Expect Baylor to give Texas a wake-up call in the regular season finale but settle for a 9-3 campaign. With those two moved on, fall camp has indicated the Richmond native as being the likely bell cow back starting in Week 1, and hes impressed many as of late. Sam Khan Jr. is a senior writer for The Athletic covering college football and recruiting primarily in Texas. The school president and athletic director each signed 10-year extensions. 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. The Bears have six players on preseason watch lists for national awards. This page is Note: Baylor OC Jeff Grimes loves trick plays. Thats the bad. 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. Roberts is leaning toward Walcott at star and Johnson at corner. The proof? Can Iowa State replace Xavier Hutchinson, who seemed like the offenses only option at times last year? His confidence started to grow.. Breaking down the five best futures bets, picks, and predictions for the 2022 season. 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. Texas checks in at No. Their preferred front lines up Baylor size and power on the specific Longhorn OL whove dealt with that least well and its important that the Longhorns have some run game wrinkles that allow advantageous blocking angles inside and create some conflict in Baylors clean up crew. Its one thing to go from being a weakness to a strength, Grimes said. There will be more on the QBs shoulders this season with reading rushers Abram Smith and Trestan Ebner gone. Losing Deuce Vaughn and Felix Anudike-Uzomah arguably the Wildcats best player on offense and defense, respectively certainly hurts. At safety, the Bears will be inexperienced but talented. 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 With a solid crop of returning players, the question will be whether that talent can start delivering results on the field. ", 2021 stats: Four sacks (T-third most), six TFLs (T-sixth most), played 13 games with 12 starts. Six four-star prospects and 14 three-star recruits headline BU's 26th-ranked class, according Key stat to know: Baylors stout defense forced the second-most third downs (200) in the Big 12 and 11th most in the Power 5 last season, a result of good early down defense. Editors note:This ispart of a seriespreviewing Power 5 and top Group of 5 teams for the 2022 college football season. He scored two offensive touchdowns (rushing and receiving) versus BYU. With Tyquan Thornton gone via the draft and R.J. Sneed having transferred (Colorado), the Bears are young at wide receiver. Baylor Football: 2022 Bears Season Preview and Prediction Athlon Sports Jun 7, 2022 Blake Shapen and the Bears are ranked No. February 8, 2023 7:57 pm CT. ESPN announced its returning production rankings for the 2023 season on Tuesday. LT Connor Galvin, RG Grant Miller, RT Kahlil Keith, and C Jacob Gall are all seniors who were eligible to return for another season in 2022. But there are no proven backs with Smith and Trestan Ebner gone. Baylor football 2021 season in review Arandas second season in charge could hardly have gone more perfectly. Shapen showed promise in his two starts last year, the regular-season finale versus Texas Tech and the Big 12 championship win over Oklahoma State. For there to be an ascent, there has to be a descent first. 2005-2023 CBS INTERACTIVE ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. AJ McCarty is ready to contribute at corner and Chateau Reed may be the most talented of Baylors corners, Roberts said. Point, blank period. 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. The content on this site is for entertainment and educational purposes only. Josh Fleeks moved this offseason from receiver to running back. By Matt Severance Updated: Dec 27, 2021 10:49AM PST . Oklahoma and Texas will loom in the second half of the season but the Oct. 1 matchup with Oklahoma State could be the early indicator of what the Bears are capable of. (Kevin Jairaj / USA Today), He looked inward, forcing himself to evolve, Aranda signed a contract extension in February, but opting for its 2021 backup, Blake Shapen, over starter Gerry Bohanon. The strength of the offense lies up front. Taye McWilliams is the leading returning rusher but had only 17 carries in 10 games last year. Gavin Holmes is the senior statesman of the group, but after dropping 210 yards against West Virginia, hes had 84 yards receiving total over the last five games. He creates openings for himself that maybe others dont. One of the most important factors in a team's success in college football is its returning experience. Already an A+ run defender and also shows flashes of having passing down value to melt the pocket. The top three tight ends on the 2021 depth chart return. They may not have won that award in 2021, that distinction belongs to Michigan. Run blocking has improved, Aranda said. Hill is among a number of players who could have breakout seasons in 2023. LSUs Josh White will try to bolster the linebacker corps, which does return middle linebacker Dillon Doyle. The Bears enter the season ranked No. Aranda pointed to Fleeks and Baldwin as possibilities. Theres a fair amount of moxie in him.. All advice, including picks and predictions, is based on individual commentators opinions and not that of Minute Media or its related brands. Michael Haag, Baylor athletics blogger. The defense was stifling and the offense pounded the rock as the Bears worked their way through the Big 12 slate and took down ranked BYU. Devin Leary returns at quarterback and so does plenty of impactful players on defense. 