The Bells and Whistles Version
By Kevin Lonnquist
Publisher
Baylor’s spring football season began on March 22. The Spring Game is 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.
The wide receiver situation is similar to what happened to the running backs. Known personalities moved on to the NFL draft or just moved on elsewhere. Tyquan Thornton is going through the NFL draft process. Drew Estrada is hoping for an NFL camp invite. RJ Sneed transferred to Colorado.
Baylor pass catchers collected 237. Thornton, Estrada and Sneed snared 138 of those. However, if you add Trestan Ebner and Abram Smith into the mix, that’s another 41 making it 179.
Indeed, there isn’t much experience returning. But there could be more talent on the roster than what was in Waco previously.
Let’s take a look at the wide receivers room.
Gavin Holmes, 5-11, 207, Super Senior (in 2022), Justin Northwest
Stats: Did not play in 2021
Recruiting: Was a 3-star with a 5.7 rating
Armani Winfield, 6-2, 200, Freshman (in 2022), Lewisville
Stats: 2022 signee, January 2022 arrival
Recruiting: Was a 4-star with a 5.8 rating
Hal Presley, 6-3, 197, Soph. (in 2022), Mansfield Summit/Auburn
Stats: Receiving: 1-15
Recruiting: Was a 3-star with a 5.7 rating
Javon Gipson, 6-3, 205, RSFR (in 2022), Richmond George Ranch
Stats: Redshirted
Recruiting: Was a 3-star with a 5.5 rating
Cameron Bonner, 5-11, 175, RSFR (in 2022), Houston St. Thomas
Stats: Redshirted
Recruiting: Was a 3-star with a 5.6 rating
Monaray Baldwin, 5-9, 165, Soph. (in 2022), Killeen Shoemaker
Stats: Receiving: 1-7; Rushing: Rushing: 6-87 1TD (48 TD run vs. Ole Miss, Sugar Bowl)
Recruiting: Was a 2-star with a 5.3 rating
Elijah Bean, 6-5, 203, RSFR (in 2022), Humble Summer Creek
Stats: Redshirted
Recruiting: Was a 3-star with a 5.5 rating
Jaylen Ellis, 6-0, 194, Jr. (in 2022)
Stats: Receiving: 1-3
Recruiting: Was a 3-star with a 5.7 rating
Seth Jones, 5-11, 190, Soph. (in 2022), Pearland Shadow Creek
Stats: Did not play in 2021
Recruiting: Was a 2-star with a 5.4 rating
Also on the roster: Tripp Mitchell (6-0, 195, Jr. Walk-on Westlake Village (CA) Oak Christian School); Jonah Burton (6-0, 190, RSFR, Walk-on, Simi Valley (CA); Josh Cameron (6-2, 210, RSFR, Walk-on, Cedar Park); Jonathan Davidson (6-1, 210, Soph., Walk-on, Fulshear, TX)
2022 Signees: Jordan Nabors (Rockwall-Heath)
A look back to 2021
It was kind of a strange season. Everything pointed to Sneed being the No. 1 receiver. It started out that way. Then in about the middle of the season, things transitioned. Sneed faded and Thornton awakened from a slow start to become the leading pass catcher.
The West Virginia game is where it flipped for Thornton when caught eight passes for 187 yards and two scores. He had 44 of his 62 receptions between West Virginia and Oklahoma State in the Big 12 championship. For Sneed, he caught just 13 passes for 81 yards in the final six games.
Estrada filled the role of being the solid No. 3 receiver and making the sure-handed catch when it was needed.
However, that was it. Nothing really happened in the Sugar Bowl against Ole Miss as Baylor threw for just 40 yards.
Big Question in the Spring
This is talented yet really green group. What Baylor head coach Dave Aranda and new wide receivers coach Dallas Baker, who arrived from the University of Buffalo, have to determine is who really breaks from the pack to become the most consistent and could become the starters.
Baylor is going to have to wait for Presley who is out with a broken foot. Winfield was recruited hard in the closing weeks of the 2021 December signing period because Baylor really needs someone to potentially make an immediate impact. Winfield, who is going through spring ball, is getting his chance.
Go back to the 2021 signing class of Bonner, Baldwin, Bean and Gipson. Of course, everyone remembers Baldwin’s memorable end around TD run against Ole Miss. But this is the spring where the others have to reveal if they can be part of the answer or just be part of the roster. Bonner, Bean and Gipson redshirted.
The Bears really need three solid receivers like they had in 2021.
One Guy
His career has been ravaged by two torn ACLs. When Holmes arrived at Baylor in 2017, there was such hope and expectations. For his career, he has 46 receptions for 410 yards and three touchdowns.
Spring will determine what his speed is like and what his mobility is like. He said at the beginning of spring camp that he was determined to make everything count and be a leader for this group.
Technically, he is the leader of this corps because of his longevity and experience. Should Holmes stay healthy and become that presence this young group really needs, then this group suddenly becomes better.
Early forecast
Jobs are available. You have to believe Winfield will be given every opportunity to try and crack the starting lineup. His talent is too good to ignore. He arrived in January with that purpose.
Presley, who committed to Baylor, then de-committed before signing with Auburn and then changed his mind and returned to Baylor right before the start of the 2021 season (You get all that?), is the big target that this group needs. With him at 6-3 and Winfield at 6-2, those present some matchup problems.
Of course, we won’t know anything about his status until fall camp. Foot injuries can be a little tricky. Just ask basketball players. If Presley is a full go sometime in August, he likely will start.
Ideally, a starting three would be Presley, Winfield and Holmes. After that, it’s up to the young players to step up and be viewed as options should injuries surface. It's kind of now or never for Ellis.
