By Kevin Lonnquist
Publisher
Baylor’s spring football season is slated to open March 22 after the Bears return from Spring Break – March 5-13.
As that time approaches, what better time than to start looking at the Bears position by position to see how things shake out.
The quarterback room is interesting as Dave Aranda begins his second spring – remember, he didn’t have one in 2020 because of the pandemic – since both Gerry Bohanon and Blake Shapen led the team to a historic 2021 campaign.
Baylor did not sign a QB for the 2022 class. The Bears are going to have three on scholarship.
Let’s take a look at the QB room.
Gerry Bohanon, 6-3, 221, Senior in 2022, Earle (AR)
2021 Stats: Completed 62 percent of his passes (173-275) for 2,200 yards with 18 touchdowns, seven interceptions and averaged 8.0 yards per attempt. Rushed for 323 yards and 9 scores and averaged 4.3 yards per carry.
Recruiting: Was a 3-star prospect with a 5.7 rating.
Blake Shapen, 6-0, 192, Sophomore in 2022, Shreveport (LA) Evangel
2021 Stats: Completed 72.1 percent of his passes (62-86) for 596 yards with five touchdowns and no interceptions. Rushed for 59 yards with no scores and averaged 2.8 yards per carry.
Recruiting: Was a 3-star prospect with a 5.6 rating.
Kyron Drones, 6-2, 222, Redshirt Freshman in 2022, Houston Shadow Creek
2021 Stats: Appeared in two games (Texas Tech, Oklahoma State) but recorded no stats.
Recruiting: Was a 3-star prospect with a 5.7 rating.
Also on the Roster: CJ Rogers (6-3, 200, Argyle – Walk on); Brayson McHenry (6-1, 190, Texarkana (TX) Texas High – walk on arrives in the summer)
A Look Back at 2021
When the spring season started last year, the QB race was between Bohanon and the now departed Jacob Zeno.
The decision to go with Bohanon wasn’t made until fall camp. It left many wondering if Bohanon could do it. While he started slow, he showed he was more than capable of leading. He directed to its third Big 12 championship in school history that included wins over Texas and Oklahoma.
Eventually, Zeno went into the transfer portal (UAB) and the unknown Shapen was the backup. When Bohanon went down with a right hamstring pull at Kansas State, Shapen had to finish the regular season. He ably did and then carried the Bears to the Big 12 championship title but suffered a season ending right shoulder injury late against Oklahoma State.
Hobbled, Bohanon gutted out a Sugar Bowl win over Ole Miss despite throwing for just 40 yards.
Biggest Question in Spring
Do we have to wait until Fall Camp for any kind of starting QB competition? Based on the way Shapen played in Bohanon’s absence, it created an interesting story line.
However, Shapen’s shoulder injury and subsequent surgery likely leaves him unavailable or at least limited for the spring. And if it is that way, there’s no way to know if he was going to push Bohanon for the starting job during these 15 practices.
Bohanon should be all the way from his hamstring injury once everything starts. It would be his time to show more precision and command of his skill set and the offense to possibly create the idea there will not be a competition in the fall.
His Opportunity
With Shapen’s spring in doubt, this is the absolute time for Drones to take advantage of all of his reps, demonstrate what he can do, continue to build on the positives and learn from the mistakes.
From an eye-test perspective, Drones certainly passes the test. From an ability perspective, nobody really knows. His senior year numbers at Shadow Creek weren’t that great.
But he’s been working with quarterbacks coach Shawn Bell for more than a year since he arrived. That could translate into something favorable.
Early Forecast
Unless he just has a severe up and down spring and leaves the door open for Shapen to truly push him in the fall, I don’t see how Bohanon doesn’t return as the starter.
Many have counted Bohanon out and didn’t think he could handle the job in 2021. But he also has a presence in the locker room that resonates with teammates. That may be his best quality.
What Bohanon must show this spring is improvement on touch throws and just overall accuracy.
Shapen’s got the better arm. Look at the AT&T/Big 12 championship game consecutive completion record he set with 17. What would have been the most intriguing subject in the spring likely won’t be.
