NOTE: The content on the Baylor Blitz is solely meant for the subscribers of SicEmSports. Let's all please make sure that whatever is written here stays here. We appreciate you all helping us with this. Now, let's all take a look at Baylor recruiting and what else is going on involving the Bears.
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NOTE: Spring NT and 2016 Baylor commit Bravvion Roy said Thursday he plans on going to the Texas-Kansas State game Saturday morning in Austin. Roy told SicEmSports said nothing has changed with his commitment to Baylor. Although Texas has offered him, Roy said he has built a good relationship with the Baylor coaches. It’s not unprecedented for Baylor commits to travel to other games. It’s something we’ll monitor but it shouldn’t be anything to cause concern. Roy is serving the final game of his three-game suspension on Friday. Roy has been committed to Baylor since mid-June.
Ketchum finalizes plans
Baylor 2015 signee athlete J.W. Ketchum told SicEmSports on Thursday that he has changed his plans and will enroll at Kilgore College in December and then begin classes for the spring semester that begins in January. Last week, said he was looking at enrolling at Blinn College in Brenham.
It appears that Ketchum will be just a student so he won’t lose a year of athletic eligibility. Ketchum said he will also take classes for the fall semester of 2016. He then said he hopes to return to Baylor for the spring 2017 semester.
Ketchum was arrested this past summer for Marijuana possession. He then was suspended from the program before leaving Baylor earlier this month. Ketchum had been a candidate to play special teams this fall before his suspension. He played his senior year at Houston Lamar.
-Kevin Lonnquist
Basketball notables
>Baylor is not expecting any official visitors this weekend. As for any unofficial visitors, the weather could play a role on who will be able to travel.
>While Elev8 Sports Academy shooting guard Kobie Eubanks has received a qualifying score for his ACT, he has not been certified by the NCAA Clearinghouse. At this point, Baylor and other schools interested in him are waiting before they set up official visits. Eubanks’ status for arriving to his school of choice is just a matter of when. He has already signed his letter of intent. All he needs to sign are his scholarship documents.
>The Bears still have a chance with Irving MacArthur 2016 guard Andrew Jones. No official visits have been set but it appears that one-time leader Arizona could be pursuing other options. We’re told that Louisville is out of it. If Arizona elects to move on, then this could become a race between Baylor and Texas. Time will tell if this will be resolved before the November signing period.
>In case you missed it, Baylor center Jo Acuil will be held out 8 weeks while undergoing medical testing for potential heart issues. This is similar to what Baylor did when it learned of 2015 point guard King McClure’s heart issue during the summer. McClure has since been cleared and is practicing with the team.
>The clock ticks down to the Nov. 13 opener against Stephen F. Austin. That’s an 8:30 p.m. tipoff at the Ferrell Center.
-Kevin Lonnquist
Video/audio: Bears looking forward to Homecoming
SicEmSports Stephen Cook compiled these interviews with several members of the 2015 Bears.
RB Shock Linwood
Audio clip
LB Taylor Young
Audio clip
WR Corey Coleman
Audio clip
TE Trevor Clemons-Valdez
OT Spencer Drango
Baylor-Iowa State visitors
It’s Homecoming 2015 for the Bears at 11:00 a.m. Saturday against Iowa State. Given the miserable weather that’s in the forecast and the odds of this game not being very close, it’s really unclear what kind of visitor turnout there will be. But the following recruits have told SicEmSports they plan to attend. As we mentioned last week, we’re expecting a big visitor list for Nov. 14 against Oklahoma. This list is also subject to change.
>Chris Miller, S, Frisco Lone Star (Baylor 2016 commit)
>Deonte Williams, LB, Plano Prestonwood (Baylor 2016 commit – he’s a maybe)
>LaChristopher Wilson, DB, Dickinson (Baylor 2017 interest)
>Devin Morris, WR, Caldwell (Baylor 2017 interest)
>Zach Smith, QB, Grandview (Baylor 2016 commit)
>Donoven Davenport, QB, Arlington Bowie (Baylor 2017 interest)
>Coi Miller, DB, Arlington Bowie (Baylor 2017 interest)
Notable: Kentwood, LA 2016 athlete Shyheim Carter did not attend last week’s game against West Virginia. He went to LSU-Florida. It’s unclear when Carter will attempt to come to Baylor for a game. But it doesn’t sound like this recruitment is in a rush to have a final answer. Carter de-committed from Alabama in August.
-Kevin Lonnquist
DFW DB’s first visit
Arlington Bowie 2017 cornerback Coi Miller (6-0, 180) is just starting to make his way on to more and more Division I program’s radars.
Miller is expected to make his first visit to Baylor for Saturday’s game against Iowa State. Miller has not camped or had much contact with the Baylor coaching staff. However, running backs coach Jeff Lebby is his recruiter. He has drawn interest SMU, North Texas and Boise St. This summer, he attended TCU, Arkansas State (held at Bowie) and Houston camps.
