By Kevin Lonnquist
Publisher
Time flies. Baylor defensive back Mark Milton appreciates that and wonders where it all went.
It doesn’t seem that long ago when the senior from Houston Clear Brooks was swimming upstream trying to figure out how to play defensive back at the D1 level. Now, he’s known by other defensive backs as “Unc”. Back then, Matt Rhule's staff was converting him from wide receiver to play in the secondary.
“I used to mess with the older guys: ‘Oh, man, you’ve been here for so long,’ Milton said. “And now, I’m them. But yeah, being one of the older guys, just taking some of the younger guys in my position group and molding them and showing them the process, what to do.”
Baylor’s defensive backs room for 2022 has some knowns between Milton and Al Walcott – he of the 96-yard pick six in the Sugar Bowl against Ole Miss.
There’s also some rising talent between Chateau Reed and AJ McCarty. After that, the spring will be a time to develop who can produce, be a part of a rotation and try to contribute to a legacy that leaves a very high standard.
“The older guys are going to have to take the young guys under our wings and kind of mold them.’’ Milton said. “We know what the process is, and to get back to where we were at, so now we’ve just got to get them to buy in.”
This is also going to be a time for Milton to try and lock down one of the starting positions. He and Walcott appear to be the favorites to what Kalon Barnes and Raleigh Texada left behind.
Walcott was pretty much a third starting defensive back when Barnes was lost to an arm injury. Milton played into the rotation. Combined, they accounted for 60 total tackles and four turnovers. Walcott had three interceptions. Milton had a fumble recovery.
Yet they are going to get pushed. Baylor’s defense was recognized as one of the stingiest in all of college football in 2021. Opponents completed just 60 percent of their passes, averaged just 7.3 yards per completion, threw only 12 touchdown passes and were intercepted 16 times.
However, 2022 doesn’t have anything to do with 2021.
“In order to have a good defense, there’s always going to be confidence, but there can’t be cockiness,’’ Milton said. “So, you’ve got to understand, what we did last year is what we did last year.
“You’ve got to say, ‘Oh, we’re starting from ground one. Act like you’re starting from ground one.’ And you need to build it up and on a strong foundation in order to do what we did last year or do even better.”
Baylor should be one of if not the preseason favorite to repeat as Big 12 champions. Don’t be surprised if the Bears are a Top 10 pick in preseason polls.
Should that all come to fruition, it all changes the perception. The Bears will have the attention of those who probably and understandably did not sense it last year. Really, no fault there. The Bears began 2021 coming off a 2-7 2020 and were picked eighth in the media preseason poll.
What a difference a year makes.
“When we play everybody this upcoming year, it’s going to be everybody’s Big 12 championship,’’ Milton said. “…But I’m really confident in who we have.’’
Publisher
Time flies. Baylor defensive back Mark Milton appreciates that and wonders where it all went.
It doesn’t seem that long ago when the senior from Houston Clear Brooks was swimming upstream trying to figure out how to play defensive back at the D1 level. Now, he’s known by other defensive backs as “Unc”. Back then, Matt Rhule's staff was converting him from wide receiver to play in the secondary.
“I used to mess with the older guys: ‘Oh, man, you’ve been here for so long,’ Milton said. “And now, I’m them. But yeah, being one of the older guys, just taking some of the younger guys in my position group and molding them and showing them the process, what to do.”
Baylor’s defensive backs room for 2022 has some knowns between Milton and Al Walcott – he of the 96-yard pick six in the Sugar Bowl against Ole Miss.
There’s also some rising talent between Chateau Reed and AJ McCarty. After that, the spring will be a time to develop who can produce, be a part of a rotation and try to contribute to a legacy that leaves a very high standard.
“The older guys are going to have to take the young guys under our wings and kind of mold them.’’ Milton said. “We know what the process is, and to get back to where we were at, so now we’ve just got to get them to buy in.”
This is also going to be a time for Milton to try and lock down one of the starting positions. He and Walcott appear to be the favorites to what Kalon Barnes and Raleigh Texada left behind.
Walcott was pretty much a third starting defensive back when Barnes was lost to an arm injury. Milton played into the rotation. Combined, they accounted for 60 total tackles and four turnovers. Walcott had three interceptions. Milton had a fumble recovery.
Yet they are going to get pushed. Baylor’s defense was recognized as one of the stingiest in all of college football in 2021. Opponents completed just 60 percent of their passes, averaged just 7.3 yards per completion, threw only 12 touchdown passes and were intercepted 16 times.
However, 2022 doesn’t have anything to do with 2021.
“In order to have a good defense, there’s always going to be confidence, but there can’t be cockiness,’’ Milton said. “So, you’ve got to understand, what we did last year is what we did last year.
“You’ve got to say, ‘Oh, we’re starting from ground one. Act like you’re starting from ground one.’ And you need to build it up and on a strong foundation in order to do what we did last year or do even better.”
Baylor should be one of if not the preseason favorite to repeat as Big 12 champions. Don’t be surprised if the Bears are a Top 10 pick in preseason polls.
Should that all come to fruition, it all changes the perception. The Bears will have the attention of those who probably and understandably did not sense it last year. Really, no fault there. The Bears began 2021 coming off a 2-7 2020 and were picked eighth in the media preseason poll.
What a difference a year makes.
“When we play everybody this upcoming year, it’s going to be everybody’s Big 12 championship,’’ Milton said. “…But I’m really confident in who we have.’’
