Will the unproven receivers step up? Many of them embodied the style and soul of what Aranda wants Baylor football to be. After losing eight players to the NFL over the summer, Baylor football will be forced to replace some big-time athletes from a 2021 Big Players Im most excited to see in CFB - Pt 20Ben Sims - TE - BaylorSims was very productive on @BUFootball Big 12 championship run.

Baylor has been one of the least active teams in the transfer portal nationally. No other Bear tight end has caught as many touchdowns as his nine career scores. Sophomore Monaray Baldwin starred in the Sugar Bowl with a 48-yard second-half touchdown run. Breakdown: In the middle, all eyes are on Dillon Doyle for the 2022 season. All aboard the Aranda train. 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He and his wife, Karina, got married last January and have a 4-month-old daughter, Zoe. The Red Raiders rank 31st in returning offensive production but could also stand to get a full season from Tyler Shough, which would likely lead to improvement on that end. 2023 Minute Media - All Rights Reserved. Baylor ranked 10th in the country and first in the Big 12 in rushing offense in 2021, averaging 219.3 yards per game, leading the way to a Big 12 Championship. By Michael Haag. Hunter Dekkers is the likely Brock Purdy replacement, and he has some interesting traits to build around. Joey McGuires first team will be fascinating to watch with an offense that returns four starters but also adds Zach Kittley, the architect of last years explosive Western Kentucky group. pic.twitter.com/zg3fJXYoU9, 2021 stats (Tulsa): 14.0 TFLs (led team, second in AAC), four sacks (second on team), one forced fumble and a fumble recovery. Talent hasnt been and will continue to not be the issue in Austin. Add in Oklahoma State ranking 101st in returning defensive production, and the Cowboys have some question marks. in returning offensive production theres reason to believe some of those close games are going to go the other way in 2023. The Bears are returning a total of 13 starters from last season, but they lost nearly all of their offensive production from 2021 and almost all of their starting secondary. The buildup to the 2021 season was full of change. Following that group is a young trio: redshirt freshman Cisco Caston, true freshman Devyn Bobby and third-year sophomore Mike Harris. Thats the next challenge.. Much like Morgan, he is stepping into an expanded role. But Texas Tech also just couldnt get healthy quarterback play with some downright awful injury luck at the position. But West Virginia also ranks 89th in returning offensive production nationally, and doesnt really make up for it on the defensive side, where the Mountaineers are 49th. Breakdown: There are so many other worthy names that could have made this list, but it felt wrong to exclude one of the best tight ends in Baylor football history. There was a point in spring where you say, Hes one of the top guys on our team, just based on production, Aranda said. But expecting TCU to reach the Big 12 title game again might be too much. Key stat to know: Baylors offensive line improvement from 2020 to 2021 was significant. It sets the tone for everything.. On the move! Those returning starters include seven on offense and seven on defense, and while the Bears will be looking to replace some fairly irreplaceable players, Baylor should once again field tough lines on both sides of the ball and an armory of speed. To fill the void, Aranda hired former Nevada assistant Ronnie Wheat. The wild card at linebacker is LSU transfer Josh White, who just arrived on campus this month. Texas has a real opportunity to hold down this unit if theyre assignment sound and the corner opposite Ryan Watts comes to play. Theyre certainly at their best running free on play action shots. Its safe to expect him to continue performing at a high level as a blocker and as a lethal receiving threat for Shapen. [Get a FREE 7-day trial of Inside Texas Plus!]. I really felt we saw a different side of him, Grimes said. To replace receivers coach Chansi Stuckey, who joined Marcus Freemans staff at Notre Dame, Aranda hired former Buffalo and Marshall receivers coach Dallas Baker. The 6-5 Baylor Bears represent one of the most physical teams that Texas has seen this season, but meeting the other teams physicality hasnt been a problem for the Longhorns. Outside of those scheme induced meltdowns, theyve actually proven fairly susceptible to the passing game, giving up steady gains to Will Howard and Max Duggan in recent weeks. Six four-star prospects and 14 three-star recruits headline BU's 26th-ranked class, according The content on this site is for entertainment and educational purposes only. Baylor took a bold step by not only reopening the quarterback competition after its historic season, but opting for its 2021 backup, Blake Shapen, over starter Gerry Bohanon. In the history of the Big 12, 2023 will always stand as an outlier. The Wildcats return 14 starters from last seasons 8-5 team, with 10 being All-Conference players. In the return game, Baylor lost Ebner, a third-round pick and the Big 12 special teams player of the year. While talent and certainly coaching are major indicators, perhaps nothing is quite as important as having good players who have already seen the field. A better, and more cohesive showing on defense would both be a welcome sign and would allow either Card or Ewers a bit more cushion to get comfortable. The plethora of linebacker options is a good problem to have, Aranda said. Tyquan Thornton, R.J. Snead and Drew Estrada have all departed, leaving tight end Ben Sims as the leading returning pass-catcher along with tight end Drake Dabney. Besides Alabama or Georgia, I dont know whos got a