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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REMEMBRANCE: On this Sept. 11, 2015, we remember those who perished on Sept. 11, 2001 when terrorists hijacked four jetliners and crashed them into the World Trade Center towers in New York City, the Pentagon in Washington, D.C. and a field in Pennsylvania. We also remember how a nation grieved and later acted courageously to defend the principles for which it was built. We all remember where we were that day. Never a day goes by where we pray for peace and for the United States of America to continue to be the beacon of strength, hope and justice. If you have a couple of quiet moments, please take the time to take note.
NOTE: If you’re wondering what Baylor is going to do with circular cement barrier wall in the lower bowl of the McLane Stadium, we have the answer. Expect there to be a temporary green wrap to serve as a cover. In 2014, Baylor tried a faux brick look that didn’t go over very well. But that was the only setback in relation to the positive national feedback the stadium received in its initial. At this time, there doesn’t appear to be a firm solution on what Baylor plans to do with it. Expect this look for the balance of the 2015 season.
VIDEO: Spencer Drango
The Baylor senior offensive tackle and All America candidate visited with the media this week.
When hopes are met
Katy Taylor 2018 defensive end Max Wright really expected his first offers to come from non-P5 programs or even Division II program.
So when SEC power Georgia became the first to extend earlier this year, Wright (6-4, 250) was at loss for words. Now, the process has settled in. Baylor became the seventh to offer the rising prospect.
“I don’t want sound like someone with an ego, but I was expecting them to offer,’’ Wright said. “I know they’ve had some struggles on defense and they want to get some guys in here who can be stars for them. I’m very interested in them.’’
Wright and his and mother, Cydney Wright, a Baylor graduate, are looking over the schedule and are hoping to catch a couple of night games. It won’t be this weekend.
Wright is only starting to get to know the program. He had baseball conflicts that prevented him from attending any of Baylor’s summer camps. “I really wanted to show out for them,’’ he said.
However, Baylor sees the athleticism that others see. He runs a 4.7 40 and his vertical (33) is more than impressive. And he’s only going to get stronger with a bench (255), squat (430) and power clean (295) that should reach new ceilings as his body matures.
However, the Taylor coaching staff is not limiting him to defense. Wright said the coaches are using him in several offensive positions between tight end, running back and slot receiver. Yes, that’s right. Slot receiver. He scored a touchdown last week in the opener against Fort Bend Clements, a 42-7 win.
“I was doing a lot of work in 7 on 7 and when I went into the slot, the guys weren’t really covering me and didn’t think I could play there,’’ Wright said. “I kind of slipped behind the other guys and scored. It was pretty cool. I’m looking forward to doing a lot more on offense.’’
Wright has also picked up on the intensity between Baylor and TCU. He anticipated Baylor’s interest to heighten when word spread that he had visited Fort Worth. Wright has been on the Baylor campus several times and has come away with a great impression.
Of course, Wright has a distant family connection to the Baylor football program. His great grandfather (to be honest he doesn’t know who it was except the last name was Lucas. There was a Lucas who played for Baylor in the late 1920s and then another in the late 1930s). But there’s a long way to go in this recruiting process. He’s planning on attending the Texas-Rice game Saturday, Texas A&M-Alabama in mid-October and hopes to travel to Athens, GA to watch Georgia.
“I really like coach [Art] Briles and McLane Stadium is great,’’ Wright said. “The coaching staff knows what it’s doing. I’ve had a good relationship with coach [Cris] Dishman. They love my game and the aggression.’’
Katy Taylor plays College Park on Friday.
-Kevin Lonnquist
Notable Baylor-Lamar visitors
The following is a list of recruits who have told SicEmSports that they either plan on going to Saturdays’ 2015 home opener at McLane Stadium. As always, this list is subject to change. We will try to be as up-to-date as possible as the game draws near.
>Eric Cuffee, DB, Waco – 2016 Baylor offer
>Patrick Hudson, OL, Silsbee – 2016 Baylor commit
>Grayland Arnold, DB, Kountze – 2016 Baylor commit
>Zaquincius Addison, S, Angleton – 2017 Baylor interest (trying to make it work)
>Deonte Williams, LB, Plano Prestonwood – 2016 Baylor commit (they should know Friday)
>Zach Smith, QB, Grandview – 2016 Baylor commit
>Baron Browning, LB, Kennedale – 2017 Baylor commit
>Hezekiah Jones, WR, Stafford – 2017 Baylor commit
>Jalen Pitre, S, Stafford – 2017 Baylor commit
>Darrell Simpson, OL, Justin Northwest – 2018 Baylor interest
>Montel Parker, WR/QB/Ath, Dickinson – 2018 Baylor interest
>Devin Morris, WR/CB, Caldwell – 2017 Baylor interest (trying to make it)
-SicEmSports
VIDEO: Matt Clare with the Baylor class of 2017
Matt was at Stafford’s game Thursday night and visited with wide receiver Hezekiah Jones and safety Jalen Pitre. Jones is dealing with a sprained ankle but said he should not be out too long.
Hezekiah Jones
Jalen Pitre
Big 12 Weekend
A look at the Big 12 teams in action for the weekend at Sept. 11. All times are central. Unless noted, all games are Saturday. The Big 12 went 7-2 in the first week.
Kansas State (1-0) at UT-San Antonio (0-1), 11:00 AM, Alamodome, San Antonio (Fox Sports 1): This is the first meeting between the two teams. But this is KSU’s second appearance in the Alamodome in 2015. The Wildcats met UCLA in the Alamo Bowl. Larry Coker’s Road Runners pushed Arizona out in the desert last week. The Wildcats are going with Joe Hubener at QB with Jesse Ertz out for the year with a knee injury.