“I’ve watched them against Texas Tech and West Virginia [on TV] and saw their defensive backs play fast and physical,’’ Miller said. “I like the defensive scheme and their formations. I like how their corners get into the defensive backs.’’
Miller’s style is similar to how Baylor likes to play its corners by using a lot of press coverage. He considers that the strength of his game. The one element of his game that he believes needs to improve is playing his off technique when it comes to playing short routes.
He started toward the end of his sophomore season before becoming a starter this year. Bowie (3-4, 2-2) is in playoff contention in District 4-6A.
Thus far, Miller has eight pass breakups. But what he’s looking for in this visit is to gain a better understanding of how the Baylor defense operates.
“They told me they want to see me at the game just to see what I’m all about,’’ Miller said. “I’m looking forward to it.’’
-Kevin Lonnquist
Big 12 Weekend
The list of Big 12 games for the weekend of Oct. 24. All times are central. The Baylor-Iowa State game will not be listed among those games because of Saturday’s early start time. TCU and West Virginia have a bye.
Kansas State (3-3, 0-3) at Texas (2-4, 1-2); 11:00 a.m. Darrel K. Royal Texas Memorial Stadium, Austin (FOX Sports 1) – Series: Kansas State leads, 9-6: Momentum is fleeting but it does appear these are two programs going in different directions. The Longhorns are relying on freshman Jerrod Heard to carry the bulk of the offense. But WR Daje Johnson and OL Kent Perkins are expected to return. The Wildcats are struggling offensively after producing only 110 yards of total offense against Oklahoma.
Texas Tech (5-2, 2-2) at No. 15/17 Oklahoma (5-1, 2-1); 2:30 p.m. Memorial Stadium, Norman, OK (ABC/ESPN2) – Series, Oklahoma leads, 16-6: The awkward reunion of former Texas Tech QB and current OU starting QB Baker Mayfield. While the Sooners have a pretty stellar passing game, they’re running game leaves a little to be desired as it is 7th in the conference at 158.8 yards per game. The Red Raiders struggle against the run but they have been prone to pull upsets like these in the past.
Kansas (0-6, 0-3) at No. 12/14 Oklahoma State (6-0, 3-0); 2:30 p.m. Boone Pickens Stadium, Stillwater, OK (FOX Sports 1) – Series: Oklahoma State leads, 34-29-3: The Cowboys are coming off a bye and feature one of the Big 12’s best defensive fronts led by Emmanuel Egboh and true freshman Darrion Daniels. Egboh leads the league with 7.5 sacks and 11 tackles for loss. The Cowboys also lead the conference in total sacks with 25. Kansas ranks no higher than 8th in most total offensive categories.
-SicEmSports
Big 12 Power Rankings:
Each week, SicEmSports releases its power rankings. Their rankings are determined by how teams performed from the previous week. Agree or disagree, that’s what makes these interesting.
1. Baylor – The 6 sacks allowed are the 11th fewest in the country
2. TCU – QB Trevone Boykin squarely in the middle of the Heisman Trophy race
3. Oklahoma State – Defense is 2nd in the Big 12 at 332 yards per game
4. Oklahoma – Did this team catch its second wind at Kansas State?
5. Texas Tech – Red Raiders have win one of final five to become bowl eligible
6. West Virginia – Dana Holgorsen having Corey Coleman nightmares
7. Texas – The Longhorns didn’t play but they’re getting healthier
8. Kansas State – Too many health and efficiency issues at quarterback
9. Iowa State – No one likes to be the other team’s homecoming opponent
10. Kansas – Worst red zone offense in the Big 12 (70.6 percent)
- Kevin Lonnquist
Emptying the Notebook
>This is called counting backwards. Grandview 2016 QB and Baylor commit Zach Smith, who is planning to enroll at Baylor for the spring 2016 semester in January, will count toward the 2015 class. That would then allow Baylor to have some flexibility for the balance of its 2016 class. It could make for another interesting January, especially if Baylor thinks it can get into the race for an uncommitted recruit or can lure away committed recruit.
>Fort what it’s worth, DeSoto 2016 QB Tristan Wallace’s commitment to Ohio State may have taken some steps in the right direction for the Buckeyes. He apparently flew on his own dime to Columbus, OH to watch Ohio State play last Saturday night against Penn State.
>Kennedale 2017 LB Baron Browning remains committed to Baylor. Browning is not attending Saturday’s game against Iowa State.
>Justin Northwest 2018 OL Darrell Simpson said he plans to attend Baylor’s Nov. 14 game against Oklahoma. Simpson visited Baylor for the Sept. 12 game against Lamar.
-Kevin Lonnquist