better front scheme-wise than Baylor.. CBS Sports is a registered trademark of CBS Broadcasting Inc. (Photo: Kansas State Athletics Media Relations). On the plus side, Shapen will have a veteran offensive line led by defending Big 12 Offensive Lineman of the Year Connor Galvin and reinforced y Buffalow transfer Jacob Gall. Baylor (6-7 in 2022) (Photo: Frank Jansky/Icon Sportswire, Getty) The biggest reason to propel the Bears down these rankings is that Baylor ranks 100th nationally in You can learn more about Pete by visiting his personal website: PeteMundo.com. The Bears are allowing offenses to convert a healthy 45.4% of their 3rd downs this season and that simply doesnt marry well to Arandas larger philosophy. Baylor football defensive tackle Siaki Ika and linebacker Dillon Doyle. On the other side of the ball, West Virginia will need some of the younger players it has landed in recent classes to pan out sooner rather than later. Craig Sqwirl Williams, 5-foot-8, 173 pounds, has battled injuries but was healthy this spring. At safety, the Bears will be inexperienced but talented. No one should expect to make money from the picks and predictions discussed on this website. Over his last five games he has 3 touchdowns to 6 interceptions and while he hasnt had a Ewers level bottoming out, hes been shaky. Leading receiver Tyquan Thornton is off to the NFL and No. And will Iowa States reluctance to fully embrace the transfer portal mean that the Cyclones wont fill the holes they do have? Point, blank period. Baylor struggles to get an honest pass rush at times and they rely heavily on deceptive coverages on the back end to confound QBs and force sucker throws. Remaining steady in the trenches should be a big help to the offense. Hes a guy that opened up his heart to the team and led his team in a real prideful, courageous way, Aranda said of Bohanon. The travel schedule is brutal for Baylor with trips to BYU, Iowa State, Oklahoma and Texas on tap. The Bears have six players on preseason watch lists for national awards. Another year in Venables defensive system couldnt hurt either, as Oklahoma struggled at times to be assignment sound on that side of the ball. The nucleus of the 2021 team is largely gone, with six players chosen in the NFL Draft. With Texas and Oklahoma moving their Big 12 ousters to 2024 rather than 2025, this season will mark the only one that includes the two departing conference schools along with the four new additions: BYU, Cincinnati, Houston and UCF. The Cougars are the top-ranked newcomer here, though whether that plays out will likely depend on whether Kedon Slovis can re-find some of the magic he showed a few years back at USC. The Baylor Bears are riding a wave of momentum after a 21-7 victory over Ole Miss in the Allstate Sugar Bowl, and this announcement just makes things all the better down in Waco. There will be more on the QBs shoulders this season with reading rushers Abram Smith and Trestan Ebner gone. 2005-2023 CBS INTERACTIVE ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. Related: College Football's Top Quarterbacks on the Rise for 2023 4. "I thought football had to be part of it, somehow." Will the rushing attack be as reliable as it was a year ago? And with the talent on hand on defense some of the teams most talented defenders are working with the second and third teams so far this spring improvement on that end should come quickly. Theres a lot to like about what the Golden Knights are building defensively for the future, and the good news is that with UCF ranking 43rd in returning defensive production, those younger players wont be needed immediately. In run blocking in 2020, the Bears averaged 1.4 yards per rush before first contact, which was last in the Big 12 and 111th in the FBS. Baylor tabbed a new starting quarterback. Michael has covered Baylor football, men's and women's basketball, baseball and more. We know. A number of transfers doesnt hurt either. Starters Gabe Hall, Siaki Ika and Cole Maxwell and rotational linemen TJ Franklin, Chidi Ogbonnaya and Brayden Utley return. 247Sports writer Kevin Flaherty joined Athlon Sports At middle linebacker, returning starter Dillon Doyle second on the team with 90 tackles in 2021 should be even better. The QB will also be working with a rebuilt receiving corps. We did some decent things last year at times, but we were just inconsistent, Grimes said. Will Howard, Kansas State An injury to Adrian Martinez in mid-October opened the door for Its rare to see a combination of strength, speed and agility for someone with Halls frame. The Bears enter the season ranked No. Hes got new ideas and new ways to look at things that are going to improve all of us.. If youre talking about which team is the Big 12 favorite, Im going with Baylor because of what they have up front, the coach said. A more consistent downfield and intermediate passing game will be the big difference., Added Aranda: (Shapens) ability as a thrower to read coverages, to anticipate looks his arm is strong, his delivery can be unique. Mark Milton, who started two games at corner last year, is a strong candidate at cornerback. Run blocking has improved, Aranda said. The clearest strength of the Baylor offense is an OL that represents the 2nd most seasoned unit in college football. Preseason prognosticators that looked at 14 returning starters and picked the Bears to win the league are being punished for not understanding that Baylor losing six players to the NFL Draft 4 of them in the first first 3 rounds isnt something that can be replaced. Seven months removed from winning the national championship, Baylor could be good enough to reach the final game again this season. On3 is a registered trademark of On3 Media, Inc. The Longhorns werent far off. Grimes also