By Kevin Lonnquist
Publisher
Baylor’s spring football season began on March 22. The Spring Game is 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.
The wide receiver situation is similar to what happened to the running backs. Known personalities moved on to the NFL draft or just moved on elsewhere. Tyquan Thornton is going through the NFL draft process. Drew Estrada is hoping for an NFL camp invite. RJ Sneed transferred to Colorado.
Baylor pass catchers collected 237. Thornton, Estrada and Sneed snared 138 of those. However, if you add Trestan Ebner and Abram Smith into the mix, that’s another 41 making it 179.
Indeed, there isn’t much experience returning. But there could be more talent on the roster than what was in Waco previously.
Let’s take a look at the wide receivers room.
Gavin Holmes, 5-11, 207, Super Senior (in 2022), Justin Northwest
Stats: Did not play in 2021
Recruiting: Was a 3-star with a 5.7 rating
Armani Winfield, 6-2, 200, Freshman (in 2022), Lewisville
Stats: 2022 signee, January 2022 arrival
Recruiting: Was a 4-star with a 5.8 rating
Hal Presley, 6-3, 197, Soph. (in 2022), Mansfield Summit/Auburn
Stats: Receiving: 1-15
Recruiting: Was a 3-star with a 5.7 rating
Javon Gipson, 6-3, 205, RSFR (in 2022), Richmond George Ranch
Stats: Redshirted
Recruiting: Was a 3-star with a 5.5 rating
Cameron Bonner, 5-11, 175, RSFR (in 2022), Houston St. Thomas
Stats: Redshirted
Recruiting: Was a 3-star with a 5.6 rating
Monaray Baldwin, 5-9, 165, Soph. (in 2022), Killeen Shoemaker
Stats: Receiving: 1-7; Rushing: Rushing: 6-87 1TD (48 TD run vs. Ole Miss, Sugar Bowl)
Recruiting: Was a 2-star with a 5.3 rating
Elijah Bean, 6-5, 203, RSFR (in 2022), Humble Summer Creek
Stats: Redshirted
Recruiting: Was a 3-star with a 5.5 rating
Jaylen Ellis, 6-0, 194, Jr. (in 2022)
Stats: Receiving: 1-3
Recruiting: Was a 3-star with a 5.7 rating
Seth Jones, 5-11, 190, Soph. (in 2022), Pearland Shadow Creek
Stats: Did not play in 2021
Recruiting: Was a 2-star with a 5.4 rating
Also on the roster: Tripp Mitchell (6-0, 195, Jr. Walk-on Westlake Village (CA) Oak Christian School); Jonah Burton (6-0, 190, RSFR, Walk-on, Simi Valley (CA); Josh Cameron (6-2, 210, RSFR, Walk-on, Cedar Park); Jonathan Davidson (6-1, 210, Soph., Walk-on, Fulshear, TX)
2022 Signees: Jordan Nabors (Rockwall-Heath)
A look back to 2021
It was kind of a strange season. Everything pointed to Sneed being the No. 1 receiver. It started out that way. Then in about the middle of the season, things transitioned. Sneed faded and Thornton awakened from a slow start to become the leading pass catcher.
The West Virginia game is where it flipped for Thornton when caught eight passes for 187 yards and two scores. He had 44 of his 62 receptions between West Virginia and Oklahoma State in the Big 12 championship. For Sneed, he caught just 13 passes for 81 yards in the final six games.
Estrada filled the role of being the solid No. 3 receiver and making the sure-handed catch when it was needed.
However, that was it. Nothing really happened in the Sugar Bowl against Ole Miss as Baylor threw for just 40 yards.
Big Question in the Spring
This is talented yet really green group. What Baylor head coach Dave Aranda and new wide receivers coach Dallas Baker, who arrived from the University of Buffalo, have to determine is who really breaks from the pack to become the most consistent and could become the starters.
Baylor is going to have to wait for Presley who is out with a broken foot. Winfield was recruited hard in the closing weeks of the 2021 December signing period because Baylor really needs someone to potentially make an immediate impact. Winfield, who is going through spring ball, is getting his chance.
Go back to the 2021 signing class of Bonner, Baldwin, Bean and Gipson. Of course, everyone remembers Baldwin’s memorable end around TD run against Ole Miss. But this is the spring where the others have to reveal if they can be part of the answer or just be part of the roster. Bonner, Bean and Gipson redshirted.
The Bears really need three solid receivers like they had in 2021.
One Guy
His career has been ravaged by two torn ACLs. When Holmes arrived at Baylor in 2017, there was such hope and expectations. For his career, he has 46 receptions for 410 yards and three touchdowns.
Spring will determine what his speed is like and what his mobility is like. He said at the beginning of spring camp that he was determined to make everything count and be a leader for this group.
Technically, he is the leader of this corps because of his longevity and experience. Should Holmes stay healthy and become that presence this young group really needs, then this group suddenly becomes better.
Early forecast
Jobs are available. You have to believe Winfield will be given every opportunity to try and crack the starting lineup. His talent is too good to ignore. He arrived in January with that purpose.
Presley, who committed to Baylor, then de-committed before signing with Auburn and then changed his mind and returned to Baylor right before the start of the 2021 season (You get all that?), is the big target that this group needs. With him at 6-3 and Winfield at 6-2, those present some matchup problems.
Of course, we won’t know anything about his status until fall camp. Foot injuries can be a little tricky. Just ask basketball players. If Presley is a full go sometime in August, he likely will start.
Ideally, a starting three would be Presley, Winfield and Holmes. After that, it’s up to the young players to step up and be viewed as options should injuries surface. It's kind of now or never for Ellis.
