Why would he enter the portal a day after beating us?

By Kevin Lonnquist
Publisher
Baylor closed the 2022 season with a humbling 30-15 loss to Air Force in Lockheed Martin Armed Forces Bowl Thursday in Fort Worth.

At no point did the Bears lead or even tie this game. The closest they came was drawing to within 9-7 in the final seconds of the first half on Blake Shapen’s 8-yard touchdown pass to Hal Presley. They took advantage of a short field the Falcons gave them when the defense made a fourth down stop at the Air Force 47.

However, the Falcons took the second half kickoff and scored. The Bears blew an opportunity after a shanked punt set them up at the Air Force 44. AFA immediately went down and scored to make it 23-7. That was pretty much it.

A season filled with such promise ends at 6-7 coupled with a four-game losing streak.

SicEmSports provides reflections, observations and three Golden Bears from this one.


Upon Reflection
You really don’t need much to really break down what happened here. There is no spin needed to disguise what happened in the bitter cold.

Baylor played a really poor game. For the most part, the defense was as standup as you could ask of it against the option. Given the fact that it was on the field for 40 minutes and allowed just 4.1 yards per carry (67-276) it was solid. It gave up only one play of 30 yards.

Plus, it made three fourth-down stops. The last two you could argue were Air Force’s attempt to run out the clock. But the first one led to Baylor’s first score.

Ironically, the defense was burned in the passing game in the third quarter. Right after Falcons’ QB Haaziq Daniels converted at 3rd-and-12 for 15 yards, he found Amari Terry on a 68-yard deep route. Terry got behind AJ McCarty. It was the second-longest passing play by the Falcons this year. Later in the quarter, Daniels found little-used Caleb Rillos for a 15-yard score. That was Rillos’ only second catch of the year. Total blown coverage. No one accounted for him.

Sometimes, that happens, especially when you’re on the field for two-thirds of the game. It was a good effort because playing an option team is an out-of-body experience.


Now, to the offense
Part of this, you give Air Force’s defense credit. It is the nation’s best in total defense at 256.2 yards per game. It held Baylor to 230.

Now, the gameplan is another story. It looked like a total grab bag of let’s try this and let’s try that and see what happens. The Bears have hung their hat on their running game. But they really made no attempt to establish it. It was a run here or a run there. There was no rhythm.

And the use of the backs was also bizarre. Baylor traditionally likes to get into a position where it can get someone going and use others as change of pace. Yet if they were attempting to do that, they bailed on it fast. Richard Reese had eight carries. Sqwirl Williams finished seven. Qualan Jones added five.

However, some of that is this offensive line looking like the offensive line at the beginning of the season. Of course, there were two missing starters. Micah Mazzccua is in the transfer portal. Khalil Keith was apparently sent home prior to the game for doing whatever it was he did. The new starters were Mose Jeffery and Gavin Byers. These were the two primary backups all season. Byers even made starts earlier in the season when Keith was nursing a knee injury. This wasn’t like they weren’t sure what they were doing. But the line was not physical at the point of attack and never established the line of scrimmage. Baylor finished with 26 attempts for 42 yards. That’s 1.6 ypc average.

And you can’t blame this on who was not out there for this performance. This running game started to go backwards in November. The Bears had 101 yards at Texas (2.6 ypc). They were good against TCU with 232 (5.0). They had 105 against Kansas State (4.5) and some of that was misleading because that game was out of hand.

With Barrington brothers coming from BYU for 2023, this unit needs an about face.


Shapen epilogue
Here’s the good news. Blake Shapen didn’t commit any turnovers. He snapped that eight-game nightmare where he had 12 starting with Oklahoma State on Oct. 1.

However, he didn’t look any different in the way he ran this offense. Sharp cold notwithstanding, Shapen looked unsure, tried to guide the ball and rarely put it in positions to help his receivers or backs. His good throws were few and far between. That’s not going to cut it P5 Division I football.

Shapen finished the night 11-23-0 for 188 yards and two scores. For the season, Shapen completed 63.3 percent of his passes (but 57.3 percent for the last five games) for 2,790 yards with 18 touchdowns and 10 interceptions.

His only two good completions were the touchdown passes to Presley and the 57-yard deep post route to Jaylin Ellis that led to the second touchdown. The 14-yard TD pass to Gavin Holmes was a simple screen that was blocked well and the seam opened.

Frankly, his feel for the position and being comfortable deteriorated as the season matured. Maybe he never fully recovered from the concussion at West Virginia and should not have played against Kansas. That could have played a role.

Now, he’s the only one on scholarship in this position room. As I said previously, if Baylor is going to secure a QB or two from the portal, that candidate(s) must be assured he will have a chance to win the starting job. Shapen is not entitled to be the starting QB in 2023.


Special teams disaster
Maybe it was Ronnie Wheat or maybe its just a matter of everything going bad. But there were three mistakes that cost the Bears 12 points.

There’s no excuse for Issac Power’s first two punts going high into the air against a tough north wind. Those needed to be low line drives. His first one went for 33 yards and got some help on a roll but gave Air Force the ball on its 45. Touchdown Falcons. His second was worse at 23 yards and traveled to the Falcons’ 42. Field goal Falcons. Now, it’s 9-0.

Then on Baylor’s first scoring threat, John Mayer’s 38-yard field goal was an aborted mission. His kick was so bad, but the play was not entirely his fault. It was a really bad snap that caused the timing to implode. There are your 12 points.


One thought
With prospects for 2023 uncertain at best, look for Baylor to be picked in the second division of the Big 12 – even with the new programs in BYU, Cincinnati, Houston and UCF joining the league July 1 – and if the Bears put together another season similar to this one, then who knows what that means for the future.

Dave Aranda has a lot of pressure on him to get this fixed. Firing assistant coaches has some optics to it. However, there are a lot of infrastructure things that need to be overhauled. When it’s right in the locker room, it’s typically right on the field.

That doesn’t appear to be the case.


Golden Bears
The yearly tradition returns where SicEmSports highlights the three players who stood out in their performance on a weekly basis. Win or lose, they deserve the recognition.

The following are from Baylor’s 30-15 loss to Air Force.

Tevin Williams, DB, RFr – With Snaxx Johnson sent home, the secondary needed someone to step in. While Air Force wasn’t going to challenge the secondary, Williams did solid work in run support.

