Prior to the 2024 campaign, Blue told reporters that he hoped to use his first season with regular playing time as a springboard to the NFL. He may have done just that while sharing carries with Quintrevion Wisner for much of the season after starter CJ Baxter suffered a season-ending knee injury in summer camp. Blue tallied 134 carries for 730 yards and eight touchdowns and 42 catches for 368 yards and six touchdowns for Texas, which finished its season with a 13-3 record. He also lost three of his four fumbles.

Blue saved some of his best for last, scoring both of the Texas touchdowns on receptions in the Longhorns’ season-ending 28-14 loss to Ohio State in Friday’s College Football Playoff semifinal at AT&T Stadium in Arlington.

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Blue, a 6-foot, 200-pound Houston native who played high school football in the Houston suburb of Klein, is projected as a late-round pick or an undrafted free agent by most draft projection sites. However, the former high school track star has blazing speed and will likely improve his draft stock at the NFL Combine or the annual Texas pro day. In the past, Blue has said he thinks he can crack the 4.4-second mark in the 40-yard dash, and he’s been clocked as fast as 22.3 miles per hour on a 69-yard touchdown run in a win over Texas Tech last season.