By Kevin Lonnquist
Publisher
Baylor’s coaching staff is on the road looking for the future. But it also needs to ensure what it presently has on its roster can help it bounce back in 2023.
Baylor’s defensive line had every expectation to perform at similar or higher levels in 2022 than it did in 2021. And for whatever reason, no one knows why that didn’t happen. The alarm that something was off occurred in the Texas State game. Toward the end of the first half, the Bobcats drove 54 yards and were never pushed back at any time before they scored.
Of course, Baylor ran away to win the game, 42-7. Still, that sort of thing should not have happened against an average G5 program.
The two major stats by which defenses are judged – sacks and QB hurries – took a dramatic step back. Sacks plummeted from 44 in 2021 to 24 in 2022. QB hurries dropped from 46 in 2021 to 33 in 2022. Of course, the 2021 team played one more game so that skews the numbers a bit. However, a consistent push is what it is. Baylor didn’t have that, especially in the season finale at Texas.
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 defensive line.
Projected starters: Of course, Baylor bases out of a 3-man front. However, the Jack position allows it to go four when the down, distance and offensive alignment dictates that it should go that way.
Given that information, we can kind of float here. Two knowns are defensive ends
TJ Franklin and
Gabe Hall. Franklin started 10 of the Bears 13 games and delivered 36 tackles. It would be to everybody’s benefit if his sack numbers (1.5) climbed.
Hall is coming off his best season as a Bear with 36 6 tackles, 5.5 tackles for loss and 4.5 sacks. Baylor needs both Franklin and Hall’s leadership as new faces become part of things.
The nose tackle should be JUCO transfer
Jerrell Boykins. Boykins arrived in January but dealt with injuries and didn’t finish spring. However, he should be ready to go when fall workouts begin.
The depth chart: After Hall, Franklin and Boykins, it becomes a little uncertain with a lot of inexperience. Now, you know why Baylor went into the spring transfer portal and locked down Utah State defensive tackle
Byron Vaughns and Oregon defensive tackle
Treven Ma’ae.
Both are experienced. They will add depth. Vaughns is versatile that he can play anywhere, especially if the Bears go to four-man fronts. Ma’ae is intriguing. He can be a nose tackle. However, his 6-5 frame makes him attractive as a defensive end. Their roles will be defined once they get on campus.
Kaian Roberts-Day is one of those athletes that can play anywhere you want him to play and probably be pretty good at it. There’s hope that his move to the front is the right fit. He redshirted in 2022.
Jackie Marshall is shifting from the Jack to the defensive line. He played in 12 games in 2022. His spring went fairly well. There’s excitement because his size (6-3, 281) is right in line for any defensive lineman. He could have a breakout season.
Cooper Lanz and
Tre Emory have had one year in the program in the strength in conditioning program and are more D1 fit. Emory missed some of spring because he had disc surgery on his back. He’s expected to miss the first couple of games but should be back for Long Island.
Trey Wilson, the January arrival from the 2023 class, had a good spring. Fall camp should determine how he fits this season.
The bottom line is that a defensive line’s effectiveness is transparent. You know it’s a good one when running lanes are limited and QBs are constantly under duress. This group’s performance will go a long way toward Baylor becoming a factor in the Big 12 title race.
