By Kevin Lonnquist
Publisher
The Topper
Rivals regional and national analysts met this week to start formalizing the ratings for the 2023 class as well as getting a good start on 2024. The balance of Baylor’s 2023 commits should receive ratings in the coming days.
While it is early, Baylor and Texas Tech have the most commits of any programs in the country with 10 commits.
The whole day through…
Baylor found a really good player in the Peach State in Jefferson, GA Garmon Randolph. Randolph is expected to take more of a role in 2022.
Now, Dave Aranda’s program is making some inroads with presumed soon-to-be Rivals 250 2024 linebacker Myles Graham from College Park Woodward Academy. Baylor joins a pretty early exclusive list of schools who have joined the pursuit.
Some of the others who have offered are pretty much the entire SEC including Alabama, Georgia, Auburn, Texas A&M along with Ohio State. It’s pretty clear this growing prospect projects to be one of the best recruits to watch over the next two years.
“I think it’s a great program with also a great defensive culture,’’ Graham said of Baylor. “I didn’t get to watch them much during the season. But I’ve heard about the run game and defense.’’
This is what happens when a defense plays at a high level like Baylor’s has. Its reputation precedes it. Of course, the signature season was 2021. However, it really started in 2020.
Graham, who just transferred to Woodward Academy from Fort Myers, FL Evangelical Christian, had a tremendous season despite his team going 4-7.
So let’s start with 130 tackles (55 solo). While he didn’t collect a sack, he showed he was pretty solid in pass coverage with a pick and eight PBUs.
“The coaches liked how aggressive I was and my downhill play,’’ Graham said. “I consider myself fast, physical and tenacious.’’
Graham is going to join a new high school program that was pretty stingy last fall. Woodward Academy didn’t allow an opponent to surpass 20 points until the final game of the season.
While it seems a strong possibility that Graham will come to Waco over the summer, don’t count out an earlier visit.
“Yeah, but I’m going to try and come during my spring break,’’ he said. “I wasn’t sure when all of this attention was going to come. But I knew it was going to at some point.’’
Recruiting tidbits
>He recently named Baylor to his Top six and attended Baylor’s Junior Day. Lewisville Hebron 2023 outside linebacker Carson Dean said recently that he is still considering Baylor.
Dean came for Baylor’s games last year against Oklahoma and Texas Tech. This was shortly after the Bears offered him.
“I really like Baylor,’’ he said. “The coaches are constantly showing that they care about me and my family and building a true relationship other than just football.’’
>Baylor has some work to do with Rivals No. 213 and 2023 Colleyville Covenant Christian defensive end Enow Etta. He recently completed a visit to both Michigan and Michigan State.
He’s also been offered by USC, Oklahoma along with LSU and Wisconsin.
“Great school that is close to home,’’ Etta said.
Of course, there is time to make up some ground. Etta is the No. 14 rated weakside defensive and the No. 36 player in Texas.
>Recently a former teammate of Lewisville wide receiver and current Baylor player Armani Winfield, 2024 athlete Viron Ellison, came down for a visit. It was a chance to take a look at the intriguing prospect in person.
“I feel like the visit went well and got to know some of the coaches,’’ Ellison said.
Time will tell if an offer is coming.
>Baylor has the start it wants with 2024 DeSoto linebacker Brandon Booker. The outside stopper recently began his relationship with the program with running backs coach Justin “Juice” Johnson who covers the Southern portion of DFW.
“It was cool and chill with coach Johnson,’’ Booker said. “I think they’re a great school.’’
Booker was second to Baylor 2022 signee Devyn Bobby in tackles with 92 (27 solo) during the Eagles run to the Class 6A Division I state quarterfinals.
Texan at Heart
Fighting through adversity and coming on the other side can so change a player for the better. That’s what Jaydan Hardy hopes the lessons of the 2021 season will provide for him.
The 2024 defensive back from Lewisville, who just announced that he is transferring to IMG Academy in Bradenton (FL) for his final two years, had to deal with a tough injury that kept him sidelined for a significant part of the season.
“I broke my collarbone,’’ he said. “I missed seven games and didn’t return until the final two games of the playoffs. For real. I couldn’t lift my arm for like three weeks.’’
Whether it was in Texas or going to Florida, Hardy has the makeup to be one of the more dynamic secondary recruits in the country over the next two years. Already a four-star recruit, his limited window in 2021 was enough to show who he is and where he could be going.
Obviously, Baylor would like for it to be in Waco. But that’s a battle with 18 other schools that’s just early in its infancy. He’s drawn offers including Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Texas A&M and Oklahoma.
Before he left for Florida, Hardy had a chance to visit Baylor to get a sense for what his former teammate Armani Winfield felt. If it matters – and it likely does – Baylor put on the right presentation.
“I love the culture they have set,’’ Hardy said. “I felt it immediately stepping on campus. The vibe is a person before player which I love because I feel more than a football player there.”
In his limited season with the Fighting Farmers, Hardy played five games. He came up with 24 tackles (10 solo) along with five PBUs and a forced fumble. There are too many things about his game that are just starting to develop. That’s why the move to IMG is his future.
Hardy started developing a relationship with new Baylor safeties coach Ronnie Wheat. Hardy has the makeup to play either secondary position. Time will tell on that. Baylor likes his cerebral approach to the game.
But there’s more to it than that.
“I feel like I’m a twitchy ball hawk with the IQ who covers hash to hash,’’ he said. “Also, I can come down and hit in the run game.’’
Hardy should be receiving his national ranking soon.
