By Kevin Lonnquist
Publisher
Baylor’s spring football season began on March 22. The Spring Game is this Saturday April 23 at McLane Stadium.
As the 15-practice schedule marches toward that date, there’s no better time than to start looking at the Bears position by position to see how things unfold.
While these positions don’t carry high regard, their value is undeniable. The renaissance of the tight end position under offensive coordinator Jeff Grimes demonstrated that position still has a place in today’s college game. The Bears plan to continue to exploit that in the coming seasons.
The Bears were also very solid in the kicking game between punting and field goals.
Let’s take a look at both the tight end and special team’s rooms.
Tight Ends
Ben Sims, 6-4, 253, Super Senior (in 2022), San Antonio Clark
Stats: Receiving – 31-361 6TD; Rushing – 1-1 TD
Recruiting: Was a 3-star with a 5.7 rating
Drake Dabney, 6-5, 252, Junior (in 2022), Cy Ranch
Stats: Receiving – 10-91 2TD
Recruiting: Was a 3-star recruit with a 5.7 rating
Cody Mladenka, 6-4, 235, Freshman (in 2022), The Woodlands College Park
Stats: January 2022 arrival
Recruiting: Was a 3-star recruit with a 5.5 rating
Kelsey Johnson, 6-2, 235, Freshman (in 2022), Red Oak
Stats: January 2022 arrival
Recruiting: Was a 3-star recruit with a 5.7 rating
Also on the roster: Gavin Yates, 6-3, 240, Soph., Frisco Memorial (walk-on); Mark Patton, 6-5, 230, Jr. Tayler JC (walk-on)
2022 Signees: Kaian Roberts-Day, Festus, Mo. (This is subject to change as he’s been talked about in several positions including H-Back).
Punter/PK
Issac Power, P, 6-1, 200, Super Senior (in 2022), Castle Rock (CO) Ponderosa
Stats: 50-44.98, 6TB, 18 FC, 20 inside 20, 20 50+ yards
Recruiting: Was a 2-star recruit with a 5.4 rating
Isaiah Hankins, 6-0, 193, Sophomore (in 2022), Little Rock (AR) Christian
Stats: FG – 14-20, PAT – 57-57
Recruiting: Walk-on
Noah Rauschenberg, 6-1, 195, Senior (in 2022), Tulsa (OK) Union
Stats: KO – 81 for 64.4-yard average, 72 TB, 3 OB
Recruiting: Walk-on
Also on the roster: Bryce Boland, PK, 5-11, 172 Soph., Waco Midway (Walk-on), John Mayers, PK, 5-10, 187, Super Senior, Flower Mound Marcus (Walk-on), Garrison Grimes, LS, 6-2, 200, RSFR, American Fork (UT) (Baylor OC Jeff Grimes’ son); Corbin Robertson, LS 6-4, 240, Senior, Mount Airy, N.C., Chowan University (arriving in the summer).
A look back to 2021
Sims became one of the better tight ends in the Big 12 and parlayed a solid 2020 season into a banner 2021 season. With reliable hands, Sims became a clutch receiver. Dabney served as a steady backup.
Power’s ability to flip the field was an important element during the season. That played to Baylor’s advantage on defense with field position. He was very consistent.
Hankins won the kicking job in fall 2021 camp and got off to a solid start. However, he struggled at the end missing three of his last five and had one blocked.
Big Question in the Spring
Will there be a true competition for the PK job or does Hankins just have to show he can rebound from the wobbly finish to prove that he’s the one to hold on to the job?
He was the only kicker brought out to meet with the media a couple of weeks ago. Mayers is decent but is limited with his distance. Anything from beyond 40 yards is a wild card. Rauschenberg’s value is as a kickoff specialist.
One Guy
Baylor’s tight end depth is very challenged this season with only Sims and Dabney as the knowns. It was a help when Johnon and Mladenka arrived in January.
But watch Johnson. Since he’s going through spring ball, there are expectations that he could be a part of the plan in 2022. His athleticism brings another dimension that this group could use.
Early Forecast
Power is the punter. There’s no competition there. Hankins likely should remain as the lead kicker. The tight end setup should look the same in 2022 with Sims as the starter and Dabney as the backup.
There are two new long snappers between Grimes and Robertson. No one will ever pay attention to that position unless a snap goes awry. Then everybody knows who they are.
