By Kevin Lonnquist
Publisher
The Topper
>Just an FYI to everyone. I am monitoring, of course. However, the Crimson Tide and I are heading off to Tuscaloosa first thing Friday to get the rest of her belongings out of her dorm room.
We get three hours Saturday morning. Once we’re packed, we’re turning around and heading back. I don’t believe anything is imminent. But recruiting is weird.
>And in case you’re wondering about who would be the successor at nose guard for the Bears in 2020, the top three candidates appear to be junior Chidi Ogbonnaya, sophomore Gabe Hall and junior Ryan Miller who would be considered a dark horse.
Ogbonnaya played in all 14 games in 2019 and started at TCU when Bravvion Roy was out with an injury. Ogbannaya finished with 11 tackles (nine solo). Hall played in eight games but missed six with a knee injury.
You’ll note Miller was part of Matt Rhule’s first recruiting class at Baylor in 2017. He signed as an offensive lineman. He started the first two games of that season at center. He did not appear in a game in 2019.
From Top 12 to…
It’s been nearly three months since he was on Baylor’s campus. However, New Orleans St. Augustine 2021 defensive end Byron Turner used the most out of that visit on March 1 at Baylor’s Junior Day to keep this program in his sights.
Last week, the 3-star standout trimmed his list from 31 offer to 12. The Bears were firmly on it.
“When I went out there, I felt like I a top priority,’’ Turner said. “I was able to sit down and talk to all the defensive coaches. And I could talk to [head] coach [Dave] Aranda. He made me feel like I would be taken care of if I was to go out there.
“The parts of the campus I saw was amazing. It felt like something I would enjoy being a part of.’’
Of course, what stood out the most were the athletic facilities including McLane Stadium. Baylor’s signature athletic landmark still catches recruit’s attention even if the newness has worn off to an extent.
Besides trying to narrow the field further, Turner is also looking into whether he wants to graduate in December or the spring of 2021. He hasn’t decided.
With no spring football, Turner has had to be resourceful with his workouts. However, he’s found a way to try and stay sharp.
“I’ve been working on my weight, my strength and ability to read blocks,’’ Turner said. “What I really want to do a good job of is stopping a run block.’’
Now, that he’s at 12 finalists, Turner knows he has shave that list even further. At some point, he plans on cutting it to five. Should the dead period be lifted after June, he would consider taking official visits.
“I just need to talk to the people who have been helping me,’’ he said. “It’s important I hear what they have to say. Then I want to knock off some schools until I get to five.’’
Baylor has a chance to be on that shorter list. It’s going to come down to if and when he takes an official visit. Of course, that has not been discussed with the BU staff at this time.
“If I can do that, then I can take my family,’’ he said. “I’d then want to talk it over and get their opinions on it.’’
Turner’s personal best in the 40 is 4.9. He clears 455 in the squat, 305 in the bench and 275 in the power clean.
Harold Perkins Part II
When last we left you with Cy Park 2022 linebacker Harold Perkins a few weeks ago, he was about to get on a call with Baylor head coach Dave Aranda.
Baylor’s staff has been very organized setting up calls between recruits and Aranda whether he’s driving on the road or in his office at BU. Yet there is a positive impact that these calls are having.
“After my first talk with coach Aranda, I felt like he really liked me,’’ Perkins said. “He believes I can be a special player. He’s really down to earth. The whole staff is at Baylor."
Intrigued by the last line of that answer, we pressed further for Perkins to expound on that.
“It can be really impactful,’’ Perkins said. “Going through this entire process those are things I’m focusing on. I want to feel comfortable and be allowed to be me. Baylor is amongst those schools right now that’s doing a good job of making me feel like that’s possible in their program.”
Recruiting is a relationship business. And since the Bears were the first to offer Perkins, that has carried some weight for now. His offer sheet is starting to get stuffed. It’s now up to 18 that includes a wave of SEC schools highlighted by Alabama, LSU, Auburn and Georgia.
