By Kevin Lonnquist
Publisher
The Topper
>No. 2 Baylor can win its first Big 12 title in school history with a win in any of its last four games. That starts Saturday at Kansas.
>If Saturday goes in the direction that Baylor hopes it does from a commitment standpoint, it should be the first of a 2022 class that’s expected to go heavy in defensive backs. Baylor could be looking at as many as five.
>As for the size of the 2022 class, that’s an unknown and could stay that way. There are seven returners from the seniors who were given the 2020 season as a freebie. Then you have to consider Baylor’s use of the transfer portal. Plus, any additions in the summer could impact the 85 roster size as well. To use a line, everything is fluid.
From Pony Up to SicEm?
Dallas Skyline 2022 defensive back Anthony Davis picked up his Baylor offer last week. But the voice on the other end of the phone has already been familiar.
Since he started getting recruited by SMU (and then offered by the Mustangs), Thomas has been talking to Kevin Curtis. The conversations began when Curtis was working for SMU. But they have transitioned since Curtis joined Baylor last week as its defensive backs coach.
“We’re close. We talk every day,’’ Davis said. “I’m excited about the Baylor offer. I think it can be a great fit for me.’’
The Baylor offer is one of the first P5 for Davis. He also has an offer from Kansas. But it appears that Baylor’s major competition could be SMU and Liberty.
“I don’t know a lot about Baylor, but I definitely want to know more,’’ he said. “I know they do a lot for their players and care for them.’’
A physical cornerback, Davis had three interceptions and returned two of them for scores for the Raiders. And as a shutdown cornerback, there were a couple of games where he was pretty bored. That means that ball didn’t come in his direction.
Davis is a veteran. He’s about to enter his fourth season on the varsity and his third as a starter.
“Coach Curtis and coach [James] Blanchard just like the way I play ball,’’ Davis said. “I like man coverage. So I like being physical when I need to be. What I’m working on this offseason is being more patient.’’
Davis is currently rated with three stars and a 5.5 rating by Rivals.
NE Tarrant DB talks Baylor
Baylor may not have been his first offer. However, Colleyville Heritage 2022 defensive back Dylahn McKinney already has a history with Dave Aranda’s staff. And that began around Thanksgiving of 2020.
But the discussions among the Baylor staff turned into the real thing. Last week, the Bears offered the defensive back, who carries some length. He’s 6-2.
It looks like the timing of the offer doesn’t carry as much value as one would think.
“I’m strongly considering Baylor,’’ McKinney said. “I’m definitely interested in their program.’’
Of course, McKinney is talking with new Baylor defensive backs coach Kevin Curtis. SMU is one of his 11 offers. However, there is more of P5 vibe with McKinney. The likes of Colorado, Utah, Missouri, Arkansas and Oklahoma State are among those in this race.
“[Curtis] knows a lot about the game and the life of a student athlete also,’’ McKinney said. “He played in the NFL so he has seen it all. Baylor made a good decision.’’
In a season that was filled with disruptions, Colleyville Heritage only played nine games but went 8-1. The Panthers fell to Mansfield Summit in the Class 5A Division I Region I semifinals.
But for his part, McKinney enjoyed a season that made him a prospect. You could say he worked alone. He collected 43 tackles, all solo. He also collected two interceptions, defended seven others and recovered a fumble.
“They like my film and know I’m a dog,’’ McKinney said. “I’m just working to keep that edge.’’
Although he is unrated by Rivals at this point, look for that to change in the not so distant future.
JUCO OL prospect
If there is one benefit to the junior college football season being pushed into the spring of 2021, it’s that a prospect can market himself in a time when few are playing football, choose where he wants to go in May, sign and then arrive in the summer.
The only concern is if he could help immediately in the fall given the toll of the just concluded season. Time will determine that depending on the prospect.
Baylor recently offered Hutcheson (KS) Community College offensive lineman Kingsley Ugwu. Baylor likes him at tackle.
“I know a little bit. But for what I do know, I like them a lot,’’ Ugwu said. “When I talked to [offensive line coach] Eric Mateos, he said he knew I was a nice guy off the field but not such a nice on the field.’’
