The Topper
Baylor’s men’s basketball coach coaching staff may have to wait about 12 more days before it knows where it stands with Rivals No. 66 Tyler Harris.
From what we understand, Harris is probably not going to announce his commitment decision until the start of the early signing period. That begins on Wednesday, April 11.
All indications are that the Bears are the leader to land the Cordova, TN recruit. Memphis and Iowa State are the top challengers. However, they appear to be running a distant second and third.
The Bears are hoping to add two more to this 2018 class which already has four commitments in Rivals No. 99 Matthew Mayer, Darius Allen, Flo Thamba and Ibby Ali.
-SicEmSports
Snow reviews visit
Lewisville Hebron Darius Snow is becoming a student of the game. It isn’t so much about just learning a drill and doing. It’s about knowing the why.
The soon-to-be nationally ranked 2020 safety picked up on that when he recently visited Baylor for a spring practice. A program’s atmosphere, camaraderie and the way the coaches treat people is important, of course.
However, Snow valued how Baylor’s coaching staff taught the game to the players.
“I got to see how [defensive coordinator Phil] Snow worked with the players,’’ Snow said. “And the one thing I did like was how hands on they are.
“He’ll walk through everything. Of course, he’ll be hard on you if you don’t do it right. But at the same time, he’ll teach you until you get it right. He’s a coach. But he’s a teacher. He’s a teacher of the game.’’
A player wants to get better. A player of Snow’s potential wants to find a place where he believes the coaching and training will help him should he be able to play in the NFL.
That’s a few years away. He’s just about go through spring football before his junior season. Bears tight ends coach Joey McGuire was one of the first – if not the first – to reach out to Snow and begin the relationship.
“I was locking into how the secondary moves and what coverages they run,’’ Snow said. They run a Cover 8 where they are more man principles and used a nickel back.
“At my school we run a Cover 4 where we have a linebacker stepped out. [Baylor] will use a nickel. It’s more valuable for them in a passing league like the Big 12.’’
Sometimes when a coach is going through a drill, he will explain it thoroughly and expect the players to pick up on it immediately. If a player forgets something on the first run, he might get tossed out of the drill and replaced by someone else.
Snow said the elder Snow would be hard but would go through it again until a player gets it right.
“That’s one thing I like in a coach. When he sees something wrong, he’ll keep working with kids.’’
Baylor’s chances with staying in Snow’s recruitment really depends on this fall. If the Bears can become bowl eligible or get close (5-7), that will make an impact. All a recruit wants to see is if the actions will speak louder than the words.
“They check all the boxes,’’ Snow said. “I just have to see them turn it around. They have the ability to, the team to, the recruits to, the coaching staff to. Once they do that, they’ll be up there. And I believe they can. They’re high right now.’’
-Kevin Lonnquist
Going home?
Baylor’s first two recruiting classes have been pretty impressive. The 2017 class ranked No. 34. The 2018 class ranked No. 32.
The only thing missing is locking down the talent from the greater Waco area. Who knows when head coach Matt Rhule and his staff will land the first local product.
But one product they are tracking is Waco Connally 2020 offensive lineman Trent Pullen. It’s been a while since Pullen received his Baylor offer. He stopped by Baylor’s spring practice to continue the relationship he has started with assistant Shawn Bell.
“I got a lot of good techniques that I can take back to Connally,’’ Pullen said. “I think I can punch better and be more solid with my footwork. I really liked watching their linemen. They look real nice. I think they’re going to have a better season.’’
Baylor is one of three offers Pullen holds. The others are Tulsa and Kansas State. Texas and Texas A&M are monitoring.
Keeping recruits home is a two-way street. Programs can feel the pressure to try and keep some of the big names in the city limits. But the recruits have to want to do it.
Pullen is evaluating that part of his recruitment. At this time, he said he doesn’t want to go too far from home. However, he said it would be an easy transition if he decided to go to Baylor.
“Just talking with coach Bell, he just said he was looking forward to recruiting me, watching me practice and see what I can do,’’ Pullen said. “You can see what kind of progress the coaches make with their players. I’m looking at that.’’
-Kevin Lonnquist
Transfer keeps in contact
Fort Worth Nolan Catholic 2020 safety Jason Kerl has been on Baylor’s watch list since the summer of 2017.
Kerl went through a camp and worked with defensive backs coach Fran Brown throughout the session. Those lessons have stayed with him.
“When I was working with coach Brown, he really showed me a lot,’’ Kerl said. “I want to learn all of the material and become a great DB.’’
Since that Kerl, has been through some changes of his own. He spent the 2017 season on Aledo’s varsity in a reserve role at both running back and in the secondary.
He transferred to Nolan in early February. He’s expected to be a starting safety and also see some time in the Vikings’ backfield. Kerl was looking at potentially visiting Baylor as soon as he could.
Kerl doesn’t have any offers yet. He’s talking primarily with Baylor and SMU.
“Baylor is a great school,’’ Kerl said. “But I want to keep an open mind up to other places. But their academics are a fit for me. When I got there, I want to see about the counselors and what they can do to help. I want to know if coaches care about my future. What’s my purpose when football is over with.’’
-Kevin Lonnquist
Baseball: At Oklahoma
The series continues Friday and Saturday. Baylor (13-10, 3-4) lost in the opener at L. Dale Mitchell Park, 4-2. Here are the starters for the other two games in the series.
Friday – 6:30 p.m.
BU SP2: RHP Hayden Kettler (3-2, 2.72 ERA)
OU SP2: RHP Devon Perez (3-0, 2.01 ERA)
Saturday – 4:00 p.m.
BU SP3: RHP Jacob Ashkinos (0-1, 3.68 ERA)
OU SP3: RHP Nathan Wiles (1-1, 4.68 ERA)
Baylor’s men’s basketball coach coaching staff may have to wait about 12 more days before it knows where it stands with Rivals No. 66 Tyler Harris.
