Qualan Jones, a fourth-year junior, hasnt seen many carries but is among the options. In that regard, the Big 12 is a league in transition. March 1, 2023 12:56 pm CT. College football writers are taking notice of the Longhorns loaded returning roster. In the history of the Big 12, 2023 will always stand as an outlier. 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. To call last year a tale of two seasons for the Cowboys wouldnt even be touching what actually happened. Baylors one-two punch of Abram Smith and Trestan Ebner left the program. Here are our predictions for the Big 12's order of finish in 2023. 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. All advice, including picks and predictions, is based on individual commentators opinions and not that of Minute Media or its related brands. Breakdown: Gall is as dependable as they come. If Shapen can take the passing game to another level, that adds another dimension to an already good team. Breaking down the five best futures bets, picks, and predictions for the 2022 season. 7:00 AM on Aug 19, 2022 CDT. Max Duggan is a returning starter at quarterback, but must hold off last years backup in Chandler Morris. However, this years group will have some major absences to contend with, including Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year Jalen Pitre and All-Big-12 first-team linebacker selection Terrel Bernard. Sims is a staple of the Baylor offense and saw his production soar in 2021. The sample sizes are small, but also very promising for Morris. At least the defense will be anchored by Siaki Ika and a defensive line that should be just as stout as last year, especially with the addition of Jaxon Player from Tulsa. Although Baylor lost four key defenders via the NFL Draft and five starters total, theres a lot to like about the unit, starting with the defensive line. Hes watching closely, gauging whether the young players succeeding the departed stars will bring the same level of accountability. 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. He scored two offensive touchdowns (rushing and receiving) versus BYU. But he questions the quarterback depth. The NFL Draft and NFL Draft Logo are copyright of the National Football League and in no way are owned by Ourlads Scouting Services LLC. 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. They may not have won that award in 2021, that distinction belongs to Michigan. Leading receiver Tyquan Thornton is off to the NFL and No. Now that hes gotten to the top, he needs to figure out to how keep Baylor there. I really felt we saw a different side of him, Grimes said. Baylors offensive line was one of thirteen finalists for the Joe Moore Award, presented annually to the nations top offensive line in college football. Bohanon averaged only 157.9 passing yards per game and his completion percentage dipped to 61.5 percent in conference play. Ronnies smart, he cares a lot, hes a tireless worker, Aranda said. The Bears should be one of the top three teams in the Big 12, and it shouldnt surprise anyone if theyre back in the conference title game in December. This is a tough one. Offensively, John Rhys Plumlee headlines a group that ranks 78th in returning offensive production, but may be more ready to hit the ground running with a strong group of wide receivers and Plumlees ability to impact games with his legs as well. UW, of course, finished an 11-2 season with a No. But there are worse bets to take than a Kansas State team with a returning starter at quarterback in Will Howard, playing behind the bulk of his offensive line returning. 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 average sack allowed by the Baylor line in 2021 took 4.6 seconds from snap to sack, the second-longest average in the FBS. Hill is among a number of players who could have breakout seasons in 2023. (Top photo of Dave Aranda: Stephen Lew / USA Today). . With Connor Galvin For there to be an ascent, there has to be a descent first. Theres a fair amount of moxie in him.. "I thought football had to be part of it, somehow." The Bears rotated anywhere from six to eight linemen per game last season, and the returning talent gives defensive coordinator Ron Roberts a chance to do that again, with potentially an even higher level of play. WebVisit ESPN to view the latest Baylor Bears news, scores, stats, standings, rumors, and more Big 12 football schedule release: Every game for every team in 2023 2022 Team Leaders. Starters Gabe Hall, Siaki Ika and Cole Maxwell and rotational linemen TJ Franklin, Chidi Ogbonnaya and Brayden Utley return. And will Iowa States reluctance to fully embrace the transfer portal mean that the Cyclones wont fill the holes they do have? The Bears brought in two scholarship players thus far, both in the defensive front seven: Player and White. 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. The travel schedule is brutal for Baylor with trips to BYU, Iowa State, Oklahoma and Texas on tap. On defense, the second coach sees Baylors defensive line as the deepest in the Big 12. The Wildcats have their 12 returning starters equally spread across both sides of the ball, with six on offense and six on defense. Im truly excited to see what the defense will accomplish in Projected defensive starters: DE Lonnie Phelps DT Kenean Caldwell DT Caleb Sampson* DE Malcolm Lee* LB Taiwan Berryhill* LB Gavin Potter* LB Rich Miller WebBaylors special teams will be in good hands with junior punter Issac Power and freshman kicker Isaiah Hankins returning. 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. 2005-2023 CBS INTERACTIVE ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. 