By Kevin Lonnquist
Publisher
Baylor’s coaching staff is looking toward the future with the beginning of the official visit season. But it also needs to ensure what it presently has on its roster can help it bounce back in 2023.
Secondaries that have well-earned reputations like to brand themselves with such nicknames as “No Fly Zone”. There’s that old saying that it isn’t bragging if you can do it. Well Baylor did that in 2021 on its way to the 2021 Big 12 title.
However, 2022 saw a drop off. It was widely known that while the first two lines of Baylor’s defense appeared to be in good shape, the concern was the secondary. Through mixing and matching and trying to see what would work, it became clear that this Baylor secondary just wasn’t going to be as good or nearly as good as the 2021 version.
While the Bears allowed the second-fewest passing yards per in the Big 12 (222.8), it became a case that when the Bears needed to have it when games were on the line, they just didn’t.
So out goes defensive coordinator Ron Roberts and safeties coach Kenny Wheat and in comes Matthew Powledge who will head up the safeties. But corner is where this team needs someone standing on an island who is fearless.
This is a group that when the offseason began, the major concern was experience. Frankly, there just wasn’t very much returning. That’s why Baylor went into the portal and secured two. You’ll read about those below. That said, of the non-transfer corners on the 2023 roster, those members combined for one interception this past fall.
In a new series, we break down how Baylor’s positions may play out this fall. On May 9, we started with the quarterbacks. We continue with the cornerbacks.
Projected starters: Well, let’s start with Utah State transfer Ajani Carter who committed to the Bears in May and has one year of eligibility remaining. The Galena Park North Shore native is going to take one of the two spots. He has a history of creating turnovers. In his two years at Utah State, he has four interceptions, four forced fumbles, one fumble recovery and six PBUs. Now, you know why he has that side and why Baylor really needed him.
The other spot favors Tevin Williams III. He started the Armed Forces Bowl against Air Force and played a pretty solid game. Granted, there wasn’t a lot of passes to defend. But what we did learn in that game is that he’s a well-coached tackler. Corners have to be willing tacklers. Williams is. He has the only returning interception, which came against Texas Tech.
Perhaps Miami (FL) transfer Isaiah Dunson has an opportunity to crack the starting lineup. But he didn’t have much burn with the Hurricanes and will need the fall camp (he went through spring after he arrived in January) to put himself in the rotation. And he needs to be in the rotation.
Depth Chart: Now a sophomore, Romario Noel slowly got some time in 2022 appearing in six games. Reggie Bush redshirted in 2022 so he’s someone that needs to continue to grow. Chateau Reed’s resume from 2022 is similar to Noel’s. He played in six games but needs to fight his way into a position of trust. Carl Williams IV and Caden Jenkins are the 2023 signees who just arrived in January. If Baylor has to play them in meaningful snaps this year, that’s not good.
The bottom line is that you can see by reading the depth chart where the concerns with this group were valid.
Publisher
Baylor’s coaching staff is looking toward the future with the beginning of the official visit season. But it also needs to ensure what it presently has on its roster can help it bounce back in 2023.
Secondaries that have well-earned reputations like to brand themselves with such nicknames as “No Fly Zone”. There’s that old saying that it isn’t bragging if you can do it. Well Baylor did that in 2021 on its way to the 2021 Big 12 title.
However, 2022 saw a drop off. It was widely known that while the first two lines of Baylor’s defense appeared to be in good shape, the concern was the secondary. Through mixing and matching and trying to see what would work, it became clear that this Baylor secondary just wasn’t going to be as good or nearly as good as the 2021 version.
While the Bears allowed the second-fewest passing yards per in the Big 12 (222.8), it became a case that when the Bears needed to have it when games were on the line, they just didn’t.
So out goes defensive coordinator Ron Roberts and safeties coach Kenny Wheat and in comes Matthew Powledge who will head up the safeties. But corner is where this team needs someone standing on an island who is fearless.
This is a group that when the offseason began, the major concern was experience. Frankly, there just wasn’t very much returning. That’s why Baylor went into the portal and secured two. You’ll read about those below. That said, of the non-transfer corners on the 2023 roster, those members combined for one interception this past fall.
In a new series, we break down how Baylor’s positions may play out this fall. On May 9, we started with the quarterbacks. We continue with the cornerbacks.
Projected starters: Well, let’s start with Utah State transfer Ajani Carter who committed to the Bears in May and has one year of eligibility remaining. The Galena Park North Shore native is going to take one of the two spots. He has a history of creating turnovers. In his two years at Utah State, he has four interceptions, four forced fumbles, one fumble recovery and six PBUs. Now, you know why he has that side and why Baylor really needed him.
The other spot favors Tevin Williams III. He started the Armed Forces Bowl against Air Force and played a pretty solid game. Granted, there wasn’t a lot of passes to defend. But what we did learn in that game is that he’s a well-coached tackler. Corners have to be willing tacklers. Williams is. He has the only returning interception, which came against Texas Tech.
Perhaps Miami (FL) transfer Isaiah Dunson has an opportunity to crack the starting lineup. But he didn’t have much burn with the Hurricanes and will need the fall camp (he went through spring after he arrived in January) to put himself in the rotation. And he needs to be in the rotation.
Depth Chart: Now a sophomore, Romario Noel slowly got some time in 2022 appearing in six games. Reggie Bush redshirted in 2022 so he’s someone that needs to continue to grow. Chateau Reed’s resume from 2022 is similar to Noel’s. He played in six games but needs to fight his way into a position of trust. Carl Williams IV and Caden Jenkins are the 2023 signees who just arrived in January. If Baylor has to play them in meaningful snaps this year, that’s not good.
The bottom line is that you can see by reading the depth chart where the concerns with this group were valid.