Baylor is pushing hard on Ugwu. Since the dead period is in effect through May 31 and Hutcheson’ eight-game season runs from March 26-May 16, Ugwu went through a virtual tour this past week. That’s the equivalent of an official visit in these times.
And whoever gets him will have the Tucson, AZ native for nearly a full college lifespan. The NCAA’s mulligan 2020 season applies to JUCOs. Ugwu would have four years to play three. He played in several games during the 2019 season.
The connection with Mateos is strengthening. But Ugwu is a prospect in demand. Among his 13 offers, Baylor’s chief competition is with Colorado and Houston.
“I would say that I want to do a lot of fine-tuning when I go through this season,’’ Ugwu said. “It’s really about being the best athlete as humanly possible.’’
Ugwu doesn’t have a timeframe for when he would make his commitment decision. Stick with SicEmSports for the latest on this recruitment effort.
Oklahoma is OK
Baylor continues to flex its regional muscle by going into Oklahoma City. While OKC Southeast 2022 defensive end David Rowaiye could have caught some people by surprise, he didn’t with the Baylor staff’s eyes. He was offered a week ago.
“I know a good amount about them and the good success they've had in the last few years,’’ Rowaiye said. “Especially going to the big 12 title game a little while back, and I think they are heading in a pretty good direction.’’
Rowaiye said he has been talking with Associate Head Coach Joey McGuire and Assistant AD in charge of Scouting James Blanchard. As you would expect, everything has gotten off to a positive start.
“They just like my quickness and motor while still being aggressive,’’ Rowaiye said. “Coach Blanched had seen my film and liked it. He passed it along I think he had seen it from me giving it to an old coach that use to be at Baylor mostly during coach Matt Rhule’s time. I think it was Coach McGuire.’’
Rowaiye put together a pretty strong 2020 season with more than 55 total tackles and 11.5 sacks. He credits constant work with his hands and his hips for putting him in this position. A three-year varsity letter winner, he has started each of the last two seasons.
There are some other schools who have some discussions with him. Rowaiye said he has heard from Florida and Ohio State. It’s going to be a case where other schools will want to get involved.
That said, there was one thing about his discussions with Blanchard that had his attention.
“He was basically just describing how Baylor has the best of athletics as well as academics,’’ he said. “And he told me about plans they would use to help me succeed personally in both on and off the field like getting a Masters degree as well as going to the NFL.’’
Rivals has yet to rate Rowaiye.
Baseball: at Round Rock Classic
Following a disappointing start at Texas-Rio Grande Valley where it lost two of three, Baylor’s season continues this weekend in Central Texas at Dell Diamond in Round Rock.
The Bears (1-2) face Texas A&M (2-3) Friday, No. 17 Auburn (5-0) Saturday and Big 12 foe Oklahoma (2-2) Sunday. The Oklahoma game will not count in the league standings. While the Bears know the Aggies (A&M leads 184-130-4) and Sooners (Oklahoma leads 50-48) very well, this will be the first-ever meeting against Auburn.
Here are the game times and pitching matchups for the games:
Friday, 6:00 p.m. – Baylor RHP Blake Helton (0-0, 4.91 ERA) vs. Texas A&M LHP Dustin Saenz (0-1, 3.60 ERA)
Saturday, Noon – Baylor LHP Tyler Thomas (0-0, 3.00 ERA) vs. Auburn RHP Richard Fitts (0-0, 1.80 ERA)
Sunday, 5:00 p.m. – Baylor TBD vs. Oklahoma TBD
Emptying the Notebook
To update a couple of former Baylor players:
>Tight end Logan Compton transferred to JUCO New Mexico Military Institute this spring in hopes that his play will give some Division I schools an opportunity to see what he can offer. But the window for exposure will be tight. NMMI’s football web site shows the program plays just a four-game schedule between March 5-27. Of course, the entire state of New Mexico has been pretty much on a lockdown ever since the pandemic became an issue in the United States in March 2020.
>Former tight end/defensive end Bralen Taylor, who medically retired last year after a series of concussions, was recently cleared and is in the transfer portal. He said he has heard from Tulsa and San Diego State. No offers to this point.
