By Kevin Lonnquist
Publisher
Baylor opens 2022 spring football on Tuesday. The 15-day practice schedule will run through April 23 with the Green & Gold game at McLane Stadium.
If a player is going to make his move to become a starter, part of the rotation or at least give the coaches something to think about when fall camp arrives, this is the time to do it.
SicEmSports reviews the five who might have that opportunity.
Lorando Johnson, S, Soph.: He’s such an intriguing athlete who has great instincts. Baylor played him in meaningful snaps last year, especially late in the season. But this is his opening to become a leader on the back end of the defense. Johnson collected four total tackles and a 0.5 sack.
Hal Presley, WR, Soph.: Technically, Presley still has a redshirt to burn. But given the fact that Baylor will need some candidates to push for starting jobs this spring, Presley appeared in eight games in 2021. Perhaps that was a way for him to understand what the speed of the Division I game is going to be like. Baylor needs a tall target. Presley caught one pass for 15 yards and rushed one time for 13.
Taye McWilliams, RB, Jr.: He can be as good as he wants to be. The opportunity for him to become to lead running back is likely his if he works hard and demonstrates that he can do it. McWilliams didn’t carry the football after early October against West Virginia. But averaging 10.6 yards per carry in 17 attempts isn’t bad either. Granted a lot of that was against Texas Southern. However, he had 11 attempts for 79 yards combined against Kansas and West Virginia. That’s better than seven yards per attempt.
Garmon Randolph, LB, Jr.: Baylor coaches trusted him to become part of the rotation last year. He also had his moments. Now, he has a chance to become a starter and one of the focal points of the defense. Coaches will have to maximize how to get everything out of that 6-7 frame, especially on the edge with his wingspan. But so does he. Randolph collected 22 total tackles collected an INT and had three QB hurries.
Micah Mazzccua, OL, Soph.: The Bears return four of their five starting offensive linemen from the epic 2021 season. One job – left guard vacated by Xavier Newman-Johnson – is open. Mazzccua, who was one of Dave Aranda first commits, could play several positions, but he is a natural guard. That’s how he was recruited out of high school. He also appeared in eight games in the rotation. If someone has a chance to win that spot, Mazzccua earned a lot of trust including the Big 12 championship game against Oklahoma State.
One more: Watch senior linebacker Victor Obi. He may not be a contender to start. But he could be one who emerges into more of a valued member of the rotation and groomed to step in and play for an extended period of time if a starter is lost to injury.
Publisher
Baylor opens 2022 spring football on Tuesday. The 15-day practice schedule will run through April 23 with the Green & Gold game at McLane Stadium.
If a player is going to make his move to become a starter, part of the rotation or at least give the coaches something to think about when fall camp arrives, this is the time to do it.
SicEmSports reviews the five who might have that opportunity.
Lorando Johnson, S, Soph.: He’s such an intriguing athlete who has great instincts. Baylor played him in meaningful snaps last year, especially late in the season. But this is his opening to become a leader on the back end of the defense. Johnson collected four total tackles and a 0.5 sack.
Hal Presley, WR, Soph.: Technically, Presley still has a redshirt to burn. But given the fact that Baylor will need some candidates to push for starting jobs this spring, Presley appeared in eight games in 2021. Perhaps that was a way for him to understand what the speed of the Division I game is going to be like. Baylor needs a tall target. Presley caught one pass for 15 yards and rushed one time for 13.
Taye McWilliams, RB, Jr.: He can be as good as he wants to be. The opportunity for him to become to lead running back is likely his if he works hard and demonstrates that he can do it. McWilliams didn’t carry the football after early October against West Virginia. But averaging 10.6 yards per carry in 17 attempts isn’t bad either. Granted a lot of that was against Texas Southern. However, he had 11 attempts for 79 yards combined against Kansas and West Virginia. That’s better than seven yards per attempt.
Garmon Randolph, LB, Jr.: Baylor coaches trusted him to become part of the rotation last year. He also had his moments. Now, he has a chance to become a starter and one of the focal points of the defense. Coaches will have to maximize how to get everything out of that 6-7 frame, especially on the edge with his wingspan. But so does he. Randolph collected 22 total tackles collected an INT and had three QB hurries.
Micah Mazzccua, OL, Soph.: The Bears return four of their five starting offensive linemen from the epic 2021 season. One job – left guard vacated by Xavier Newman-Johnson – is open. Mazzccua, who was one of Dave Aranda first commits, could play several positions, but he is a natural guard. That’s how he was recruited out of high school. He also appeared in eight games in the rotation. If someone has a chance to win that spot, Mazzccua earned a lot of trust including the Big 12 championship game against Oklahoma State.
One more: Watch senior linebacker Victor Obi. He may not be a contender to start. But he could be one who emerges into more of a valued member of the rotation and groomed to step in and play for an extended period of time if a starter is lost to injury.