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. He covered the 2022 Allstate Sugar Bowl and multiple Texas Sports Hall of Fame induction ceremonies in Waco. Point, blank period. Devin Leary returns at quarterback and so does plenty of impactful players on defense. WebThe official 2022 Football schedule for the Baylor University Bears Roberts is leaning toward Walcott at star and Johnson at corner. Devin Neal, who played 13 games last year, is also in the hunt. The best aspect of the Bear secondary is their ability to hone in on an offenses preferred routes and force turnovers with sucker coverages. 8 national ranking last fall and has Pac-12 title and CFP aspirations in 2023. #Baylor RB @TayeMcwilliams on what its like behind a good O-line that returned so much talent:[Its] way easier, it makes life super easy. But there are no proven backs with Smith and Trestan Ebner gone. Those expecting last year to be a one-off for Kansas arent looking at what Kansas brings back: the Jayhawks rank second nationally in returning production, including first offensively and 10th defensively. 13 in the FanSided Top 50 Preseason Rankings. Aranda stressed the need for reps among the candidates to get comfortable. Theyre headlined by OT Connor Galvin and C Jacob Gall. I do stuff that I win, and I dont even make it look like Im trying that hard. Those are all things that have to die. With a solid crop of returning players, the question will be whether that talent can start delivering results on the field. Sophomore Monaray Baldwin starred in the Sugar Bowl with a 48-yard second-half touchdown run. Still, he said, players wondered: Why are we doing this? Josh Cameron, a former walk-on who was awarded a scholarship, gives the group some size (6-2, 210 pounds). 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. ", 2021 stats: Four sacks (T-third most), six TFLs (T-sixth most), played 13 games with 12 starts. But Texas Tech also just couldnt get healthy quarterback play with some downright awful injury luck at the position. #Baylor OL @grantmiller55 spoke highly of RB @TayeMcwilliams Thursday:I think hes like a little bit of a combination of both Abram and Trestan. Follow Sam on Twitter @skhanjr, Baylor quarterback Blake Shapen set an AT&T Stadium collegiate record with 17 straight completions en route to going 23-of-28 for 180 yards and a career-best three touchdowns against Oklahoma State in the Big 12 title game. If Bohanon takes to development the way many second-year starting quarterbacks so, Baylor could once again be the class of the league. Add in Oklahoma State ranking 101st in returning defensive production, and the Cowboys have some question marks. 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. Aranda recruited the 2020 four-star prospect while with the Tigers but left for Baylor before getting a chance to coach him. Flahertys reasoning: While the team loses plenty on the defensive side, the Wildcats return Will Howard and all five offensive linemen.
Five best college football futures bets to make, including our Syracuse Orange, who return 80% of their starters this season. The QB will also be working with a rebuilt receiving corps. His physical talent has always been there, but his improved maturity and preparation have readied him this season for the No. Much of the fault is on Baylors second and third level defenders not hitting their run fits when runners spill wide. Six four-star prospects and 14 three-star recruits headline BU's 26th-ranked class, according Shapen can be very sharp in the play action game, but he tends to fixate on his first read and defenses that deny him quick decisions can turn him over and get to him in the pocket. With whats left of the returners, here is who will stand out among the bunch in hopes to repeat as conference champions. Baylor football defensive tackle Siaki Ika and linebacker Dillon Doyle. The 2021 season was no fluke. If he can win the job and take advantage of both of those returning offensive starters and some potential transfer upgrades, things may be all right. 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. The Wolfpack will be competing in the ACC during the 2022 season. Nobody has really stepped forward yet and said, Im the guy, and this is my job,' Grimes said. Can a transfer class that brings in a few potential impact players turn the tide? The Big 12 Conference lays claim to two of the top five small forwards in the country. And while we dont think Cincinnati will be bad, the Bearcats rank last in the league in returning production, coming in at No. Here's a look at each Big 12 team's returning starters for the 2022 season. Hes joined by Matt Jones, who has been a massive drop off from the cat quick NFL draftee Terrel Bernard. The Horned Frogs suffered a surprising collapse last year, particularly defensively, that ushered in changes at the highest levels. 17 Baylor Bears football team kicks off week four with a Big 12 Conference showdown against the undefeated Iowa State Cyclones in Ames, 2022 Returning starters (5): DT Cole Maxwell, NT Siaki Ika, WLB Matt Jones, MLB Dillon Doyle, S Christian Morgan. While they lost to Oklahoma State and suffered a two-point defeat at TCU, they punched a ticket to the conference title game where they avenged their loss to the Cowboys for the crown. Everybodys going to talk about Apu Ika, and rightfully so, but Gabe Hall is the real deal, he said. I act like this. Aranda pointed to Fleeks and Baldwin as possibilities. The nucleus of the 2021 team is largely gone, with six players chosen in the NFL Draft. This was a big component of their 38-35 win over OU in Norman, forcing Dillon Gabriel into 3 first half interceptions, even though OUs offense was otherwise humming along. Thats the bad. The secondary is being retooled with Christian Morgan providing the most veteran presence at safety. @BUFootball pic.twitter.com/UGVc1Saj3L. Sophomore quarterback Baylor Romney, brother of wide receiver Gunner Romney, announced Friday on Twitter that he will not return to the Cougars in 2022. Will the unproven receivers step up?
