By Kevin Lonnquist
Publisher
Baylor’s spring football season began on March 22. The Bears recently returned from Spring Break. The Spring Game is April 23.
As the 15-practice schedule begins and gets into a rhythm, there’s no better time than to start looking at the Bears position by position to see how things unfold.
Running back has a major void to fill with the departures of single-season rushing record holder Abram Smith and the versatile Trestan Ebner. Each brought such value to offensive coordinator Jeff Grimes’ approach.
Now, both are hoping their resumes through their senior years and what they are currently showing through the draft process will land them somewhere in the NFL, via the draft or as a free agent.
There are a lot of intriguing names that running backs coach Justin Johnson can work with. What Grimes and Johnson could be evaluating at that position this spring is if they want to continue with the look it had in 2021 where Smith was the primary rusher and Ebner was the compliment. They could also use a spread-the-wealth approach.
Remember, they didn’t really know that answer when spring 2021 started. Then playing their hunch of bringing Smith back to the offense turned out to be the best offseason move of all.
Let’s take a look at the running backs room.
Qualan Jones: 5-11, 230, Junior (in 2022), Grand Prairie (Trinity Christian-Cedar Hill)
2021 Stats: Appeared in six games but did not collect any stats
Recruiting: Was a 4-star recruit with a 5.8 rating
Craig “Sqwirl” Williams: 5-8, 173, Junior (in 2022), Crosby
2021 Stats: Rushing: 4-15
Recruiting: Was a 3-star recruit with a 5.7 rating
Taye Williams: 6-1, 211, Junior (in 2022), Lamar Consolidated
2021 Stats: Rushing: 17-181 2TD
Recruiting: Was a 4-star recruit with a 5.8 rating
Jordan Jenkins: 6-1, 208, Redshirt Freshman (in 2022), Lindale
2021 Stats: Did not record any stats
Recruiting: Was a 3-star recruit with a 5.6 rating
Also on the roster: Jacoby Clarke (6-0, 205, Junior, Walk-on, The Woodlands)
2022 Signee: Richard Reese, Bellville (summer arrival)
A look back to 2021
During the spring, Grimes and Dave Aranda were looking for a real workhorse on the roster who could bring that physical style.
That’s when they turned to Smith. After playing linebacker, he returned to his natural position and put together a season above all seasons. Ebner served as a perfect change of pace with 1,083 yards of total offense, 799 rushing and 284 receiving.
As the season progressed, they became comfortable with their roles and got stronger and ran with confidence.
Those two accounted for 78 percent of Baylor’s rushing yards.
Big Question in the Spring
With every underclassman returning, it’s going to be a race between some talented yet unproven backs to become the trusted starter and compliment…if that’s what the coaching staff wants to do.
There definitely is some size and physicality between McWilliams and Jones. McWilliams could lead this group simply because he’s had the most touches of all of them. Then there’s the thinking that McWilliams and Jones could be the ideal thunder and lightning combination.
One Guy
The legend of the Sqwirl. During the 2020 season, there was some hope that he could emerge as a go-to back for the offense. He had some moments in the TCU game. Then his season ended with an ACL injury at Iowa State.
Between rehab and opportunity, Williams has not been seen much. Given what this rushing attack demands, the question begs is if he fits and if he is, how much can he be a fit.
The spring should show where this could be headed.
Early Forecast
The odds would favor McWilliams to become the primary running back in this offense. All the tools are there to become that. What should be interesting is how Aranda addresses it with the media and with his team.
Jones needs to step up and become a factor in this attack should the idea be for him to become the short-yardage back.
To be sure, Baylor has some options to evaluate. Experience is really the only concern. But then again, Smith only had 12 rushing attempts in his Baylor career before he switched back to the offense last spring.
Publisher
Baylor’s spring football season began on March 22. The Bears recently returned from Spring Break. The Spring Game is April 23.
As the 15-practice schedule begins and gets into a rhythm, there’s no better time than to start looking at the Bears position by position to see how things unfold.
Running back has a major void to fill with the departures of single-season rushing record holder Abram Smith and the versatile Trestan Ebner. Each brought such value to offensive coordinator Jeff Grimes’ approach.
Now, both are hoping their resumes through their senior years and what they are currently showing through the draft process will land them somewhere in the NFL, via the draft or as a free agent.
There are a lot of intriguing names that running backs coach Justin Johnson can work with. What Grimes and Johnson could be evaluating at that position this spring is if they want to continue with the look it had in 2021 where Smith was the primary rusher and Ebner was the compliment. They could also use a spread-the-wealth approach.
Remember, they didn’t really know that answer when spring 2021 started. Then playing their hunch of bringing Smith back to the offense turned out to be the best offseason move of all.
Let’s take a look at the running backs room.
Qualan Jones: 5-11, 230, Junior (in 2022), Grand Prairie (Trinity Christian-Cedar Hill)
2021 Stats: Appeared in six games but did not collect any stats
Recruiting: Was a 4-star recruit with a 5.8 rating
Craig “Sqwirl” Williams: 5-8, 173, Junior (in 2022), Crosby
2021 Stats: Rushing: 4-15
Recruiting: Was a 3-star recruit with a 5.7 rating
Taye Williams: 6-1, 211, Junior (in 2022), Lamar Consolidated
2021 Stats: Rushing: 17-181 2TD
Recruiting: Was a 4-star recruit with a 5.8 rating
Jordan Jenkins: 6-1, 208, Redshirt Freshman (in 2022), Lindale
2021 Stats: Did not record any stats
Recruiting: Was a 3-star recruit with a 5.6 rating
Also on the roster: Jacoby Clarke (6-0, 205, Junior, Walk-on, The Woodlands)
2022 Signee: Richard Reese, Bellville (summer arrival)
A look back to 2021
During the spring, Grimes and Dave Aranda were looking for a real workhorse on the roster who could bring that physical style.
That’s when they turned to Smith. After playing linebacker, he returned to his natural position and put together a season above all seasons. Ebner served as a perfect change of pace with 1,083 yards of total offense, 799 rushing and 284 receiving.
As the season progressed, they became comfortable with their roles and got stronger and ran with confidence.
Those two accounted for 78 percent of Baylor’s rushing yards.
Big Question in the Spring
With every underclassman returning, it’s going to be a race between some talented yet unproven backs to become the trusted starter and compliment…if that’s what the coaching staff wants to do.
There definitely is some size and physicality between McWilliams and Jones. McWilliams could lead this group simply because he’s had the most touches of all of them. Then there’s the thinking that McWilliams and Jones could be the ideal thunder and lightning combination.
One Guy
The legend of the Sqwirl. During the 2020 season, there was some hope that he could emerge as a go-to back for the offense. He had some moments in the TCU game. Then his season ended with an ACL injury at Iowa State.
Between rehab and opportunity, Williams has not been seen much. Given what this rushing attack demands, the question begs is if he fits and if he is, how much can he be a fit.
The spring should show where this could be headed.
Early Forecast
The odds would favor McWilliams to become the primary running back in this offense. All the tools are there to become that. What should be interesting is how Aranda addresses it with the media and with his team.
Jones needs to step up and become a factor in this attack should the idea be for him to become the short-yardage back.
To be sure, Baylor has some options to evaluate. Experience is really the only concern. But then again, Smith only had 12 rushing attempts in his Baylor career before he switched back to the offense last spring.