Publisher
Baylor’s spring football season began on March 22. The Spring Game is this Saturday April 23 at McLane Stadium.
As the 15-practice schedule marches toward that date, there’s no better time than to start looking at the Bears position by position to see how things unfold.
While these positions don’t carry high regard, their value is undeniable. The renaissance of the tight end position under offensive coordinator Jeff Grimes demonstrated that position still has a place in today’s college game. The Bears plan to continue to exploit that in the coming seasons.
The Bears were also very solid in the kicking game between punting and field goals.
Let’s take a look at both the tight end and special team’s rooms.
Tight Ends
Ben Sims, 6-4, 253, Super Senior (in 2022), San Antonio Clark
Stats: Receiving – 31-361 6TD; Rushing – 1-1 TD
Recruiting: Was a 3-star with a 5.7 rating
Drake Dabney, 6-5, 252, Junior (in 2022), Cy Ranch
Stats: Receiving – 10-91 2TD
Recruiting: Was a 3-star recruit with a 5.7 rating
Cody Mladenka, 6-4, 235, Freshman (in 2022), The Woodlands College Park
Stats: January 2022 arrival
Recruiting: Was a 3-star recruit with a 5.5 rating
Kelsey Johnson, 6-2, 235, Freshman (in 2022), Red Oak
Stats: January 2022 arrival
Recruiting: Was a 3-star recruit with a 5.7 rating
Also on the roster: Gavin Yates, 6-3, 240, Soph., Frisco Memorial (walk-on); Mark Patton, 6-5, 230, Jr. Tayler JC (walk-on)
2022 Signees: Kaian Roberts-Day, Festus, Mo. (This is subject to change as he’s been talked about in several positions including H-Back).
Punter/PK
Issac Power, P, 6-1, 200, Super Senior (in 2022), Castle Rock (CO) Ponderosa
Stats: 50-44.98, 6TB, 18 FC, 20 inside 20, 20 50+ yards
Recruiting: Was a 2-star recruit with a 5.4 rating
Isaiah Hankins, 6-0, 193, Sophomore (in 2022), Little Rock (AR) Christian
Stats: FG – 14-20, PAT – 57-57
Recruiting: Walk-on
Noah Rauschenberg, 6-1, 195, Senior (in 2022), Tulsa (OK) Union
Stats: KO – 81 for 64.4-yard average, 72 TB, 3 OB
Recruiting: Walk-on
Also on the roster: Bryce Boland, PK, 5-11, 172 Soph., Waco Midway (Walk-on), John Mayers, PK, 5-10, 187, Super Senior, Flower Mound Marcus (Walk-on), Garrison Grimes, LS, 6-2, 200, RSFR, American Fork (UT) (Baylor OC Jeff Grimes’ son); Corbin Robertson, LS 6-4, 240, Senior, Mount Airy, N.C., Chowan University (arriving in the summer).
A look back to 2021
Sims became one of the better tight ends in the Big 12 and parlayed a solid 2020 season into a banner 2021 season. With reliable hands, Sims became a clutch receiver. Dabney served as a steady backup.
Power’s ability to flip the field was an important element during the season. That played to Baylor’s advantage on defense with field position. He was very consistent.
Hankins won the kicking job in fall 2021 camp and got off to a solid start. However, he struggled at the end missing three of his last five and had one blocked.
Big Question in the Spring
Will there be a true competition for the PK job or does Hankins just have to show he can rebound from the wobbly finish to prove that he’s the one to hold on to the job?
He was the only kicker brought out to meet with the media a couple of weeks ago. Mayers is decent but is limited with his distance. Anything from beyond 40 yards is a wild card. Rauschenberg’s value is as a kickoff specialist.
One Guy
Baylor’s tight end depth is very challenged this season with only Sims and Dabney as the knowns. It was a help when Johnon and Mladenka arrived in January.
But watch Johnson. Since he’s going through spring ball, there are expectations that he could be a part of the plan in 2022. His athleticism brings another dimension that this group could use.
Early Forecast
Power is the punter. There’s no competition there. Hankins likely should remain as the lead kicker. The tight end setup should look the same in 2022 with Sims as the starter and Dabney as the backup.
There are two new long snappers between Grimes and Robertson. No one will ever pay attention to that position unless a snap goes awry. Then everybody knows who they are.
