NOTE I: Because of the Thanksgiving Holiday weekend, there will be NO Baylor Blitz next week as the SicEmSports crew wants to enjoy the holiday with family on that Thursday. However, that Friday will feature ask SicEmSports where you can ask the staff any questions about anything.
NOTE II: In case you were wondering about the Texas Tech game Nov. 29 at AT&T Stadium, Baylor will be the visiting team. That means the staff will not be able to invite recruits to the game. Only Texas Tech can. Last year, Baylor was the home team.
Oklahoma State-Baylor visitors
While this list is far from complete, SicEmSports has compiled a list of those recruits who said they plan to attend Saturday night's game in Waco. This list will continue to evolve up until the game.
>Blake Lynch, Ath, Gilmer (2015 Baylor commit; official visit)
>Kris Boyd, DB, Gilmer (2015 Baylor offer)>Tren'Davian Dickson, WR, Navasota (2016 Baylor commit)
>Sam Tecklenburg, TE, Plano (2015 Baylor commit)
>Holton Hill, DB, Houston Lamar (2015 Baylor offer - he's on the fence)
>Grayland Arnold, Ath, Kountze (2016 Baylor offer)
>Kameron Martin, RB, Port Arthur Memorial (2016 Baylor commit)
>Devontre Stricklin, WR, Waco Midway (2015 Baylor commit)
>McTelvin Agim, DE, Hope, AR (2016 Baylor offer)
>Eric Cuffee, DB, Waco (2016 Baylor interest)
>Parrish Cobb, DB, Waco La Vega (2016 Baylor interest)
>Patrick Hudson, OL, Silsbee (2016 Baylor commit)
>Jeffrey Okudah, Ath, South Grand Prairie (2017 Baylor interest)
>Tony Nicholson, Ath, South Grand Prairie (2015 Baylor commit)
>Eno Benjamin, RB, Wylie East (2017 Baylor interest)
>Kellen Diesch, OL, Trophy Club Byron Nelson (2016 Baylor offer)
>Christian Taylor, S, Jersey Village (2015 Baylor interest)
>Brandon Jones, DB, Nacogdoches (2016 Baylor offer -- at last report he was coming)
>Kyle Porter, RB, Katy (2016 Baylor offer)
>Wendell Mitchell, G, Rockdale (2015 MBB Signee; official visit)
-Kevin Lonnquist
Going after No. 1
Rivals No. 1 player for 2016, Tampa Catholic WR Nate Craig-Myers, will be at Auburn's game this weekend when the Tigers play Samford. But the word has spread about his commitment to the Tigers being more than wobbly.
The 6-3, 205 5-star prospect has struck it up with several Baylor recruits including Port Arthur Memorial 2016 RB commit Kameron Martin. The more Craig Myers talked with Martin, the more he liked what he heard. The more he watched Baylor, the more he liked what he saw.
"I've been watching Baylor a lot this year,'' Craig-Myers said. "I love their explosiveness. I'm really impressed with how they work with their receivers.''
Earlier in the week, Craig-Myers talked with Baylor WR coach Kendal Briles and found an early connection. The Bears haven't offered yet. However, everything points to Briles flying to Florida to meet with Craig-Myers when the open period begins in December. That's when an offer could be coming.
"It really was just coach Briles touching base and telling me about the offense and how they could see myself in it,'' he said. "I've paid attention to KD Cannon and have seen how well he's doing. I don't know him but I heard of him before I saw him.''
There's been a lot for Craig-Myers to endure. When you are the nation's No. 1 player, there's going to be a ton of attention. He holds 35 offers and likely will continue to receive more. Every day there is somebody in his ear.
"It's a little nerve wracking,'' Craig-Myers said. "You get all these calls from the coaches. It can be overwhelming. I just have to keep improving my talents.''
Catholic didn't make the playoffs as it lost on a tiebreaker. Craig-Myers played at just about every wide receiver position. Now, time will tell what Baylor's appearance will mean in Craig-Myers recruitment.
"I'm just going to sit down and talk about everything with my mom,'' he said. "There's a lot to think about.''
-Kevin Lonnquist
Patience paid off for Arnold
The call came Tuesday night. But the lead up to the call is even better. Grayland Arnold struck up a relationship with Baylor defensive backs coach Carlton Buckels in the 2013 offseason. Something seemed to click.
"When all of the college coaches came down in the spring, he was the only one that I seemed to have a connection with,'' Arnold said. "He's a real nice dude. I wanted to show him what I could do.''
Arnold continued to pursue the relationship as he attended all three of Baylor's camps in Waco this past summer. Arnold delivered as he performed well. He said Buckels told him that an offer would come but the timeframe was unknown.
