Coach Choice. He's a real dude. I feel like I can be myself around him, and he can mold me into a great player."

Baxter exploded onto the national scene as a junior, rushing for 1,651 yards and 22 touchdowns for an Edgewater team that went 10-2 and advanced to second round of the Florida High School Athletic Association's Class 7A playoffs.

Eagles head coach Cameron Duke raved about Baxter's abilities as a true, three-down, all-purpose back and as a leader in the classroom and the locker room.

"I've been coaching for 19 years; he's the best leader I've ever been a part of because he cares about people so well and because he is selfless," Duke said. "He knows how to work. He's got unbelievable God-given ability and gifts on the football field, but he's an even better human being. That's a testament to his parents, and who he is as a young man."

Baxter came to his decision some time ago, but held out until Wednesday for a specific purpose — to honor the memory of childhood friend Keiondre Waters, born Aug. 10, 2005. Waters died in 2013 at the age of eight due to an asthma attack.

On one of the most important nights of his life, Baxter wore a pendant with a photo of Waters around his neck and invited Waters' parents on stage for the ceremony.

Baxter plans to graduate in December and enroll at Texas ahead of the spring semester. He will not turn 18 until next June.

This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: College football recruiting: Orlando running back Cedric Baxter Jr. commits to Texas Longhorns