Publisher
The Topper
Rivals regional and national analysts met this week to start formalizing the ratings for the 2023 class as well as getting a good start on 2024. The balance of Baylor’s 2023 commits should receive ratings in the coming days.
While it is early, Baylor and Texas Tech have the most commits of any programs in the country with 10 commits.
The whole day through…
Baylor found a really good player in the Peach State in Jefferson, GA Garmon Randolph. Randolph is expected to take more of a role in 2022.
Now, Dave Aranda’s program is making some inroads with presumed soon-to-be Rivals 250 2024 linebacker Myles Graham from College Park Woodward Academy. Baylor joins a pretty early exclusive list of schools who have joined the pursuit.
Some of the others who have offered are pretty much the entire SEC including Alabama, Georgia, Auburn, Texas A&M along with Ohio State. It’s pretty clear this growing prospect projects to be one of the best recruits to watch over the next two years.
“I think it’s a great program with also a great defensive culture,’’ Graham said of Baylor. “I didn’t get to watch them much during the season. But I’ve heard about the run game and defense.’’
This is what happens when a defense plays at a high level like Baylor’s has. Its reputation precedes it. Of course, the signature season was 2021. However, it really started in 2020.
Graham, who just transferred to Woodward Academy from Fort Myers, FL Evangelical Christian, had a tremendous season despite his team going 4-7.
So let’s start with 130 tackles (55 solo). While he didn’t collect a sack, he showed he was pretty solid in pass coverage with a pick and eight PBUs.
“The coaches liked how aggressive I was and my downhill play,’’ Graham said. “I consider myself fast, physical and tenacious.’’
Graham is going to join a new high school program that was pretty stingy last fall. Woodward Academy didn’t allow an opponent to surpass 20 points until the final game of the season.
While it seems a strong possibility that Graham will come to Waco over the summer, don’t count out an earlier visit.
“Yeah, but I’m going to try and come during my spring break,’’ he said. “I wasn’t sure when all of this attention was going to come. But I knew it was going to at some point.’’
Recruiting tidbits
>He recently named Baylor to his Top six and attended Baylor’s Junior Day. Lewisville Hebron 2023 outside linebacker Carson Dean said recently that he is still considering Baylor.
Dean came for Baylor’s games last year against Oklahoma and Texas Tech. This was shortly after the Bears offered him.
“I really like Baylor,’’ he said. “The coaches are constantly showing that they care about me and my family and building a true relationship other than just football.’’
>Baylor has some work to do with Rivals No. 213 and 2023 Colleyville Covenant Christian defensive end Enow Etta. He recently completed a visit to both Michigan and Michigan State.
He’s also been offered by USC, Oklahoma along with LSU and Wisconsin.
“Great school that is close to home,’’ Etta said.
Of course, there is time to make up some ground. Etta is the No. 14 rated weakside defensive and the No. 36 player in Texas.
>Recently a former teammate of Lewisville wide receiver and current Baylor player Armani Winfield, 2024 athlete Viron Ellison, came down for a visit. It was a chance to take a look at the intriguing prospect in person.
“I feel like the visit went well and got to know some of the coaches,’’ Ellison said.
Time will tell if an offer is coming.
>Baylor has the start it wants with 2024 DeSoto linebacker Brandon Booker. The outside stopper recently began his relationship with the program with running backs coach Justin “Juice” Johnson who covers the Southern portion of DFW.
“It was cool and chill with coach Johnson,’’ Booker said. “I think they’re a great school.’’
Booker was second to Baylor 2022 signee Devyn Bobby in tackles with 92 (27 solo) during the Eagles run to the Class 6A Division I state quarterfinals.
Texan at Heart
Fighting through adversity and coming on the other side can so change a player for the better. That’s what Jaydan Hardy hopes the lessons of the 2021 season will provide for him.
The 2024 defensive back from Lewisville, who just announced that he is transferring to IMG Academy in Bradenton (FL) for his final two years, had to deal with a tough injury that kept him sidelined for a significant part of the season.
“I broke my collarbone,’’ he said. “I missed seven games and didn’t return until the final two games of the playoffs. For real. I couldn’t lift my arm for like three weeks.’’
Whether it was in Texas or going to Florida, Hardy has the makeup to be one of the more dynamic secondary recruits in the country over the next two years. Already a four-star recruit, his limited window in 2021 was enough to show who he is and where he could be going.
Obviously, Baylor would like for it to be in Waco. But that’s a battle with 18 other schools that’s just early in its infancy. He’s drawn offers including Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Texas A&M and Oklahoma.
Before he left for Florida, Hardy had a chance to visit Baylor to get a sense for what his former teammate Armani Winfield felt. If it matters – and it likely does – Baylor put on the right presentation.
“I love the culture they have set,’’ Hardy said. “I felt it immediately stepping on campus. The vibe is a person before player which I love because I feel more than a football player there.”
In his limited season with the Fighting Farmers, Hardy played five games. He came up with 24 tackles (10 solo) along with five PBUs and a forced fumble. There are too many things about his game that are just starting to develop. That’s why the move to IMG is his future.
Hardy started developing a relationship with new Baylor safeties coach Ronnie Wheat. Hardy has the makeup to play either secondary position. Time will tell on that. Baylor likes his cerebral approach to the game.
But there’s more to it than that.
“I feel like I’m a twitchy ball hawk with the IQ who covers hash to hash,’’ he said. “Also, I can come down and hit in the run game.’’
Hardy should be receiving his national ranking soon.