Notable – 5 solo tackles, 1 TFL

Matt Jones, LB, Jr. – A good game for him. Of course, against the option you’re going to have a lot of opportunities to make plays. There were a couple of whiffs. But that option does that too.

Notable – 9 solo tackles, 1 assisted tackle

Jaylen Ellis, WR, Jr. – Well, if you need a receiver to go to on a deep post route, he’s the guy. He caught a 47-yard TD against Texas. That was followed by the 57-yard grab. That wasn’t an easy catch in those conditions. Here’s a wild stat on Ellis for 2022. He’s caught three passes for 154 yards. That’s 51.3 yards per catch.

Notable – Receiving: 1-57

Moved from the injured list to the active roster for the Texans.

On behalf of us at SicEmSports, we wish a joyous, peaceful and blessed Christmas.

Now, the RJB’s Christmas present!

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Promoted from the practice squad to the active roster for Chicago.

Baylor Coach Dave Aranda

Opening Statement…
“Our outcome tonight, it is sad for all of us and our senior class. Thank God for Dillon Doyle and the relationships you build. The people that they are. It is hard to say goodbye, especially after an outcome like this and that is where we are at. I am proud of the fight that we had. The game was out of reach, and we were still out there fighting for a yard. We were able to come off the field excited and that speaks for these guys.
“From a team perspective it is a disappointing end to a disappointing season. There is a lot to be learned for our returners and younger people. A lot to look at and try to emulate as well. The fight that we just mentioned, the showing up under tough circumstances and never backing down and putting yourselves out there. Those are things we can build on.”

Comparing last season’s Big 12 title with this year…
“It is a completely different team from last year to this year. There was a lot of learning from me. I look back now and have had some time to do this prior to this question. I see the things coming, and things we didn’t see coming and it may be a lack of experience on my part. To be transparent about it only helps you get better. The college football world as it changes, through the portal and everything else, is my personal view of that is it is something here to stay and I think all of that has grown this year. This year could really be looked at as a lesson. I just see us getting better. For the guys that are returning to see the work, they are going to see the work, and the adversity, and how to handle it and be better for it.”

What is the next step for Baylor in the offseason…
“We are still in the midst of recruiting and there are a couple of valued spots where we have some valued prospects for. January is a limited window to get some guys to campus and see if something can work out because of all of it. We are finalizing our team now in terms of what that team will look like for next year. The third part is the class we just signed, and we are so excited to get them settled in and setting standards and expectations to see if we can get started off on the right spot. That is good for a team that has had some tough lessons and different ways to do it. We all have to get aligned to do it the right way.”

On the play of Shapen…
“I was disappointed on a whole offensively. In previous games there was more juice and excitement. I was way disappointed in the lack of that. I think it really starts with the run game. That is the identity of our offense, and you can argue our team. A lot of credit goes to Air Force. We didn’t hold up to our side of the bargain. I could see Blake (Shapen) pressing, and there was a lot to improve on.”

On the energy coming into the game…
“We talked about with 20 seconds left in the game we were still fighting for it. Even the possession before where we were still fighting for it. Those are all views of the fight. Christian Morgan made a great play, and you look at his journey and learning experiences and people that have come to him and help him and the trust that people have in him and to see him fight there at the end. There was a lot of positive in that.

Merry Christmas, y'all!

We cover the last game of the season, when the season went off the rails, and what it looks like for next year.



Came in at 12:54

Listen to the podcast here

By Kevin Lonnquist
Publisher

Lockheed Martin Armed Forces Bowl
Baylor (6-6) vs Air Force (9-3)
Site: Amon G. Carter Stadium. Fort Worth
Time/Day: 6:30 p.m. Thursday
TV/Radio: ESPN/ESPN Central Texas
Betting Line: Baylor -3.5
Series: Baylor leads, 3-0

Playing the final game in a bowl game before Christmas in your archrival’s building is not what Baylor envisioned for the 2022 season.

In the summer, the Bears had the momentum following their 2021 Big 12 championship and No. 5 national ranking. They were predicted to repeat as conference champions and started the season ranked in the Top 10.

That’s why you play the games. Through inconsistency, some injuries and lack of development in other areas the 2022 Bears never fulfilled their expectations. Now, they’re hoping to top a feisty squad from the United States Air Force Academy to finish with a winning record.

However, the Bears and Falcons will be playing in the Lockheed Martin Armed Forces Bowl Thursday night as an arctic air mass blows into Fort Worth. By kickoff, the temperature will be about 19 degrees with winds from the North at 20 mph putting the wind chills into the single digits. It will be colder by the end of the game.

“It is the mindset going into it,’’ Baylor HC Dave Aranda said. “There have been games in all of our past with our players where you can’t feel your fingers anymore. You can’t say the words you want to say because your mouth doesn’t work anymore, and toes are cold. Meanwhile there is a great opposing force coming at you unrelenting. This is the who wants it most bowl. We have to fully attack that and put our best effort.”

This is Baylor’s first appearance in this bowl. Air Force is making its sixth appearance. Baylor is playing in a bowl for the 11th time in the last 13 seasons. These programs are facing each other for the first time since 1977.

The Bears will be without nose tackle Apu Ika and defensive back Mark Milton who have opted out of the game. And a few others may not be playing for various reasons.

Here are some elements to look for
>For starters, this is a game that once the players on both teams go through pregame warmups, they’re going to battle the thoughts of do they want to be there to play this game. The cold can weigh on anyone mentally and cause them to shut down. There are only so many blast furnaces, hand warmers and other elements to use in order to combat the bitter cold. You’ll note how that is in the way players run to plays and how they tackle.

>Baylor QB Blake Shapen is officially the only signal caller on this roster on scholarship. That became a fact when Kyron Drones signed with Virginia Tech on Wednesday. The last thing Baylor needs is for Shapen to suffer an injury that would keep him out for an extended period of time. The backup is seventh-year senior and walk on Luke Anthony.

>If this game is played straight up, it could be a fast-moving one. Air Force leads the nation in rushing at 330.9 yards per game. Baylor is pretty solid itself at 194.1 yards per game. Freshman Richard Reese, the Big 12 Freshman of the Year, needs 38 yards to reach 1,000 for the season. He’s currently at 962.