Publisher
The Topper
>No. 2 Baylor can win its first Big 12 title in school history with a win in any of its last four games. That starts Saturday at Kansas.
>If Saturday goes in the direction that Baylor hopes it does from a commitment standpoint, it should be the first of a 2022 class that’s expected to go heavy in defensive backs. Baylor could be looking at as many as five.
>As for the size of the 2022 class, that’s an unknown and could stay that way. There are seven returners from the seniors who were given the 2020 season as a freebie. Then you have to consider Baylor’s use of the transfer portal. Plus, any additions in the summer could impact the 85 roster size as well. To use a line, everything is fluid.
From Pony Up to SicEm?
Dallas Skyline 2022 defensive back Anthony Davis picked up his Baylor offer last week. But the voice on the other end of the phone has already been familiar.
Since he started getting recruited by SMU (and then offered by the Mustangs), Thomas has been talking to Kevin Curtis. The conversations began when Curtis was working for SMU. But they have transitioned since Curtis joined Baylor last week as its defensive backs coach.
“We’re close. We talk every day,’’ Davis said. “I’m excited about the Baylor offer. I think it can be a great fit for me.’’
The Baylor offer is one of the first P5 for Davis. He also has an offer from Kansas. But it appears that Baylor’s major competition could be SMU and Liberty.
“I don’t know a lot about Baylor, but I definitely want to know more,’’ he said. “I know they do a lot for their players and care for them.’’
A physical cornerback, Davis had three interceptions and returned two of them for scores for the Raiders. And as a shutdown cornerback, there were a couple of games where he was pretty bored. That means that ball didn’t come in his direction.
Davis is a veteran. He’s about to enter his fourth season on the varsity and his third as a starter.
“Coach Curtis and coach [James] Blanchard just like the way I play ball,’’ Davis said. “I like man coverage. So I like being physical when I need to be. What I’m working on this offseason is being more patient.’’
Davis is currently rated with three stars and a 5.5 rating by Rivals.
NE Tarrant DB talks Baylor
Baylor may not have been his first offer. However, Colleyville Heritage 2022 defensive back Dylahn McKinney already has a history with Dave Aranda’s staff. And that began around Thanksgiving of 2020.
But the discussions among the Baylor staff turned into the real thing. Last week, the Bears offered the defensive back, who carries some length. He’s 6-2.
It looks like the timing of the offer doesn’t carry as much value as one would think.
“I’m strongly considering Baylor,’’ McKinney said. “I’m definitely interested in their program.’’
Of course, McKinney is talking with new Baylor defensive backs coach Kevin Curtis. SMU is one of his 11 offers. However, there is more of P5 vibe with McKinney. The likes of Colorado, Utah, Missouri, Arkansas and Oklahoma State are among those in this race.
“[Curtis] knows a lot about the game and the life of a student athlete also,’’ McKinney said. “He played in the NFL so he has seen it all. Baylor made a good decision.’’
In a season that was filled with disruptions, Colleyville Heritage only played nine games but went 8-1. The Panthers fell to Mansfield Summit in the Class 5A Division I Region I semifinals.
But for his part, McKinney enjoyed a season that made him a prospect. You could say he worked alone. He collected 43 tackles, all solo. He also collected two interceptions, defended seven others and recovered a fumble.
“They like my film and know I’m a dog,’’ McKinney said. “I’m just working to keep that edge.’’
Although he is unrated by Rivals at this point, look for that to change in the not so distant future.
JUCO OL prospect
If there is one benefit to the junior college football season being pushed into the spring of 2021, it’s that a prospect can market himself in a time when few are playing football, choose where he wants to go in May, sign and then arrive in the summer.
The only concern is if he could help immediately in the fall given the toll of the just concluded season. Time will determine that depending on the prospect.
Baylor recently offered Hutcheson (KS) Community College offensive lineman Kingsley Ugwu. Baylor likes him at tackle.
“I know a little bit. But for what I do know, I like them a lot,’’ Ugwu said. “When I talked to [offensive line coach] Eric Mateos, he said he knew I was a nice guy off the field but not such a nice on the field.’’