However, when defensive coordinator Phil Bennett saw it, it became a done deal. Arnold will be attending Baylor's game Saturday at home against Oklahoma State. This will be his third game to attend as he was the McLane Stadium opener against SMU and homecoming against Kansas. Arnold wound up committing to Baylor Friday morning.
"They liked my footwork and athletic ability and how well I jump and my 4.44 speed,'' Arnold said.
As an all-everything player for this team, he played quarterback, wide receiver, running back, kick returner and kickoff specialist. He accounted for nearly 2,200 yards between the three skill positions.
"Baylor hasn't really discussed any position with me yet,'' he said. "It sounds like defensive back but with my ability, they could put me in the slot.''
-Kevin Lonnquist
Vasher is blossoming; wants to hear from Baylor
He is the nephew of former Texas star player Nathan Vasher. But Wichita Falls 2016 wide receiver T.J. Vasher is starting to carve his niche in the recruiting world.
The 2016 wide receiver (6-5, 200) received his first offer last week from Texas Tech. Since then other schools have followed up including TCU, Oregon State, Texas, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State and Nebraska. Baylor hasn't yet but that may be a matter of time.
"It was crazy what happened after that first offer,'' Vasher said. "I've talked to my uncle about recruiting a lot. He just told me to be patient and have fun. That's what I'm trying to do.''
Vasher and Rider will be playing in the Class 5A Division I Region I area round against Fort Worth Arlington Heights Friday in Mineral Wells. But Vasher will be known for making two ridiculous touchdown catches against Grapevine in the opener. On his first, he had a Grapevine defender crushing against his right arm so all he did was use his left to collect the ball. On his second, he just outwrestled a Grapevine defender for the ball as he took it away from him. For the season, he is at 856 receiving yards and 10 touchdowns, while averaging 15.5 yards per game.
Vasher's talents are also in basketball. He already has offers from Tulsa and SMU. For now, he's really not concerned about where his future in college will take him.
"I like to play physical and be a big target,'' Vasher said. "I just hope to hear from Baylor soon.''
-Kevin Lonnquist
Big 12 Power Rankings
Each week, SicEmSports ranks the Big 12 teams based on expectations and performance. Ratings always vary. Agree or disagree, there's nothing like finding out who is ranked where.
1. Baylor - The Bears cannot be concerned with what the CFB committee thinks
2. TCU - Survived Kansas; now a bye until Thanksgiving at Texas
3. Kansas State - Really amazing this team won at West Virginia with 1 rushing yard
4. Oklahoma - Colleyville Heritage product QB Cody Thomas is the future now
5. Texas - Longhorns are now bowl eligible and looking for more
6. West Virginia - From 6-2 to 6-5
7. Oklahoma State - Signs point to Mike Gundy leaving after this year
8. Texas Tech - Red Raiders are now playing out the string; not bowling
9. Kansas - Lots of support building for Clint Bowen to become the full-time coach
10. Iowa State - Cyclones appear destined for a winless Big 12 season
-Kevin Lonnquist
Big 12 Weekend
A look at Saturday's action. All times are central. Teams are looking to become bowl eligible. The order runs according to game times. With the College Football rankings released, we are now using those. TCU and Texas have a bye.
No. 12 Kansas State 26, West Virginia 20
The skinny: The Wildcats (8-2, 6-1) stayed in a 3-way tie for first place in the Big 12 with an important road victory in Morgantown. QB Jake Waters threw for 400 yards WR Tyler Lockett had 196 receiving yards and added a 43-yard punt return. Uncharacteristically, this Big 12's least penalized team had 10 for 102 yards and committed two turnovers. The Mountaineers (6-5, 4-4) have dropped three straight, committed four turnovers and lost starting quarterback Clint Trickett to what was described as a concussion.
Kansas (3-7, 1-6) at No. 21 Oklahoma (7-3, 4-3)
11:00 a.m. Gaylord Memorial Stadium, Norman, OK (FOX Sports 1)
The skinny: Sooners play their final two games at home starting with this one and want to finish the right way. With QB Trevor Knight (neck) already ruled out, the Oklahoma coaching staff may keep it on the ground like it did last week at Texas Tech when Cody Thomas got the start. Sooners only threw three passes in the second half.
Texas Tech (3-7, 1-6) at Iowa State (2-7, 0-6)
2:30 p.m. Jack Trice Stadium, Ames IA (Fox Sports Net)
The skinny: Cyclone QB Sam Richardson will get the start against the Red Raiders. That should help the ISU offense because it has really struggled to score period. Texas Tech QB Patrick Mahomes started last week against Oklahoma and should be OK moving forward. This is likely ISU's last chance for a conference win. The Cyclones finish with West Virginia and at TCU.