>Kicking and punting is going to be a challenge. That ball is going to feel like a rock. Couple that with the strong winds from the north and possible field goal attempts going into that direction may be short ones. Punters will have to line drive it in order to accumulate any distance. It will impact this contest.

Notable
Baylor will be meeting Air Force for the fourth time in history and the first time since a 38-7 win in 1977 in Waco. The teams have played two contests in Waco and once in Colorado Springs, with the Bears winning all three meetings by a combined score of 79-17. The series opened in 1961 with a Baylor 31-7 win in Waco.

Keys to the Game
Eye discipline – You hear that a lot from TV analysts about defenders. But when it comes to playing the triple option, it matters. It’s about following the ball and the QB’s hips. Whoever is assigned to spy on Falcons’ QB Haaziq Daniels better follow him inch by inch. The trigger man makes that offense go. Falcons FB Brad Roberts has rushed for better than 1,600 yards.

Shapen must break the trend – It’s been a nightmare for Baylor’s starting QB since Oklahoma State. He finished the regular season with 12 turnovers in the last eight games. That played a major role in the Baylor finishing .500 along with a three-game losing streak. While a QB must never doubt his confidence, perhaps he needed the three weeks for a mental break. He just needs to play better.

Turnovers – On a night like this one, securing the ball is going to be important. Hits are going to feel harder. Concentration will be challenged.

First down – This is probably the most important down for the Baylor defense. The magic number is four. If the Bears can hold the Air Force option to less than four yards on that down, it’s almost like putting the Falcons behind the chains with a 2nd-and-7 or worse. If the Falcons are accumulating at least four, it puts the Bears on their heels.

Prediction
This goes back to the weather in a bowl that for all practical purposes has no significance to it. If the Bears win, they get a trophy and finish with a winning record. That should matter. This team has shown under Aranda that it has had the resilience to bounce back and play hard and put the previous game’s performance behind them. The Bears have to get a two-score lead and force this offense, which is not good at coming from behind, to try and rally. And that’s going to be a challenge as the Falcons have the nation’s top defense (256.3 ypg). Does Baylor really want to be there? We’ll find out. Frankly, I don’t have a good feeling about this one.



Air Force 28, Baylor 17

By Kevin Lonnquist
Publisher
In Fort Worth, Air Force scored twice in the third quarter to blow open a close game and beat Baylor, 30-15, at Lockheed Martin Armed Forces Bowl Thursday at Amon Carter Stadium.

A year after finishing 12-2 and No. 5 in the country and beginning 2022 as preseason Big 12 favorites, the Bears (6-7) closed on a 4-game losing streak.

Baylor scored right before the end of the first half on a Blake Shapen 8-yard touchdown pass to Hal Presley to cut it to 9-7 at the Break.

However, the Falcons scored on the opening possession of the third quarter finalized on quarterback Haaziq Daniels’ 2-yard TD run to open it up to 16-7.

The Bears had a golden opportunity to cut into it after Air Force shanked a punt that landed on its own 44. However, the Bears were foiled. Shapen was stopped on fourth down at the Falcons’ 36 to end the possession.

Air Force (10-3) seized the momentum and scored on the ensuing possession when Daniels found tight end Caleb Rillos on a 15-yard touchdown pass to extend it to 23-7. The Falcons later put it out of reach early in the fourth quarter on a Brad Roberts 1-yard run. Roberts finished with 116 yards.

This game played to form. The Falcons, who lead the nation in time of possession at 36:13 per game, finished at 40:03. Baylor’s defense actually did a respectable job against the option to 276 yards and 4.1 yards per carry.

However, the Bears offense collapsed. They finished with 230 total yards – 85 of which came on a scoring drive that cut it 30-15 late in the game – and just 42 rushing yards. Baylor was also 0-11 on third down.

If there were any positives, the Bears did not commit any turnovers. Shapen also snapped his streak where he had committed 12 in the last eight. However, he was just 11-23 for 188 yards.

There will be a lot of questions for this team to resolve in the offseason that will resume when the spring semester begins in mid-January. The first question is addressing quarterback. Currently, Shapen is the only one on scholarship for that position.

Well, the 2022 finale is here. Your publisher was going to be there. However, I've battling a migraine all day. Not fun. I will be home but will take you through it. Baylor trying to finish with a winning record.

@ekluxhoj won the first week with a 6-2 record and missing the point spread by 2. @Nelson6 came in second.
Other than Baylor, the good bowls start on December 28th. I'll post those this Friday, to give you a head start, even though this week's slate won't be finished.



Eight games again this week. Tiebreaker is point spread Baylor-Air Force.

Thursday December 22nd
Armed Forces Bowl, Fort Worth, TX
Baylor (6-6) vs Air Force (9-3)

Friday, December 23rd
Independence Bowl, Shreveport, LA
Louisiana (6-6) vs Houston (7-5)

Gasparilla Bowl, Tampa, FL
Wake Forest (7-5) vs Missouri (6-6)

Saturday, December 24th
Hawai'i Bowl, Honolulu, HI
Middle Tennessee (7-5) vs San Diego State (7-5)

Monday, December 26th
Quick Lane Bowl, Detroit, MI
New Mexico State (6-6) vs Bowling Green (6-6)

Tuesday, December 27th
Camelia Bowl, Montgomery, AL
Georgia Southern (6-6) vs Buffalo (6-6)

First Responder Bowl, Dallas, TX
Memphis (6-6) vs Utah State (6-6)

Birmingham Bowl
Coastal Carolina (9-3) vs East Carolina (7-5)

Guaranteed Rate Bowl
Wisconsin (6-6) vs Oklahoma State (7-5)