"I feel like it’s really genuine,'' Perkins said of his relationship with Baylor. "They were my first offer so to me it shows they were willing to take a chance on me before anyone would. Then coaches like Coach [Brian] Nance and Coach [Shawn] Bell make it so easy to love talking to them.''
When Rivals releases its updated 2022 rankings at some point in the fall, it would be news if Perkins isn’t A) a 4-star prospect and B) a member of the 250.
He’s just learning the game with a new high school program. The key for Baylor is making sure it stays front and center with him.
“My strengths on the field are my IQ, my speed, and violence at the point of attack,’’ Perkins said. “I’m working on improving my man to man coverage skills in the slot and understand how to play in different schemes.’’
You’re doing fine, Oklahoma OK
Baylor’s push into the state of Oklahoma’s top prospects continues to catch the eye. An offer to 4-star running back C.J. Brown from Beggs was another example.
The Bears are just starting to get to know Brown.
“It’s a true blessing, and I’m excited,’’ he said. “The vibe with the staff is great. They just like my style of running because I’m fast, powerful and shifty. And I can catch the ball out of the backfield.’’
The results back that up. Brown rushed for 1,645 yards and 15 touchdowns and averaged more than a first down every time he touched the ball (10.6 ypc). Break that down even further. Brown averaged a touchdown every 10th rushing attempt.
And a running back who can catch is such a threat. He averaged 15.5 yards per reception as he helped Beggs finish 2019 at 11-3 with an appearance in the Oklahoma Class 2A state semifinals.
“I say I can improve on everything,’’ Brown said. “I feel like what I do is good. But I wanna be great at what I do. I just feel like everything needs to improve. I just wanna be great. I wanna play in the NFL. That’s my dream.’’
It will be a matter of time before other programs offer Brown. So far, Oklahoma State, Nebraska, Iowa State, Memphis and Kansas State have extended.
He has looked at Baylor online. He would like to know a little more about its academic standing. Of course, that will come in time.
Publisher
The Topper
>Just an FYI to everyone. I am monitoring, of course. However, the Crimson Tide and I are heading off to Tuscaloosa first thing Friday to get the rest of her belongings out of her dorm room.
We get three hours Saturday morning. Once we’re packed, we’re turning around and heading back. I don’t believe anything is imminent. But recruiting is weird.
>And in case you’re wondering about who would be the successor at nose guard for the Bears in 2020, the top three candidates appear to be junior Chidi Ogbonnaya, sophomore Gabe Hall and junior Ryan Miller who would be considered a dark horse.
Ogbonnaya played in all 14 games in 2019 and started at TCU when Bravvion Roy was out with an injury. Ogbannaya finished with 11 tackles (nine solo). Hall played in eight games but missed six with a knee injury.
You’ll note Miller was part of Matt Rhule’s first recruiting class at Baylor in 2017. He signed as an offensive lineman. He started the first two games of that season at center. He did not appear in a game in 2019.
From Top 12 to…
It’s been nearly three months since he was on Baylor’s campus. However, New Orleans St. Augustine 2021 defensive end Byron Turner used the most out of that visit on March 1 at Baylor’s Junior Day to keep this program in his sights.
Last week, the 3-star standout trimmed his list from 31 offer to 12. The Bears were firmly on it.
“When I went out there, I felt like I a top priority,’’ Turner said. “I was able to sit down and talk to all the defensive coaches. And I could talk to [head] coach [Dave] Aranda. He made me feel like I would be taken care of if I was to go out there.
“The parts of the campus I saw was amazing. It felt like something I would enjoy being a part of.’’
Of course, what stood out the most were the athletic facilities including McLane Stadium. Baylor’s signature athletic landmark still catches recruit’s attention even if the newness has worn off to an extent.
Besides trying to narrow the field further, Turner is also looking into whether he wants to graduate in December or the spring of 2021. He hasn’t decided.