Publisher
Baylor’s spring football season is slated to open March 22 after the Bears return from Spring Break – March 5-13.
As that time approaches, what better time than to start looking at the Bears position by position to see how things shake out.
The quarterback room is interesting as Dave Aranda begins his second spring – remember, he didn’t have one in 2020 because of the pandemic – since both Gerry Bohanon and Blake Shapen led the team to a historic 2021 campaign.
Baylor did not sign a QB for the 2022 class. The Bears are going to have three on scholarship.
Let’s take a look at the QB room.
Gerry Bohanon, 6-3, 221, Senior in 2022, Earle (AR)
2021 Stats: Completed 62 percent of his passes (173-275) for 2,200 yards with 18 touchdowns, seven interceptions and averaged 8.0 yards per attempt. Rushed for 323 yards and 9 scores and averaged 4.3 yards per carry.
Recruiting: Was a 3-star prospect with a 5.7 rating.
Blake Shapen, 6-0, 192, Sophomore in 2022, Shreveport (LA) Evangel
2021 Stats: Completed 72.1 percent of his passes (62-86) for 596 yards with five touchdowns and no interceptions. Rushed for 59 yards with no scores and averaged 2.8 yards per carry.
Recruiting: Was a 3-star prospect with a 5.6 rating.
Kyron Drones, 6-2, 222, Redshirt Freshman in 2022, Houston Shadow Creek
2021 Stats: Appeared in two games (Texas Tech, Oklahoma State) but recorded no stats.
Recruiting: Was a 3-star prospect with a 5.7 rating.
Also on the Roster: CJ Rogers (6-3, 200, Argyle – Walk on); Brayson McHenry (6-1, 190, Texarkana (TX) Texas High – walk on arrives in the summer)
A Look Back at 2021
When the spring season started last year, the QB race was between Bohanon and the now departed Jacob Zeno.
The decision to go with Bohanon wasn’t made until fall camp. It left many wondering if Bohanon could do it. While he started slow, he showed he was more than capable of leading. He directed to its third Big 12 championship in school history that included wins over Texas and Oklahoma.
Eventually, Zeno went into the transfer portal (UAB) and the unknown Shapen was the backup. When Bohanon went down with a right hamstring pull at Kansas State, Shapen had to finish the regular season. He ably did and then carried the Bears to the Big 12 championship title but suffered a season ending right shoulder injury late against Oklahoma State.
Hobbled, Bohanon gutted out a Sugar Bowl win over Ole Miss despite throwing for just 40 yards.
Biggest Question in Spring
Do we have to wait until Fall Camp for any kind of starting QB competition? Based on the way Shapen played in Bohanon’s absence, it created an interesting story line.
However, Shapen’s shoulder injury and subsequent surgery likely leaves him unavailable or at least limited for the spring. And if it is that way, there’s no way to know if he was going to push Bohanon for the starting job during these 15 practices.
Bohanon should be all the way from his hamstring injury once everything starts. It would be his time to show more precision and command of his skill set and the offense to possibly create the idea there will not be a competition in the fall.
His Opportunity
With Shapen’s spring in doubt, this is the absolute time for Drones to take advantage of all of his reps, demonstrate what he can do, continue to build on the positives and learn from the mistakes.
From an eye-test perspective, Drones certainly passes the test. From an ability perspective, nobody really knows. His senior year numbers at Shadow Creek weren’t that great.
But he’s been working with quarterbacks coach Shawn Bell for more than a year since he arrived. That could translate into something favorable.
Early Forecast
Unless he just has a severe up and down spring and leaves the door open for Shapen to truly push him in the fall, I don’t see how Bohanon doesn’t return as the starter.
Many have counted Bohanon out and didn’t think he could handle the job in 2021. But he also has a presence in the locker room that resonates with teammates. That may be his best quality.
What Bohanon must show this spring is improvement on touch throws and just overall accuracy.
Shapen’s got the better arm. Look at the AT&T/Big 12 championship game consecutive completion record he set with 17. What would have been the most intriguing subject in the spring likely won’t be.