From Baylor SID
TEAM NOTES
• Baylor is 6-7 and Air Force is 10-3.
• The Bears had won the first three meetings in the series with Air Force. • The Bears advanced to their 11th bowl game in the last 13 years.
• Baylor is 14-13 all-time in bowl games.
• Baylor is 1-1 in bowl games under Coach Dave Aranda.
• Baylor captains: Dillon Doyle, Connor Galvin, Cole Maxwell, Craig Williams.
• Baylor is 20-16 under Aranda.
• Baylor was 3-for-6 on fourth down and lead he nation in fourth-down conversions (30).
• Thursday’s game was the coldest game in recorded Baylor history (data available back to 2011), kicking off at 13 degrees, far eclipsing the previous mark of 24 degrees of a
game vs. Texas on Dec. 7, 2013 in Waco.
• Baylor’s Gabe Hall blocked a PAT, the first block of a PAT for the Bears since Josh Landry blocked a PAT vs. Texas Tech in 2020.
INDIVIDUAL NOTES
• Senior John Mayers was 2-for-2 on PATs.
• Mayers has 223 career points, third in program history.
• Mayers has made 34 of 45 field goals in his career.
• Mayers is 121 of 123 in his career in PATs, ranking third in PATs made and attempted.
• Mayers ranks eighth in program history in field-goal attempts.
• Mayers has made 98.4 percent of his PATs, ranking sixth in program history.
• Mayers has made 75.6 percent of his field-goal attempts, ranking tops in program history.
• Senior Issac Power had a 50-yard punt and one downed inside the 20-yard line. • Power punted 216 times in his career, ranking fifth in program history.
• Power punted for 9,000 yards in his career, ranking fifth in program history.
• Power averaged 41.67 yards per punt, the ninth-best total in program annals.
• Power had 43 career punts for 50+ yards, the fifth-most in school history.
• Baylor senior OL Connor Galvin made his team-leading 50th-career start and made his team-high 39th-straight start, playing in his 50th career game.
• Galvin ranks first place in Baylor history with 50 career starts.
• Senior LB Dillon Doyle was named Lockheed Martin Armed Forces MVP for Baylor after going for 10 tackles.
• It marked Doyle’s fourth 10+ tackle game of the year and the eighth of his career. • Junior LB Matt Jones tied for the team lead with a season-high 10 tackles.
• It was Jones’ second career 10+ tackle effort.
• Sophomore QB Blake Shapen threw two TDs and for 188 yards.
• Shapen threw his 17th and 18th TDs of the year and has 23 in his career. • Freshman CB Tevin Williams III made his first career start.
• Williams finished with a career-high five tackles, including his first career tackle for a loss.
• Sophomore WR Hal Presley caught his fourth TD of the year.
• Senior WR Gavin Holmes caught his fourth TD of the year and the seventh of his career.
• Junior DL Gabe Hall blocked a PAT, the first PAT blocked for the Bears since 2020 vs. Texas Tech. • Freshman WR Josh Cameron had three catches for 56 yards.
• Junior WR Jaylen Ellis had a career-long 57-yard catch.
• Junior LB Garmon Randolph recorded four tackles, including his seventh tackle for a loss on the year and the 10th of his career.
• Freshman LB Jackie Marshall had his second tackle for a loss on the year.
• Sophomore CB A.J. McCarty recorded his first career tackle for a loss.
• Freshman RB Richard Reese rushed eight times for 10 yards, giving him 972 rushing yards on the year, the top mark for a freshman in program history.
*Senior DL Chidi Ogbonnaya played in his 59th career game, ranking second in program history.
• Jacob Gall played in his 59th career game over two institutions, Buffalo and Baylor.

Baylor needs QB depth. And we need someone with game experience, should Shapen not cut it next year.

So who better than a kid on the verge of turning 30??!!?

I'm serious — I think the staff should look at this kid.

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We’ll keep you posted here when all of the NLIs come across.

I’m not expecting any surprises. Obviously, the Novosad situation is what it is.

They likely will be announcing BYU OL transfer Campbell Barrington and Arkansas WR transfer Ketron Jackson to the class.

Also, here are the arrivals for those who responded:

DJ Coleman - June
Tay'Shawn Wilson - June
Dawson Pendergrass - June
LeVar Thornton - June
Micah Gifford - January
Wes Tucker - January
Trent Thomas - June
Corey Kelley - June
Hawkins Polley - January
Carl Williams IV - January
Palmer Williams - January
Caden Jenkins - January
Sean Tompkins - June (what I was told)

What's up, everybody.

Big thank you to Kevin for putting my update up on the board earlier today regarding Austin Novosad and the recent push from Oregon. I was able to let the situation breathe a little more tonight after talking to a pair of sources, and I have my latest feel on the possible flip in tonight's Nick at Nite. Here's the latest:

By Kevin Lonnquist
Publisher
Probably not going to do a blitz on Friday. It’s going to be an ask SicEmSports segment. Get your questions ready. But the idea of not going the blitz is to have notes posted whenever they come. A fluid situation.

Here’s what we can share today:

>Baylor HC Dave Aranda has a scheduled in home visit with Rivals No. 86 and Dripping Springs QB commit Austin Novosad on Friday. It’s a pretty important visit. Earlier in the week, our regional analyst Nick Harris’ reported that TCU and Oregon have been kicking the tires on Novosad. Those two schools sensed a crack because of Baylor’s poor finish to the 2022 season along with some recruiting defections.

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From what we know at this time, Novosad isn’t scheduled to take an OVs for this final weekend. Nothing indicates that he won’t sign next Wednesday with the Bears.

There’s just some work for this staff to do in order to be sure Novosad is secure in coming here. It would be a little messy anyway since he is on track to be a January arrival.

>Hutchinson (KS) Community College defensive tackle Jerrell Boykins said late Tuesday that he is planning on taking an official visit to Baylor starting Thursday. The Blue Dragons play Iowa Western Community College in the NJCAA national championship at 8:00 p.m. Wednesday at War Memorial Stadium in Little Rock (AR).

Boykins said he plans on announcing his commitment decision on either Dec. 20 or Dec. 21 and sign with his program of choice that day. He is expected to enroll in January.

Boykins would have three years of eligibility remaining. Baylor is searching for a new nose tackle with the departure of Apu Ika.

>Baylor still milling around Texas A&M transfer LJ Johnson. Not sure if the staff can get him a visit this weekend or not. That’s still in flux. He just visited SMU Sunday and Monday and is talking to other schools including UCLA. Oklahoma is also in play here. It’s very fluid situation.

>Baylor is also very much in the running for Florida defensive lineman Jalen Lee. Lee was committed to LSU when Aranda was there in 2019. However, he flipped to Florida. Lee appeared in all 12 games for the Gators in 2022 and made eight tackles. He also played in eight games in 2021. He would have at least two more years eligibility remaining.