From what we understand, Harris is probably not going to announce his commitment decision until the start of the early signing period. That begins on Wednesday, April 11.
All indications are that the Bears are the leader to land the Cordova, TN recruit. Memphis and Iowa State are the top challengers. However, they appear to be running a distant second and third.
The Bears are hoping to add two more to this 2018 class which already has four commitments in Rivals No. 99 Matthew Mayer, Darius Allen, Flo Thamba and Ibby Ali.
-SicEmSports
Snow reviews visit
Lewisville Hebron Darius Snow is becoming a student of the game. It isn’t so much about just learning a drill and doing. It’s about knowing the why.
The soon-to-be nationally ranked 2020 safety picked up on that when he recently visited Baylor for a spring practice. A program’s atmosphere, camaraderie and the way the coaches treat people is important, of course.
However, Snow valued how Baylor’s coaching staff taught the game to the players.
“I got to see how [defensive coordinator Phil] Snow worked with the players,’’ Snow said. “And the one thing I did like was how hands on they are.
“He’ll walk through everything. Of course, he’ll be hard on you if you don’t do it right. But at the same time, he’ll teach you until you get it right. He’s a coach. But he’s a teacher. He’s a teacher of the game.’’
A player wants to get better. A player of Snow’s potential wants to find a place where he believes the coaching and training will help him should he be able to play in the NFL.
That’s a few years away. He’s just about go through spring football before his junior season. Bears tight ends coach Joey McGuire was one of the first – if not the first – to reach out to Snow and begin the relationship.
“I was locking into how the secondary moves and what coverages they run,’’ Snow said. They run a Cover 8 where they are more man principles and used a nickel back.
“At my school we run a Cover 4 where we have a linebacker stepped out. [Baylor] will use a nickel. It’s more valuable for them in a passing league like the Big 12.’’
Sometimes when a coach is going through a drill, he will explain it thoroughly and expect the players to pick up on it immediately. If a player forgets something on the first run, he might get tossed out of the drill and replaced by someone else.
Snow said the elder Snow would be hard but would go through it again until a player gets it right.
“That’s one thing I like in a coach. When he sees something wrong, he’ll keep working with kids.’’
Baylor’s chances with staying in Snow’s recruitment really depends on this fall. If the Bears can become bowl eligible or get close (5-7), that will make an impact. All a recruit wants to see is if the actions will speak louder than the words.
“They check all the boxes,’’ Snow said. “I just have to see them turn it around. They have the ability to, the team to, the recruits to, the coaching staff to. Once they do that, they’ll be up there. And I believe they can. They’re high right now.’’
-Kevin Lonnquist
Going home?
Baylor’s first two recruiting classes have been pretty impressive. The 2017 class ranked No. 34. The 2018 class ranked No. 32.
The only thing missing is locking down the talent from the greater Waco area. Who knows when head coach Matt Rhule and his staff will land the first local product.
But one product they are tracking is Waco Connally 2020 offensive lineman Trent Pullen. It’s been a while since Pullen received his Baylor offer. He stopped by Baylor’s spring practice to continue the relationship he has started with assistant Shawn Bell.
“I got a lot of good techniques that I can take back to Connally,’’ Pullen said. “I think I can punch better and be more solid with my footwork. I really liked watching their linemen. They look real nice. I think they’re going to have a better season.’’
Baylor is one of three offers Pullen holds. The others are Tulsa and Kansas State. Texas and Texas A&M are monitoring.
Keeping recruits home is a two-way street. Programs can feel the pressure to try and keep some of the big names in the city limits. But the recruits have to want to do it.
Pullen is evaluating that part of his recruitment. At this time, he said he doesn’t want to go too far from home. However, he said it would be an easy transition if he decided to go to Baylor.
“Just talking with coach Bell, he just said he was looking forward to recruiting me, watching me practice and see what I can do,’’ Pullen said. “You can see what kind of progress the coaches make with their players. I’m looking at that.’’
-Kevin Lonnquist
Transfer keeps in contact
Fort Worth Nolan Catholic 2020 safety Jason Kerl has been on Baylor’s watch list since the summer of 2017.
Kerl went through a camp and worked with defensive backs coach Fran Brown throughout the session. Those lessons have stayed with him.
“When I was working with coach Brown, he really showed me a lot,’’ Kerl said. “I want to learn all of the material and become a great DB.’’
Since that Kerl, has been through some changes of his own. He spent the 2017 season on Aledo’s varsity in a reserve role at both running back and in the secondary.
He transferred to Nolan in early February. He’s expected to be a starting safety and also see some time in the Vikings’ backfield. Kerl was looking at potentially visiting Baylor as soon as he could.
Kerl doesn’t have any offers yet. He’s talking primarily with Baylor and SMU.
“Baylor is a great school,’’ Kerl said. “But I want to keep an open mind up to other places. But their academics are a fit for me. When I got there, I want to see about the counselors and what they can do to help. I want to know if coaches care about my future. What’s my purpose when football is over with.’’
-Kevin Lonnquist
Baseball: At Oklahoma
The series continues Friday and Saturday. Baylor (13-10, 3-4) lost in the opener at L. Dale Mitchell Park, 4-2. Here are the starters for the other two games in the series.
Friday – 6:30 p.m.
BU SP2: RHP Hayden Kettler (3-2, 2.72 ERA)
OU SP2: RHP Devon Perez (3-0, 2.01 ERA)
Saturday – 4:00 p.m.
BU SP3: RHP Jacob Ashkinos (0-1, 3.68 ERA)
OU SP3: RHP Nathan Wiles (1-1, 4.68 ERA)