Baylor is pushing hard on Ugwu. Since the dead period is in effect through May 31 and Hutcheson’ eight-game season runs from March 26-May 16, Ugwu went through a virtual tour this past week. That’s the equivalent of an official visit in these times.
And whoever gets him will have the Tucson, AZ native for nearly a full college lifespan. The NCAA’s mulligan 2020 season applies to JUCOs. Ugwu would have four years to play three. He played in several games during the 2019 season.
The connection with Mateos is strengthening. But Ugwu is a prospect in demand. Among his 13 offers, Baylor’s chief competition is with Colorado and Houston.
“I would say that I want to do a lot of fine-tuning when I go through this season,’’ Ugwu said. “It’s really about being the best athlete as humanly possible.’’
Ugwu doesn’t have a timeframe for when he would make his commitment decision. Stick with SicEmSports for the latest on this recruitment effort.
Oklahoma is OK
Baylor continues to flex its regional muscle by going into Oklahoma City. While OKC Southeast 2022 defensive end David Rowaiye could have caught some people by surprise, he didn’t with the Baylor staff’s eyes. He was offered a week ago.
“I know a good amount about them and the good success they've had in the last few years,’’ Rowaiye said. “Especially going to the big 12 title game a little while back, and I think they are heading in a pretty good direction.’’
Rowaiye said he has been talking with Associate Head Coach Joey McGuire and Assistant AD in charge of Scouting James Blanchard. As you would expect, everything has gotten off to a positive start.
“They just like my quickness and motor while still being aggressive,’’ Rowaiye said. “Coach Blanched had seen my film and liked it. He passed it along I think he had seen it from me giving it to an old coach that use to be at Baylor mostly during coach Matt Rhule’s time. I think it was Coach McGuire.’’
Rowaiye put together a pretty strong 2020 season with more than 55 total tackles and 11.5 sacks. He credits constant work with his hands and his hips for putting him in this position. A three-year varsity letter winner, he has started each of the last two seasons.
There are some other schools who have some discussions with him. Rowaiye said he has heard from Florida and Ohio State. It’s going to be a case where other schools will want to get involved.
That said, there was one thing about his discussions with Blanchard that had his attention.
“He was basically just describing how Baylor has the best of athletics as well as academics,’’ he said. “And he told me about plans they would use to help me succeed personally in both on and off the field like getting a Masters degree as well as going to the NFL.’’
Rivals has yet to rate Rowaiye.
Baseball: at Round Rock Classic
Following a disappointing start at Texas-Rio Grande Valley where it lost two of three, Baylor’s season continues this weekend in Central Texas at Dell Diamond in Round Rock.
The Bears (1-2) face Texas A&M (2-3) Friday, No. 17 Auburn (5-0) Saturday and Big 12 foe Oklahoma (2-2) Sunday. The Oklahoma game will not count in the league standings. While the Bears know the Aggies (A&M leads 184-130-4) and Sooners (Oklahoma leads 50-48) very well, this will be the first-ever meeting against Auburn.
Here are the game times and pitching matchups for the games:
Friday, 6:00 p.m. – Baylor RHP Blake Helton (0-0, 4.91 ERA) vs. Texas A&M LHP Dustin Saenz (0-1, 3.60 ERA)
Saturday, Noon – Baylor LHP Tyler Thomas (0-0, 3.00 ERA) vs. Auburn RHP Richard Fitts (0-0, 1.80 ERA)
Sunday, 5:00 p.m. – Baylor TBD vs. Oklahoma TBD
Emptying the Notebook
To update a couple of former Baylor players:
>Tight end Logan Compton transferred to JUCO New Mexico Military Institute this spring in hopes that his play will give some Division I schools an opportunity to see what he can offer. But the window for exposure will be tight. NMMI’s football web site shows the program plays just a four-game schedule between March 5-27. Of course, the entire state of New Mexico has been pretty much on a lockdown ever since the pandemic became an issue in the United States in March 2020.
>Former tight end/defensive end Bralen Taylor, who medically retired last year after a series of concussions, was recently cleared and is in the transfer portal. He said he has heard from Tulsa and San Diego State. No offers to this point.