We will keep our ear to the ground to see what else is going on out there.

To no one's surprise. Mentioned the other day that this was expected. Here we are. Remember the comment that Campbell mentioned called Baylor OL coach Eric Mateos the best OL coach he has worked with.

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Well we’ll See if the brothers want to get together and play at Baylor. Clark entered the portal late Monday evening. You’ll recall Campbell shared with us that Clark has that working relationship with Baylor offensive line coach Eric Mateos And called him the best offensive line coach he’s ever worked with

The Air Force Academy guys are taking this game seriously.....

WACO, Texas -- Baylor football has signed 22 student-athletes part of the 2023 class, it was announced by head coach Dave Aranda on Wednesday.

“We are excited to welcome these 22 players to the Baylor Family,” Aranda said. “This group of young men represent the values we are building our program on, and will be a valuable part of our culture.”

The Bears have signed the nation’s No. 27 ranked class, according to Rivals and features five 4-star recruits and 17 3-star prospects. Baylor has also added several impact transfers, including BYU offensive lineman Campbell Barrington, Hutchinson College defensive lineman Jerrell Boykins Jr. and Arkansas wide receiver Ketron Jackson.

“We are grateful for the commitment these student-athletes and their families have made to our program and Baylor University,” Aranda said. “We are looking forward to working with them daily to help them achieve their goals on and off the field and in the community. I am also thankful for our staff, who work so hard throughout the year to build strong and lasting relationships throughput the process.”

Baylor welcomes the addition of 16 players from Texas, with recruits from Arizona, Georgia, Louisiana, North Carolina and Washington making up the class.

“One of our priorities with this class was continuing to build on our strong relationship with the Texas High School Coaches Association,” Aranda said. “We are proud to be able to keep 17 players home in Texas, and grateful for everything that Texas High School Coaches do for the game.”

Wednesday was the first day of the early signing period, which will run through Friday.




Campbell Barrington | OL | 6-6, 295 | Spokane, Wash. (University HS/BYU)
Previous School: Played in nine games off the bench in 2022 for BYU … Was a Freshman All-America selection in 2021 for the Cougars, starting six of his eight games played … Tabbed Freshman All-America by the Maxwell Football Club, second-team Freshman All-America by The Athletic and was named to the FOX College Football All-Freshman Team by RJ Young … Named second-team offense in Pro Football Network’s All-Independent listing … Member of BYU’s offensive line that was named to the Joe Moore Award Midseason Watch List, given annually to the nation’s best offensive line … Was a candidate for the Shaun Alexander Freshman of the Year Award … Helped pave the way for a BYU offense that scored 33 points per game and averaged 452 yards of total offense … Offensive line allowed just 15 sacks on the year.

High School: Was a consensus three-star recruit at University High School in Spokane, Wash. … Rated as the 11th best player in the state of Washington by ESPN … Earned Greater Spokane League 4A All-League honors in 2017.

Brendan Bett | DL | 6-4, 298 | Killeen, Texas (Ellison HS)
High School: Consensus three-star prospect … Tabbed the No. 27 defensive tackle in the nation and No. 75 player in Texas, according to Rivals … Rated the No. 97 player on the defensive line in the nation and the No. 156 player overall in the state of Texas, according to 247Sports … Compiled 148 career tackles at EHS, including 112 solo and 42 for loss … Racked up seven career sacks, including career-high four as a senior in 2022 … Returned his only career interception for 51-yard touchdown … Has forced one career fumble and recovered two … Earned District 4-5A Co-Defensive MVP honors after collecting 63 tackles with four sacks as a senior in 2022 … Named to the District 12-6A First Team as a junior in 2021 … Also competed in track & field … Chose Baylor over offers from Colorado, Houston, SMU and Texas Tech, among others.

Jerrell Boykins Jr. | DL | 6-3, 341 | Gonzales, La. (East Ascension HS/Louisiana Tech/Hutchinson CC)
Previous School: Played the 2022 season at Hutchinson [Kan.] College after redshirting in 2021 at Louisiana Tech … Ranked as the 32nd best junior college prospect in the nation by 247Sports and as the sixth-best JUCO defensive lineman … Led Hutchinson College to the NJCAA National Championship Game in 2022, setting a program record with an 11-1 record … Had 18 tackles on the year with 1.5 for a loss and one fumble recovery in 10 games … Chose Baylor over Washington State, Colorado, Louisiana-Lafayette and Western Kentucky.

High School: Earned three letters at East Ascension High School in Gonzales, La. … Named Louisiana Football Coaches Association first-team All-State, also earning first-team all-metro and was a two-time all-district honoree … Also earned three letters in track & field, winning the state championship in 2021 in discuss and was the runner-up in shot put … Coached by Darnell Lee.

DJ Coleman | S | 6-0, 193 | Mesquite, Texas (Horn HS)
High School: Recorded 72 total tackles his senior year at Horn High School, with 10.5 TFLs and 2.5 sacks … Caused one fumble in the 2022 season, recovered two, blocked four punts and one field goal … Tallied 62 tackles in both junior and sophomore seasons … Played running back shortly his junior year, rushing for 61 yards … Recorded one interception his sophomore year … Helped the Jaguars to the first round of the state playoff championships … Named first team All-District defense his senior season … Ranked 19th by DCTF in the safety position.

Micah Gifford | WR | 6-3, 196 | Pflugerville, Texas (Weiss HS)
High School: Consensus three-star prospect at Weiss High School in Pflugerville, Texas … Caught 41 balls for 840 yards and nine TDs as a senior in 2022, earning unanimous All-District 12-6A honors. … Rated as a three-star prospect by 247Sports and is tabbed as the 70th best wide receiver in the class and the 76th best prospect in Texas … A three-star prospect by ESPN, rated as the 76th best wide receiver and the 97th best prospect in the state … Rated by Rivals as a three-star prospect, tabbed as the 68th best WR in the nation and the 92nd best prospect in Texas … Three-star rating from Dave Campbell’s Texas Football, ranked as the 75th best prospect and the 15th best WR in the state … Had 44 grabs for 893 yards and 13 TDs as a junior in 2021 … Was a first-team District 11-5A-I selection as a junior in 2021 … Also runs track, qualifying for regionals in the 110m hurdles, running a 14.67 and a 38.71 in the 300m hurdles … Picked Baylor over Oklahoma State, Indiana, Mississippi State and Pittsburgh.