Oklahoma State (5-5, 3-4) at No. 7 Baylor (8-1, 5-1)
6:30 p.m. McLane Stadium, Waco (FOX)
The skinny: This appears to be a mismatch for the Bears. Oklahoma State may have to burn the redshirt of QB Hunter Mason because Daxx Garman is dealing with concussion symptoms and J.W. Walsh is out with a foot injury. OSU's offense has really stopped. Baylor is playing some great football and is looking for payback after last year's 49-17 debacle in Stillwater.
-SicEmSports
Emptying the Notebook
>Baylor has made contact with Southlake Carroll Ath Lil'Jordan Humphrey. Currently Carroll's running back, the 6-5, 200-pound Humphrey likely will play something different in college. He's being looked at as a tight end or H Back. Humphrey said he was invited to Baylor's game against Oklahoma State. However, he can't attend as Carroll plays Denton Guyer in its playoff game at 8:00 p.m. on Saturday.
>While it would be unlikely that Keller Fossil Ridge S Montrel Wilson would re-commit to Baylor (the talk had been that he would eventually commit to TCU), we talked with someone who said that Wilson probably has not been receiving the best advice when it has come to his recruitment. We're told that he really has a good relationship with Baylor LB coach Jim Gush and wanted to play for him. So there appears to be confusion from Wilson as to what he wants to do.
>When Plano OL/TE Sam Tecklenburg said the other day that Baylor talked to him about playing tight end, he said those discussions picked up over the last three months. That seems to be the position of choice. Of course, he played tight end for Plano this past fall. The original discussions were Tecklenburg playing either tight end or on the offensive line.
>Baylor has scored in a school-record 96 consecutive games. Meanwhile the offense has topped 40 points in 32 of its last 41 games.
>The Bears have not committed a turnover since the 11:38 mark of the 4th quarter against TCU on Oct. 11. That's when Bryce Petty threw an interception that was returned for a touchdown. Since then, Baylor has
forced seven turnovers and is +9 in the turnover ratio.
>WR Corey Coleman leads the Big 12 in all-purpose yards per game at 155.5 yards per game. Of course, he's played in only six games. Coleman missed the first three games with a hamstring injury.
>DE Shawn Oakman is fourth in the Big 12 in sacks with six and tackles for loss with 12.5. He's also forced two fumbles and recovered three others.
-SicEmSports
NOTE II: In case you were wondering about the Texas Tech game Nov. 29 at AT&T Stadium, Baylor will be the visiting team. That means the staff will not be able to invite recruits to the game. Only Texas Tech can. Last year, Baylor was the home team.
Oklahoma State-Baylor visitors
While this list is far from complete, SicEmSports has compiled a list of those recruits who said they plan to attend Saturday night's game in Waco. This list will continue to evolve up until the game.
>Blake Lynch, Ath, Gilmer (2015 Baylor commit; official visit)
>Kris Boyd, DB, Gilmer (2015 Baylor offer)>Tren'Davian Dickson, WR, Navasota (2016 Baylor commit)
>Sam Tecklenburg, TE, Plano (2015 Baylor commit)
>Holton Hill, DB, Houston Lamar (2015 Baylor offer - he's on the fence)
>Grayland Arnold, Ath, Kountze (2016 Baylor offer)
>Kameron Martin, RB, Port Arthur Memorial (2016 Baylor commit)
>Devontre Stricklin, WR, Waco Midway (2015 Baylor commit)
>McTelvin Agim, DE, Hope, AR (2016 Baylor offer)
>Eric Cuffee, DB, Waco (2016 Baylor interest)
>Parrish Cobb, DB, Waco La Vega (2016 Baylor interest)
>Patrick Hudson, OL, Silsbee (2016 Baylor commit)
>Jeffrey Okudah, Ath, South Grand Prairie (2017 Baylor interest)
>Tony Nicholson, Ath, South Grand Prairie (2015 Baylor commit)
>Eno Benjamin, RB, Wylie East (2017 Baylor interest)
>Kellen Diesch, OL, Trophy Club Byron Nelson (2016 Baylor offer)
>Christian Taylor, S, Jersey Village (2015 Baylor interest)
>Brandon Jones, DB, Nacogdoches (2016 Baylor offer -- at last report he was coming)
>Kyle Porter, RB, Katy (2016 Baylor offer)
>Wendell Mitchell, G, Rockdale (2015 MBB Signee; official visit)
-Kevin Lonnquist
Going after No. 1
Rivals No. 1 player for 2016, Tampa Catholic WR Nate Craig-Myers, will be at Auburn's game this weekend when the Tigers play Samford. But the word has spread about his commitment to the Tigers being more than wobbly.