looks at fifth-year senior Mose Jeffery, sophomore Micah Mazzccua and redshirt freshman tackle Tate Williams as possible contributors. The 2022 class, which includes 21 signees, finished 36th. He and his wife, Karina, got married last January and have Bohanon, who started the other 12 games, hit the transfer portal after the coaches gave Shapen the nod and landed at South Florida. After a 2-7 debut during a season impacted by COVID-19, the head coach pulled his team together to win the Big 12 for the first time since 2014, going 12-2 with a victory in the Sugar Bowl to cap things off. Lorando Johnson, S Lorando Johnson likely wont declare in the 2023 NFL Draft cycle, but his name is one to keep in the memory banks. Lost in last years rough season: the Cyclones had quite a bit of young talent that took its lumps and probably needed another year to come together. Jun 16, 2022 7:08 PM EDT The Baylor Bears offense had some serious turnover this spring, with quarterback Gerry Bohanon hitting the NCAA Transfer Portal in Without certainty at running back or in the back seven of the defense, its fair to expect the Bears to take a slight step back. ", 2021 stats: Four sacks (T-third most), six TFLs (T-sixth most), played 13 games with 12 starts. @BUFootball pic.twitter.com/UGVc1Saj3L. (Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports). The Bears have young athletes out wide capable of explosive plays, but they are remarkably inconsistent and inexperienced. In comparison to Baylors six returning starters, BYU has a clear advantage in this department as they return a colossal 19 players from last years already stacked team. For more NCAA football news, analysis, opinion and unique coverage by FanSided, including Heisman Trophy and College Football Playoff rankings, be sure to bookmark these pages. Texas checks in at No. Those returning starters include seven on offense and seven on defense, and while the Bears will be looking to replace some fairly irreplaceable players, Baylor A '21 start against Baylor (461 passing yards and two scores and 70 rushing yards) showcased Morris' talent. The Bears O-line was the most improved unit in 2021, becoming a true strength as the Bears led the Big 12 in rushing and allowed the third-fewest sacks. The Big 12 Conference lays claim to two of the top five small forwards in the country. But perhaps the single biggest reason to believe in Oklahoma: (Photo: Frank Jansky/Icon Sportswire, Getty), (Photo: Jay Biggerstaff, USA TODAY Sports), (Photo: James Guillory, USA TODAY Sports), according to ESPNs Bill Connellys measurements, When we looked at how teams fared in one-score games. The best aspect of the Bear secondary is their ability to hone in on an offenses preferred routes and force turnovers with sucker coverages. The 6-7, 265-pound junior should build on his 2021, which included 29 tackles and three sacks in 11 games. Oklahoma State actually topped our Big 12 power rankings at one point, then by years end, the Cowboys might have legitimately been the Big 12s worst team. By far, this is the most depth weve had since Ive been here, Roberts said. Baylor Bear Insider One of seven returning starters from a 31-20 Baylor team, sophomore infielder Tre Richardson didn't like that aching feeling last May when the Bears were the "first team out" when the NCAA Regional selections were announced. Roberts is leaning toward Walcott at star and Johnson at corner. It might be way too early for college football predictions, but before the rest of the country hits the field for spring ball, here are our early predictions for Power-5 conference champions in 2023. Those are some pretty big haymakers to take, and with Cincinnati bringing in 247Sports 11th-rated transfer class, Scott Satterfield could have a bit of an uphill climb to keep things where theyve been. Quinn Ewers should become more consistent in his second year as a starter, and getting a healthy Isaiah Neyor to catch passes next to Xavier Worthy could bring an impact newcomer who technically doesnt count as a newcomer. The Longhorns could go as far as the quarterback position will take them this year, whether thats Hudson Card, who started two games last year, or Quinn Ewers, the former top-ranked overall prospect in the 2021 247Sports Composite. It was hard, but necessary. Everybodys going to talk about Apu Ika, and rightfully so, but Gabe Hall is the real deal, he said. 8 national ranking last fall and has Pac-12 title and CFP aspirations in 2023. Over their last 7 games, the Bears have given up 13 turnovers. In the three games Shapen saw significant action Kansas State, Texas Tech and Oklahoma State Shapen completed 71 percent of his passes and averaged 190 passing yards. Bohanons passing numbers were solid in nonconference play (66.6 percent completion rate, 626 yards, four touchdowns and one interception in three games) but his yardage and completion rate dipped in Big 12 games. Flahertys reasoning: While the team loses plenty on the defensive side, the Wildcats return Will Howard and all five offensive linemen. UFC 278: Kamaru Usman vs. Leon Edwards fight card, start time, channel guide, Mets: Buck Showalter pours cold water on potential call-ups, Oregon football 2022 season prediction, preview, awards, 2022 bowl game, Jake Paul Is Hilariously Bad at Taking Batting Practice, Sorry Calipari, Paul Finebaum has spoken: Kentucky is a football school, Oklahoma football 2022 season prediction, preview, awards, 2022 bowl game, Nebraska WR Decoldest Crawford debuts in coolest HVAC ad possible. Explosive Florida State running back transfer Treshaun Ward is among the Big 12s most exciting transfer additions, and hell join DJ Giddens in making sure the Wildcats can still run the ball. 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