Ketron Jackson Jr. | WR | 6-2, 195 | Royse City, Texas (Royse City HS/Arkansas)
Previous School: Played the 2021 and 2022 seasons at Arkansas … Saw action in 25 games with eight starts over two seasons, with 21 catches for 374 yards and four TDs … Played in 12 games with eight starts in 2022 with 16 catches for 277 yards and three TDs … Also had a 19-yard rush … Had a career-long 64 yard catch vs. Missouri State … Had a 32-yard TD grab at Texas A&M … Had a TD grab, to go with four catches for 48 yards vs. Alabama … Had a catch for 21 yards at Mississippi State … Had three catches for 55 yards at BYU … Had two grabs, including a TD, vs. Ole Miss … In 2021, played in all 13 games, with five catches for 97 yards and a TD … Had his first career catch, a 16-yard grab vs. Rice … Had a 29-yard TD grab vs. Arkansas-Pine Bluff … Had two catches for 53. Yards, including a 39-yard grab vs. Missouri … Played in 247 offensive snaps and had 38 snaps on special teams as a true freshman according to Pro Football Focus.

High School: Four-star wide receiver as ranked by 247Sports, Rivals and ESPN out of Royse City High School … Tabbed as the No. 21 wide receiver in the nation and the 21st best prospect in Texas by 247Sports … Was No. 219 in ESPN’s Top 300 recruits … A two-time all-district 8-5A selection … Had 39 catches for 765 yards with 10 TDs as a senior in 2020, also seeing time at defensive back where he had two interceptions … Coached by David Petroff … Made four catches for a career-high 197 yards and registered two TD grabs while also returning a kickoff 90 yards for a score against Forney … Had an interception on the game’s final play, securing a 55-48 win over Greenville … As a junior, hauled in 61 catches for 889 yards and six TDs … Grabbed a career-high 13 receptions for 190 yards against powerhouse Aledo … Led team to a 5-2 record in 2020 and a 9-3 record – with a berth in the playoffs – as a junior … Starred in track & field, competing in the long jump, triple jump and 4x200 relay, leading DFA athletes in the long jump (24-11) and ranking third in the triple jump (47-6).

Caden Jenkins | CB | 6-2, 165 | Lewisville, Texas (Lewisville HS)
High School: Consensus three-star prospect … Ranked as the No. 73 player on The Dallas Morning News’ top 100 recruits list … Rated the No. 98 cornerback in the nation and No. 177 overall player in Texas by 247Sports … The No. 77 corner nationally according to Rivals … Helped Lewisville to a 12-2 record and a regional finals appearance in 2022 … Earned District 6-6A first-team honors in 2022 after tallying 25 total tackles, five pass breakups and forcing two fumbles … Recorded 30 tackles and 13 pass breakups as a junior in 2021 … Earned District 6-6A first-team honors in 2021, leading Lewisville to an 11-2 record and an appearance in the third round of the 6A Division I playoffs … Also ran track, serving on the third leg of Lewisville’s bronze medal-winning 4x200-meter relay team at 6A state championship … Chose Baylor over offers from Arkansas, Iowa, Kansas State, Mississippi State, Ole Miss, SMU and Texas Tech, among others.

Dike “D.K.” Kalu | DL | 6-4, 278 | Missouri City, Texas (Ridge Point HS)
High School: Consensus three-star prospect … Tabbed as the No. 23 defensive lineman in the nation and No. 69 overall player in Texas by Rivals … Ranked the No. 77 defensive lineman in the nation and No. 114 overall player in the state of Texas by 247Sports … Recorded 93 total tackles during career at RPHS, including 16 TFL’s and three sacks … Also collected one interception, one pass breakup and a QB hurry during prep career … Unanimous All-District 20-6A First Team selection in 2022 … As a senior in 2022, made 45 total tackles, 38 of which were solo, including 10 tackles for loss, two sacks and recovered one fumble … Was limited to just two games in 2021 due to injury … Unanimous All-District 20-6A First Team selection as a sophomore in 2020 … All-District 20-6A Second Team as a freshman in 2019 … Also competes in shot put and discus, throwing a 48-11.5 shot and 129-1 disc as a sophomore … Father, N.D., played 12 seasons in the NFL as a defensive end for Philadelphia, Washington and Houston … Chose Baylor over offers from Georgia Tech, Houston, Iowa State, Kansas State, SMU, TCU and UTSA, among others.

Matthew Klopfenstein | TE | 6-5, 226 | Scottsdale, Ariz. (Horizon HS)
High School: Star tight end at Horizon High School in Scottsdale, Ariz. … Totaled 42 catches for 652 yards and six TDs in 12 games in 2022 … A four-star prospect by 247Sports, rated as the 19th best tight end in the nation and the eighth-best prospect in Arizona … Rated as a four-star prospect by ESPN, tabbed as the 12th best TE in the nation and the eighth-best overall prospect in the state … Tabbed by Rivals as a three-star prospect, the 11th best prospect in the state and the 38th best tight end … Had 45 catches for 575 yards and 10 TDs as a junior in 2021 to earn The Arizona Republic All-Arizona honors, leading the Huskies to the 5A State Championship … Grabbed 17 catches for 174 yards as a sophomore … Had three catches for 23 yards as a freshman … Chose Baylor over UCLA, Arizona, Arizona State, Michigan, Tennessee, Oregon State and Cal.

Dawson Pendergrass | RB | 6-2, 221 | Alba, Texas (Mineola HS)
High School: Four-year varsity player at Mineola High School … Closed his high school career with 7,414 rushing yards in 45 games played … Averaged 274.4 yard per game in his senior campaign – 3,184 on the ground, 479 passing and 109 receiving in total for the year … Named Offensive Co-MVP for 2022 District 5-3A Football All-District Honors … Led Mineola to the Area round of the Texas 3A Division I playoffs … District first-team selection his junior and sophomore years at running back and defensive back his sophomore year … Offensive Newcomer of the Year for District 8-3A … Qualified to the regional track meet his junior year in three different events: 110-meter hurdles, long jump and triple jump … Owns a DCTF three-star rating … Chose Baylor over Arkansas and Texas Tech, among others.