The 6-3, 205 5-star prospect has struck it up with several Baylor recruits including Port Arthur Memorial 2016 RB commit Kameron Martin. The more Craig Myers talked with Martin, the more he liked what he heard. The more he watched Baylor, the more he liked what he saw.
"I've been watching Baylor a lot this year,'' Craig-Myers said. "I love their explosiveness. I'm really impressed with how they work with their receivers.''
Earlier in the week, Craig-Myers talked with Baylor WR coach Kendal Briles and found an early connection. The Bears haven't offered yet. However, everything points to Briles flying to Florida to meet with Craig-Myers when the open period begins in December. That's when an offer could be coming.
"It really was just coach Briles touching base and telling me about the offense and how they could see myself in it,'' he said. "I've paid attention to KD Cannon and have seen how well he's doing. I don't know him but I heard of him before I saw him.''
There's been a lot for Craig-Myers to endure. When you are the nation's No. 1 player, there's going to be a ton of attention. He holds 35 offers and likely will continue to receive more. Every day there is somebody in his ear.
"It's a little nerve wracking,'' Craig-Myers said. "You get all these calls from the coaches. It can be overwhelming. I just have to keep improving my talents.''
Catholic didn't make the playoffs as it lost on a tiebreaker. Craig-Myers played at just about every wide receiver position. Now, time will tell what Baylor's appearance will mean in Craig-Myers recruitment.
"I'm just going to sit down and talk about everything with my mom,'' he said. "There's a lot to think about.''
-Kevin Lonnquist
Patience paid off for Arnold
The call came Tuesday night. But the lead up to the call is even better. Grayland Arnold struck up a relationship with Baylor defensive backs coach Carlton Buckels in the 2013 offseason. Something seemed to click.
"When all of the college coaches came down in the spring, he was the only one that I seemed to have a connection with,'' Arnold said. "He's a real nice dude. I wanted to show him what I could do.''
Arnold continued to pursue the relationship as he attended all three of Baylor's camps in Waco this past summer. Arnold delivered as he performed well. He said Buckels told him that an offer would come but the timeframe was unknown.
However, when defensive coordinator Phil Bennett saw it, it became a done deal. Arnold will be attending Baylor's game Saturday at home against Oklahoma State. This will be his third game to attend as he was the McLane Stadium opener against SMU and homecoming against Kansas. Arnold wound up committing to Baylor Friday morning.
"They liked my footwork and athletic ability and how well I jump and my 4.44 speed,'' Arnold said.
As an all-everything player for this team, he played quarterback, wide receiver, running back, kick returner and kickoff specialist. He accounted for nearly 2,200 yards between the three skill positions.
"Baylor hasn't really discussed any position with me yet,'' he said. "It sounds like defensive back but with my ability, they could put me in the slot.''
-Kevin Lonnquist
Vasher is blossoming; wants to hear from Baylor
He is the nephew of former Texas star player Nathan Vasher. But Wichita Falls 2016 wide receiver T.J. Vasher is starting to carve his niche in the recruiting world.
The 2016 wide receiver (6-5, 200) received his first offer last week from Texas Tech. Since then other schools have followed up including TCU, Oregon State, Texas, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State and Nebraska. Baylor hasn't yet but that may be a matter of time.
"It was crazy what happened after that first offer,'' Vasher said. "I've talked to my uncle about recruiting a lot. He just told me to be patient and have fun. That's what I'm trying to do.''
Vasher and Rider will be playing in the Class 5A Division I Region I area round against Fort Worth Arlington Heights Friday in Mineral Wells. But Vasher will be known for making two ridiculous touchdown catches against Grapevine in the opener. On his first, he had a Grapevine defender crushing against his right arm so all he did was use his left to collect the ball. On his second, he just outwrestled a Grapevine defender for the ball as he took it away from him. For the season, he is at 856 receiving yards and 10 touchdowns, while averaging 15.5 yards per game.
Vasher's talents are also in basketball. He already has offers from Tulsa and SMU. For now, he's really not concerned about where his future in college will take him.
"I like to play physical and be a big target,'' Vasher said. "I just hope to hear from Baylor soon.''
-Kevin Lonnquist
Big 12 Power Rankings
Each week, SicEmSports ranks the Big 12 teams based on expectations and performance. Ratings always vary. Agree or disagree, there's nothing like finding out who is ranked where.