2023 On3 Media, Inc. All rights reserved. 240 pound interior linebacker Dillon Doyle leads them in tackles and is also solid dropping into zone coverages (2 interceptions). Sling it, Shape >> @BShapen @kelseyjohnsonjr #SicEm | #PersonOverPlayer pic.twitter.com/ItRAKelqx2. With Tyquan Thornton gone via the draft and R.J. Sneed having transferred (Colorado), the Bears are young at wide receiver. Enter Sonny Dykes, who took the short jaunt from Dallas, and SMU, to Fort Worth. It wont be a big one, but itll be enough for the Cowboys to close the gap. There are also five transfers combined from those two cycles still around. Things could take a turn for the worst early if the defense isnt quite up to their 2021 form in the first half of the season. The 2022 class, which includes 21 signees, finished 36th. Aranda signed a contract extension in February that is scheduled to keep him at the school through 2029, quieting coaching carousel discussion. 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. Dykes inherits six offensive starters and seven defensive starters, and theres plenty of room for growth on both sides. BYU wide receiver Keanu Hill makes a touchdown catch against Utah Tech at LaVell Edwards Stadium in Provo on Saturday, Nov. 19, 2022. The biggest piece were moving through right now is probably just immaturity, Aranda told The Athletic. On the line, starters at four positions return: left tackle Connor Galvin, center Jacob Gall, right guard Grant Miller and both right tackles, Khalil Keith and Gavin Byers. You just dont typically see that kind of shift within a season. Sophomore Tony Anyanwu, whom Roberts said was the starting jack before foot surgery forced him to miss the season, will be in the mix, as well as redshirt freshman Jackie Marshall. 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. But if he comes in and truly finds his footing, the Cougars could be too low here. Matt Jones, who played all 14 games and was fifth on the team in tackles, will begin the year as Bernards successor at weakside linebacker. But those are all a far cry from a year ago, when it wasnt certain if Baylor could block consistently and installed a whole new offense. 2021 stats: Started all 14 games at center. I expect an all conference season.6 TD catches in 21 pic.twitter.com/gOOF8Armmd. The school president and athletic director each signed 10-year extensions. 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. The Cowboys came within inches of the Big 12 championship last year, and are tied with two other schools with 12 returning starters. CBS Sports is a registered trademark of CBS Broadcasting Inc. (Photo: Kansas State Athletics Media Relations). By signing up you agree to our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy, Stand with us in our mission to discover and uncover the story of North Texas, 10 key Baylor players to know in 2022: Returning O-line, D-line alleviates concerns, Everything you need to know about Baylor football: Key storylines, predictions and more, Ray Davis optimistic, anxious about Rangers season amidst tumultuous TV situation, Cowboys Mike McCarthy has more power, fewer excuses. Longtime starter Charlie Brewer is off to Utah, but backups Jacob Zeno and Gerry Bohanon are around with a little time logged in. Two years ago, Kansas had the youngest team in college football. The good is that Brent Venables may be just the coach to deal with that kind of roster turnover and has already drawn rave reviews for the way hes circled the wagons and begun building culture. 2 spot, Grimes said. Players Im most excited to see in CFB - Pt 20Ben Sims - TE - BaylorSims was very productive on @BUFootball Big 12 championship run. Expect more transfer help at running back (UNLVs Aidan Robbins) and on both lines. 247Sports writer Kevin Flaherty joined Athlon Sports in predicting Texas to finish first in the Big 12 conference. 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 Thats the next challenge.. Our standards are so high that it is difficult to be who you say were going to be, but Im going to stay on the path, Aranda said. 2020-21 Season-Ending Roster (bold denotes returning for 2021-22): F Flo Thamba (6-foot-10), G LJ Cryer (6-1), G/F Jordan Turner (6-8), G Adam Flagler (6-3), G/F Mark Vital (6-5), G Jared Butler (6-3), G/F Jackson Moffatt (6-7), F Jonathan Tchamwa Tchatchoua (6-8), G/F Matthew Mayer (6-9), G MaCio Teague (6-4), F Zach Loveday (7 A lot of Longhorn offensive success will rest on Sarks ability to scheme up run game solutions on a short week. There was a point in spring where you say, Hes one of the top guys on our team, just based on production, Aranda said. Somebody has to be last. Wheat also worked with Aranda at LSU, spending seven seasons as a defensive analyst for the Tigers, including all four in which Aranda was defensive coordinator. At each Big 12 championship last year, is also in the ACC during the class! 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