Hawkins Polley | TE | 6-4, 256 | Houston, Texas (Stratford HS)
High School: A standout tight end for Stratford High School in Houston… Had 22 catches for 393 yards and seven TDs … First-team all-district selection as a junior in 2021 … Offensively in 2021, had 39 catches for 426 yards and five TDs … In 2020, had 26 catches for 437 yards and nine TDs … A three-star prospect from 247Sports, tabbed as the 154thbest prospect in Texas … Ranked by Rivals as a three-star prospect and as the 129th best player in the state … Tabbed by Dave Campbell’s Texas Football as a three-star prospect … Chose Baylor over Houston, Vanderbilt, USC, Kansas and SMU.

Isaiah Robinson | OL | 6-6, 296 | Arlington, Texas (Lamar HS)
High School: A three-year starter at Lamar High School … A four-star recruit by Rivals and ESPN … No. 267 on ESPN’s top-300 recruit listing … Allowed a 1.2% career pass protection pressure rate … Graded out at 91% for his career with 39 pancakes … District 8-6A Offensive Newcomer of the Year his sophomore season at Arlington Lamar … Won 2020 MaxPreps Sophomore All-American Team – Second Team Offense honors … Named a four-star recruit by 247 Sports and Dave Campbell’s Texas Football and the No. 1 prospect at the position in Texas … Committed to Baylor over Cal, Arizona, Arkansas and Auburn.

Trent Thomas | DL | 6-4, 237 | Missouri City, Texas (Thurgood Marshall HS)
High School: Consensus three-star prospect … Rated the No. 74 edge rusher in the nation and the No. 135 overall player in the state of Texas by 247Sports … Made 47 total tackles, including 18 solo, in eight games before a season-ending injury as a senior in 2022 … Also recorded seven tackles for loss, six of which were sacks, and tallied one pass breakup … Forced a fumble in 2022 campaign … Two-time All-District selection … Helped Marshall to a 10-1 record and Texas 5A Division II first-round playoff appearance as a junior in 2021 … Chose Baylor over offers from Boston College, Colorado, Houston, San Diego State, SMU, Tulane, Tulsa and UTSA, among others.

Sean Thompkins | OL | 6-5, 318 | Covington, Ga. (Newton HS)
High School: Three-star recruit out of Georgia … Helped Newton to an appearance in the 2022 GHSA playoffs … First-team member of the Georgia 7A All-Region team his senior season … Experienced at tackle and guard spots on offensive line … Won second-team honors for the 2021 All-Region 7A Team … Chose Baylor over Florida, Auburn and Georgia Tech.

LeVar Thornton Jr | CB | 6-3, 168 | Fort Worth, Texas (Timber Creek HS)
High School: A four-star prospect, according to 247Sports … Rated as the No. 47 cornerback in the nation and No. 73 overall player in Texas by 247Sports … Amassed a total of 68 tackles in prep career, with four TFL’s … Recorded six career interceptions, including two returned for touchdowns … Also made eight catches on offense for 108 receiving yards … In 2022, racked up 31 tackles, two for loss, and three interceptions, including one returned for a touchdown … Also made three receptions for 35 yards as a senior … Competed in basketball and track & field as well … State qualifier in the high jump, placing fourth in Texas 6A as a junior with a mark of 6-6 … Chose Baylor over offers from Air Force, Army, Boise State, Navy, Texas State and Vanderbilt, among others.

Wes Tucker | OL | 6-5, 268 | Argyle, Texas (Argyle HS)
High School: Standout offensive lineman helped lead Argyle High School to the state semifinals of the 2022 Class 5A Division II playoffs … Named District 3-5A Offensive Lineman of the Year … Graded out at 82% on the season with 30 knockdown blocks … Paved the way for an offensive unit that rushed for 3,532 yards and 45 TDs, an average of 5.9 yards per carry … Did not give up a sack at all throughout the year, playing left tackle and left guard … Three-year member of varsity … Team captain as voted on by his team in 2022 … Three-star prospect by 247Sports, rated as the 52nd best interior offensive lineman in the nation and the 113th best overall prospect in Texas … Ranked by Rivals, ESPN and Dave Campbell’s Texas Football as a three-star prospect …Played left tackle and left guard in 2021 as a junior before suffering a season-ending injury … Helped lead Argyle to a 16-0 record and the Class 4A Division I State Title in 2020 … Also competed in track & field, recording a 41-11.5 in the shot put in March of 2022 as a junior and a 106-3 throw in the discus as a sophomore … Brother, Jack, is an offensive lineman at Texas Tech … Chose Baylor over Kansas, Tulane and Texas Tech.

Bryson Washington | RB | 6-0, 205 | Franklin, Texas (Franklin HS)
High School: Star two-way player for powerhouse Franklin High School in Franklin, Texas … A semifinalist for the 2022 Mr. Texas Football Award … Has led Franklin to 32 straight wins and consecutive 3A-DI State Championships … A four-year starter at running back and safety … Has rushed for over 2,000 yards and over 30 TDs as a senior … Rated by 247Sports as a three-star prospect, tabbed as the 55th best athlete in the nation and as the 104th best prospect in Texas … Rivals rated as a three-star prospect … Ranked by ESPN as a three-star prospect, No. 49th best running back in the class and as the 130th-best prospect in Texas … Tabbed by Dave Campbell’s Texas Football as a three-star prospect and was rated as the third-best athlete and the 59th best prospect in the state … As a junior in 2021, was named Texas District 13-3A D-II Overall Co-MVP, helping lead Franklin to a 16-0 record and a Class 3A-Division II State Title … Rushed for 1,480 yards with 20 TDs on 104 carries as a junior, adding five catches for 212 yards and four scores … Defensively as a junior, had 119 tackles, eight pass break-ups, three forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries and returned a fumble and an interception for a TD … As a sophomore, carried it 111 times for 1,376 yards and 19 TDs, while adding 120 tackles, 11 pass break-ups, two forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries and three interceptions … Named district Overall MVP as a sophomore, leading Franklin to the state championship game … Tabbed first-team all-state at defensive back by the Texas Sports Writers Association in 2020 … Tabbed district Defensive Newcomer of the Year as a freshman … Standout on the basketball court and in track & field … Helped lead Franklin’s basketball squad to a 20-4 record and a Texas 3A fourth-round playoff appearance as a junior … Chose Baylor over Arkansas, Houston, SMU and Boston College.