1. Baylor - The Bears cannot be concerned with what the CFB committee thinks
2. TCU - Survived Kansas; now a bye until Thanksgiving at Texas
3. Kansas State - Really amazing this team won at West Virginia with 1 rushing yard
4. Oklahoma - Colleyville Heritage product QB Cody Thomas is the future now
5. Texas - Longhorns are now bowl eligible and looking for more
6. West Virginia - From 6-2 to 6-5
7. Oklahoma State - Signs point to Mike Gundy leaving after this year
8. Texas Tech - Red Raiders are now playing out the string; not bowling
9. Kansas - Lots of support building for Clint Bowen to become the full-time coach
10. Iowa State - Cyclones appear destined for a winless Big 12 season
-Kevin Lonnquist
Big 12 Weekend
A look at Saturday's action. All times are central. Teams are looking to become bowl eligible. The order runs according to game times. With the College Football rankings released, we are now using those. TCU and Texas have a bye.
No. 12 Kansas State 26, West Virginia 20
The skinny: The Wildcats (8-2, 6-1) stayed in a 3-way tie for first place in the Big 12 with an important road victory in Morgantown. QB Jake Waters threw for 400 yards WR Tyler Lockett had 196 receiving yards and added a 43-yard punt return. Uncharacteristically, this Big 12's least penalized team had 10 for 102 yards and committed two turnovers. The Mountaineers (6-5, 4-4) have dropped three straight, committed four turnovers and lost starting quarterback Clint Trickett to what was described as a concussion.
Kansas (3-7, 1-6) at No. 21 Oklahoma (7-3, 4-3)
11:00 a.m. Gaylord Memorial Stadium, Norman, OK (FOX Sports 1)
The skinny: Sooners play their final two games at home starting with this one and want to finish the right way. With QB Trevor Knight (neck) already ruled out, the Oklahoma coaching staff may keep it on the ground like it did last week at Texas Tech when Cody Thomas got the start. Sooners only threw three passes in the second half.
Texas Tech (3-7, 1-6) at Iowa State (2-7, 0-6)
2:30 p.m. Jack Trice Stadium, Ames IA (Fox Sports Net)
The skinny: Cyclone QB Sam Richardson will get the start against the Red Raiders. That should help the ISU offense because it has really struggled to score period. Texas Tech QB Patrick Mahomes started last week against Oklahoma and should be OK moving forward. This is likely ISU's last chance for a conference win. The Cyclones finish with West Virginia and at TCU.
Oklahoma State (5-5, 3-4) at No. 7 Baylor (8-1, 5-1)
6:30 p.m. McLane Stadium, Waco (FOX)
The skinny: This appears to be a mismatch for the Bears. Oklahoma State may have to burn the redshirt of QB Hunter Mason because Daxx Garman is dealing with concussion symptoms and J.W. Walsh is out with a foot injury. OSU's offense has really stopped. Baylor is playing some great football and is looking for payback after last year's 49-17 debacle in Stillwater.
-SicEmSports
Emptying the Notebook
>Baylor has made contact with Southlake Carroll Ath Lil'Jordan Humphrey. Currently Carroll's running back, the 6-5, 200-pound Humphrey likely will play something different in college. He's being looked at as a tight end or H Back. Humphrey said he was invited to Baylor's game against Oklahoma State. However, he can't attend as Carroll plays Denton Guyer in its playoff game at 8:00 p.m. on Saturday.
>While it would be unlikely that Keller Fossil Ridge S Montrel Wilson would re-commit to Baylor (the talk had been that he would eventually commit to TCU), we talked with someone who said that Wilson probably has not been receiving the best advice when it has come to his recruitment. We're told that he really has a good relationship with Baylor LB coach Jim Gush and wanted to play for him. So there appears to be confusion from Wilson as to what he wants to do.
>When Plano OL/TE Sam Tecklenburg said the other day that Baylor talked to him about playing tight end, he said those discussions picked up over the last three months. That seems to be the position of choice. Of course, he played tight end for Plano this past fall. The original discussions were Tecklenburg playing either tight end or on the offensive line.
>Baylor has scored in a school-record 96 consecutive games. Meanwhile the offense has topped 40 points in 32 of its last 41 games.
>The Bears have not committed a turnover since the 11:38 mark of the 4th quarter against TCU on Oct. 11. That's when Bryce Petty threw an interception that was returned for a touchdown. Since then, Baylor has
forced seven turnovers and is +9 in the turnover ratio.
>WR Corey Coleman leads the Big 12 in all-purpose yards per game at 155.5 yards per game. Of course, he's played in only six games. Coleman missed the first three games with a hamstring injury.
>DE Shawn Oakman is fourth in the Big 12 in sacks with six and tackles for loss with 12.5. He's also forced two fumbles and recovered three others.
-SicEmSports
