Christian Heritage’s Charlie Baxter is a QB to know in the class of ’29. After throwing for 2406 passing yards and 28 touchdowns last season (leading all freshmen in Georgia), Baxter is back, ready to anchor the Christian Heritage offense.
In Week 1, Baxter threw for 291 passing yards with 3 touchdowns and rushed for 172 yards and 2 touchdowns. Baxter finished the night with 463 yards of total offense and a convincing 37-28 win over Darlington.
The performance was selected among the best from Week 1, and on Tuesday night, he was voted the GHSA Player of the Week.
“The word I’d use to describe the start of my sophomore year would be “fun”. I loved being able to just get out there and play with my teammates after what felt like countless days of just practice. We didn’t have a scrimmage game this year, so it was even longer. It was definitely great to get out there and be able to do what I love,” Baxter said.
The most notable stat line from the season opener performance was the rushing yards. During his freshman season, Baxter had only 190 rushing yards, and after Game 1, he’s just 18 yards short of that total. The sophomore has clearly made a big jump athletically.
“I’d say the most improved part of my game is strength and speed. I worked hard all offseason to get my weight and muscle up while also gaining speed. Last year I played at 175 lbs, and this year I’m playing a little above 190. That has definitely improved lots of different parts of my game,” he said.
No doubt, the 2029 passer is playing loose out there and looks noticeably more explosive running in the open field. Couple that with his excellent pocket presence, which is uniquely refined for his age, Baxter has the ability to scramble out of the pocket and make pinpoint passes on the run.
“My goals for this season are for my team to be the most successful we can be. Obviously, winning a region title and making a deep run in the playoffs are the end goals, so I’m looking forward to chasing that.”
Historically, Christian Heritage has always had good offensive attacks, especially in the passing game, so a passer like Baxter should really elevate the level of the program this season (and the next few). Christian Heritage is currently sitting on the ‘Bubble’ in our Private ratings.
On the recruiting front, Baxter gave a quick update on where he stands.
“I plan on going on several game day visits this fall. The only one I’ve lined up for sure so far is to the University of Georgia. I hold offers from Tulsa and Samford,” he said.
That’s a testament to the talent Baxter showed throughout his freshman year and the college camps he attended during the offseason. He is a refined passer at such a young age, and even at 6′, he does a great job of finding receivers downfield. Baxter was under constant pressure as a freshman, so the refined running and overall improvement to his athleticism will add a new dynamic. Plus, with his frame, colleges will want to see Baxter’s evolution as a runner.
After 1 game, scouts have definitely seen proof of concept; Baxter is a dual threat and the rest of the season should continue to strengthen his resume. So be sure to follow @RecruitGeorgia on Twitter/X for more recruiting news across the great state of Georgia.
Great article