With no spring football, Turner has had to be resourceful with his workouts. However, he’s found a way to try and stay sharp.
“I’ve been working on my weight, my strength and ability to read blocks,’’ Turner said. “What I really want to do a good job of is stopping a run block.’’
Now, that he’s at 12 finalists, Turner knows he has shave that list even further. At some point, he plans on cutting it to five. Should the dead period be lifted after June, he would consider taking official visits.
“I just need to talk to the people who have been helping me,’’ he said. “It’s important I hear what they have to say. Then I want to knock off some schools until I get to five.’’
Baylor has a chance to be on that shorter list. It’s going to come down to if and when he takes an official visit. Of course, that has not been discussed with the BU staff at this time.
“If I can do that, then I can take my family,’’ he said. “I’d then want to talk it over and get their opinions on it.’’
Turner’s personal best in the 40 is 4.9. He clears 455 in the squat, 305 in the bench and 275 in the power clean.
Harold Perkins Part II
When last we left you with Cy Park 2022 linebacker Harold Perkins a few weeks ago, he was about to get on a call with Baylor head coach Dave Aranda.
Baylor’s staff has been very organized setting up calls between recruits and Aranda whether he’s driving on the road or in his office at BU. Yet there is a positive impact that these calls are having.
“After my first talk with coach Aranda, I felt like he really liked me,’’ Perkins said. “He believes I can be a special player. He’s really down to earth. The whole staff is at Baylor."
Intrigued by the last line of that answer, we pressed further for Perkins to expound on that.
“It can be really impactful,’’ Perkins said. “Going through this entire process those are things I’m focusing on. I want to feel comfortable and be allowed to be me. Baylor is amongst those schools right now that’s doing a good job of making me feel like that’s possible in their program.”
Recruiting is a relationship business. And since the Bears were the first to offer Perkins, that has carried some weight for now. His offer sheet is starting to get stuffed. It’s now up to 18 that includes a wave of SEC schools highlighted by Alabama, LSU, Auburn and Georgia.
"I feel like it’s really genuine,'' Perkins said of his relationship with Baylor. "They were my first offer so to me it shows they were willing to take a chance on me before anyone would. Then coaches like Coach [Brian] Nance and Coach [Shawn] Bell make it so easy to love talking to them.''
When Rivals releases its updated 2022 rankings at some point in the fall, it would be news if Perkins isn’t A) a 4-star prospect and B) a member of the 250.
He’s just learning the game with a new high school program. The key for Baylor is making sure it stays front and center with him.
“My strengths on the field are my IQ, my speed, and violence at the point of attack,’’ Perkins said. “I’m working on improving my man to man coverage skills in the slot and understand how to play in different schemes.’’
You’re doing fine, Oklahoma OK
Baylor’s push into the state of Oklahoma’s top prospects continues to catch the eye. An offer to 4-star running back C.J. Brown from Beggs was another example.
The Bears are just starting to get to know Brown.
“It’s a true blessing, and I’m excited,’’ he said. “The vibe with the staff is great. They just like my style of running because I’m fast, powerful and shifty. And I can catch the ball out of the backfield.’’
The results back that up. Brown rushed for 1,645 yards and 15 touchdowns and averaged more than a first down every time he touched the ball (10.6 ypc). Break that down even further. Brown averaged a touchdown every 10th rushing attempt.
And a running back who can catch is such a threat. He averaged 15.5 yards per reception as he helped Beggs finish 2019 at 11-3 with an appearance in the Oklahoma Class 2A state semifinals.
“I say I can improve on everything,’’ Brown said. “I feel like what I do is good. But I wanna be great at what I do. I just feel like everything needs to improve. I just wanna be great. I wanna play in the NFL. That’s my dream.’’
It will be a matter of time before other programs offer Brown. So far, Oklahoma State, Nebraska, Iowa State, Memphis and Kansas State have extended.
He has looked at Baylor online. He would like to know a little more about its academic standing. Of course, that will come in time.