Palmer Williams | P/K | 6-1, 179 | Advance, N.C. (Davie HS)
High School: A three-star prospect according to 247Sports and ESPN … A 4 ½-star prospect according to Chris Sailer Kicking ratings … Ranked as the No. 3 punter in the nation and No. 42 overall player in the state of North Carolina by 247Sports … The No. 14 punter in the country and No. 37 player in the state, according to ESPN … Selected to 2023 Adidas All-American Bowl on NBC Punter … A “great-looking athlete with excellent college potential whose punting is a major strength,” according to Chris Sailer Kicking, averaging over 40 yards per punt with 4.6+ hang time … Also has 50+-yard field goal range … Averaged 43.6 yards per punt as a senior in 2022 … In 2021, averaged 36.8 yards per punt and downed four inside-the-20 … Also served as kicker for DHS, connecting on 54 of 56 PAT attempts … Made seven of 10 career field goal attempts, with long of 47 yards … Also competed in track and field, as well as lacrosse … Regional qualifier in the discus throw as a junior with a personal best 136-8 in the event … Chose Baylor over offers from Connecticut and interest from North Carolina, NC State, Virginia Tech and Wake Forest.

Carl Williams IV | CB | 6-0, 173 | Baton Rouge, La. (Southern Lab HS)
High School: Consensus three-star prospect … Ranked as the No. 56 cornerback nationally and No. 22 overall player in Louisiana by 247Sports … Tabbed as the No. 61 corner in the nation according to Rivals … Helped Southern Lab to a 12-2 record and the Louisiana Division IV state championship as a junior in 2021 … Also plays baseball and runs track … Ran a 10.49 in the 100 meters as a junior in spring 2022 … Ran the third leg of SLHS’ 1A state champion 4x100-meter relay team and the third leg of bronze medal-winning 4x200-meter relay … Hit .333 as a sophomore in 2021 for SLHS baseball team, drove in 16 and stole 20 bases on 29 attempts … Chose Baylor over offers from Kentucky, Louisiana Tech, Missouri, Tennessee, Tulane and Vanderbilt, among others.

Trey Wilson | DL | 6-3, 250 | Garland, Texas(Lakeview Centennial HS)
High School: Star defensive lineman in Garland, Texas, for Lakeview Centennial High School … A four-star prospect according to ESPN, ranked as the 58th best prospect in the state and the 49th best defense end … Ranked by 247Sports as a three-star prospect, the 111th best defensive lineman in the nation and the 176th best prospect in the state … Tabbed by Rivals as a three-star prospect and the 41st best weakside defensive end in the class … A three-star prospect according to Dave Campbell’s Texas Football, where he is ranked as the 80th best prospect in the state and the 13th best defensive end … A first-team pick at defensive end as a junior in 2021 … Tabbed defensive newcomer of the year in the district in 2020 as a sophomore … Chose Baylor over Arkansas, Florida State, Michigan, Houston, Nebraska, Mississippi State, Ole Miss, Oklahoma State, SMU, Stanford, Texas Tech, Miami, USC, Utah, Washington and Arizona State, among others.

Tay’Shawn Wilson | CB | 6-0, 175 | Cypress, Texas (Mayde Creek HS)
High School: Consensus four-star prospect according to Rivals … Rated the No. 31 cornerback nationally and No. 39 overall player in the state of Texas by Rivals … Tabbed as the No. 32 corner in the country and the No. 59 overall player in Texas by ESPN … Ranked as the No. 41 cornerback in the nation and No. 69 overall player in Texas by 247Sports … Made 19 tackles, including 12 solo, forced a fumble, broke up a pass, and collected an interception as a senior in 2022 … Blocked four field goals and scored two defensive TDs as a junior in 2021 … Also ran track, recording a 10.62 100-meter dash and a 21.86 200-meter time … Chose Baylor over offers from Colorado, Georgia Tech, Houston, Kansas, Nebraska, SMU, Texas, Tulane and UTSA, among others.

Jaren Woods | DL | 6-4, 265 | La Grange, Texas (La Grange HS)
High School: Recorded 61 tackles, 22 solo and six for loss, with one sack in his junior campaign with the Leopards … Helped La Grange advance to the second round of the 2021 UIL State Championships … Suffered a season-ending injury to his leg in the first game of his senior season … 2022 Regional champion in the discus, recording a throw of 148-8 … Rated the 88th best player in Texas by 247Sports … Tabbed as the seventh-best defensive tackle and a three-star recruit by Dave Campbell’s Texas Football … Chose Baylor over Vanderbilt, Auburn, Cal, Texas, TCU and Houston, among others.

From our national analyst Nick Harris.

What's up, everybody!

Oregon was in-home with Dripping Springs (Texas) four-star quarterback Austin Novosad last week with offensive coordinator Will Stein and the Ducks are pushing hard down the stretch for the Baylor commit with 48 hours to go until Signing Day. As for the chances here, I think Oregon is definitely in it, but it's gonna be a hard-fought battle.

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For some context, Novosad stuck with his Baylor pledge over the summer after taking visits to Notre Dame, Ohio State and Texas A&M. I see this opportunity being a little different for Novosad though considering his long-standing relationship with Stein.

We'll have more as we get it confirmed.
******

I can tell you this - Baylor’s finish to the season and some of the recent recruiting losses Isn’t helping here. Dave Aranda did come for an in-home visit on Friday afternoon. That went fine but this Oregon situation isn’t shocking. This is all new within the last 24 hours.

There’s not a lot Baylor can do at this point accept have some communication with him via electronic and pray that it works out and Novosad winds up signing with the Bears. With Nick’s information it’s anybody’s guess where this could finish.

It's done. He's going West.

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We start out discussing the Austin Novasad flip and Baylor's QB options, then go over the rest of the incoming class, and close with a look at the Armed Forces Bowl.



Came in at 26:05

Listen to the podcast here