UTEP (0-1) at Texas Tech (1-0), 2:00 PM, AT&T Jones Stadium, Lubbock (FSN): The Red Raiders lead this series, 15-6-1. Tech struggled but hung on and won in El Paso last year, 30-26. UTEP will want to try and control the ball with a pretty solid running back. But should have some opportunities with an erratic Red Raider defense. The Red Raiders will be backed by QB Patrick Mahomes.
Liberty (0-1) at West Virginia (1-0), 2:00 PM, Milan-Puskar Stadium, Morgantown, WVA (Root Sports): Dana Holgorsen has a pretty soft schedule to start the year and should get off to a 2-0 start. Senior safety Karl Joseph was the Big 12’s defensive player of the week last week in the 44-0 victory over Georgia Southern. He had three interceptions.
Stephen F. Austin (0-1) at No. 3/3 TCU (1-0), 2:30 PM, Amon Carter Stadium, Fort Worth (Fox Sports 1): The 2015 home opener for the Horned Frogs. But they have several issues with the defense after last week’s 23-17 win at Minnesota. LB Sammy Douglas is out for the year. DT James McFarland should miss at least a month with broken toe. QB Trevone Boykin was solid in the game.
Iowa (1-0) at Iowa State (0-1), 3:45 PM, Jack Trice Stadium, Ames, IA (FOX): The 63rd renewal of the Cy-Hawk Trophy. Iowa leads, 40-22. Last year’s 20-17 Cyclones upset caught many by surprise. Hawkeye QB C.J. Beatherd threw for 211 yards and a TD in the 31-14 victory over Illinois State. Iowa State QB Sam B. Richardson was very efficient going 21-29 for 233 yards and 2 TDs in the 31-7 victory over Northern Iowa.
No. 17/19 Oklahoma (1-0) at No. 23/23, 5:00 PM, Neyland Stadium, Knoxville, TN (ESPN): One of the marquee matchups of the weekend with the Sooners bringing an apparent improved offense to the place Rocky Top is played endlessly. The Volunteers have real momentum after last year’s strong finish. Butch Jones team had 604 yards in total offense in the 59-30 victory over Bowling Green.
Memphis (1-0) at Kansas (0-1), 6:00 PM, Memorial Stadium, Lawrence, KS (Jayhawk TV): A tough start for the Jayhawks as they fell in the opener to South Dakota State, 41-38. Memphis has emerged a very solid G5 program led by head coach Justin Fuente. The Tigers are an attractive pick to win the American Athletic Conference.
Lamar (1-0) at No. 4/4 (1-0), 6:30 PM, McLane Stadium, Waco (FSN): The 2015 home opener and the second year to play in McLane Stadium for the Bears. They are coming off a strong finish at SMU. The defense struggled early but denied SMU in its final nine possessions. The Cardinals are coming off an 8-4 season in 2014, the first winning season since the program was re-started in 2010.
Central Arkansas (0-1) at Oklahoma State (1-0), 6:30 PM Boone Pickens Stadium, Stillwater, OK (FSN): This is the first meeting between the two teams and the home opener for the Cowboys. Sophomore QB Mason Rudolph is looking to build a little more consistency following an up and down start at Central Michigan, a 24-13 win. Central Arkansas lost its opener at Samford last week, 45-16.
Rice (1-0) at Texas (0-1), 7:00, Darrell K. Royal Memorial Stadium, Austin (LHN): Texas is reeling after a disastrous start at Notre Dame, a 38-3 loss. Head coach Charlie Strong has shaken up his offensive coaching staff by taking the play calling duties away from OC Shawn Watson. Rice QB Driphus Jackson is a winner. He directed the Owls to an 8-5 record and Hawaii Bowl victory in 2014. This is the 94th meeting. Texas leads, 71-21-1.
-SicEmSports
Big 12 Power Rankings
Each week SicEmSports ranks the 10 programs in the Big 12. Ratings are based on how teams performed from the previous week. Agree or disagree, that’s why they are here.
1. Baylor – Slow start but strong finish at SMU
2. TCU – Horned Frogs have to make major personnel decisions on defense
3. Oklahoma – Joe Mixon’s explosiveness is something to watch
4. Oklahoma State – Cowboys got out of the trap game at Central Michigan with a win
5. West Virginia – The opponent may not have been much but the defense showed up
6. Texas Tech – Will 59-45 be the score each with the Red Raiders?
7. Kansas State – More unknowns about this team after the QB injury
8. Texas – The laundry list of issues with this team tells the story
9. Iowa State – Pivotal game for the Cyclones against the in-state rival Hawkeyes
10. Kansas – Gutting through the personnel shortage is the theme in 2015
-SicEmSports
Emptying the Notebook
>Since it was brought up about the state of Texas university team bands having to pay admission to the other team’s stadium that will not apply in the Oct. 3 game between Baylor and Texas Tech at AT&T Stadium in Arlington. Tickets will be provided to both bands.
>One note on Deonte Williams: The Baylor 2016 LB commit is completely injury free from the issues with his shoes that caused some problems with his feet in the opener on Aug. 29 against Bellaire Episcopal. Williams also changed positions last week. He began the season as a stand-up defensive end who was coming off the edge. Last week, he was moved to outside linebacker.
>Baylor’s No. 1 WR target Devin Duvernay of Sachse is off to a solid start. Through the first three games, he’s averaged 20.9 yards per catch (17-356) along with 3 TDs. He’s also been used in the running game with seven attempts for 74 yards (10.57 ypc) and a score. Duvernay’s brother Donovan has also seen time offensively. He caught a 34-yard TD pass in Thursday’s 50-34 victory over Dallas Bishop Lynch
-SicEmSports