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. Aranda signed a contract extension in February that is scheduled to keep him at the school through 2029, quieting coaching carousel discussion. (Kevin Jairaj / USA Today), Baylor linebacker Dillon Doyle finished second on the team in tackles with 90 and second with 8.5 tackles for loss. Diminutive Richard Reese (908 yards, 14 tds, 5.2 per carry) and Sqwirl Williams (530 yards, 4 tds, 5.8 per carry) are the speed component while 245 pound Qualan Jones (403 yards, 7 tds, 5.5 per carry) brings the pain. You just dont typically see that kind of shift within a season. CLICK HERE to download the CBS Sports Mobile App and get the latest on your team today. Fleeks has all the ability in the world, and Baldwin is a dynamic player with really good speed. Other receivers could get looks at returner. "I thought football had to be part of it, somehow." It finished fourth in the Big 12 in total D and tenth in the nation in scoring defense, but the it was really, really good at was taking the ball away. But Baylor also brings in 247Sports No. BYU wide receiver Keanu Hill makes a touchdown catch against Utah Tech at LaVell Edwards Stadium in Provo on Saturday, Nov. 19, 2022. 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. Shouldnt we do it some other way?. With Connor Galvin making the announcement that he will come back next season on Friday, the Bear will bring back all four of those guys. Prod. Cornerback Al Walcott and safety Christian Morgan, both returning starters, will also see time at star, Roberts said. 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. 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. Breakdown: Gabe Hall has come up in recent news as being one of college footballs top freak athletes, and its true. With nine offensive returning starters and eight defensive returning starters and Lance Leipold getting his first spring with the team after signing on after spring ball last year, the Jayhawks should have significantly better understanding of the teams system and what it takes to compete in the Big 12. Related: College Football's Top Quarterbacks on the Rise for 2023 4. He knows a thing or two because hes seen a thing or two over the course of his collegiate career. Newman-Johnson will play in the 2022 East-West Shrine Bowl in February and should have his name called at the 2022 NFL Draft in April. This makes the Bears 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. Breakdown: Returning for his fifth season, the 2021 Big 12 Offensive Lineman of the Year will yet again be a force to be reckoned with in the trenches. There was a point in spring where you say, Hes one of the top guys on our team, just based on production, Aranda said. The good news? 2022 Baylor Football Preview. Flahertys reasoning: While the team loses plenty on the defensive side, the Wildcats return Will Howard and all five offensive linemen. A year ago, Grimes found his running back by moving linebacker Abram Smith, a former running back recruit, back to the position. Players Im most excited to see in CFB - Pt 20Ben Sims - TE - BaylorSims was very productive on @BUFootball Big 12 championship run. The pass rush will be good, the run D will be great, and Texas safeties and linebackers cant get caught up in trash and must fit the cutback lanes. By far, this is the most depth weve had since Ive been here, Roberts said. They have 150+ combined starts in aggregate. Baylor Bears Preview 2022: Defense Dave Aranda knows how to get a defense to produce, and this one should be more than fine. Its a big gamble, the second coach said. 3 min read Blake Corum and Donovan Edwards will take over a lot of the running duties with the potential to really be successful as a one-two punch. The 2021 second-team All-AAC selection should thrive being back in his hometown of Waco. UW, of course, finished an 11-2 season with a No. The Cyclones starter count includes five on offense and three on defense, with the former group including a new starter at quarterback. Breakdown: Gall is as dependable as they come. Expect more transfer help at running back (UNLVs Aidan Robbins) and on both lines. Nobody has really stepped forward yet and said, Im the guy, and this is my job,' Grimes said. Early spring success has Texas filling fans with hope, Judge rules in favor of Michael Irvin in request for expedited evidence in $100M lawsuit, Mike McCarthy calls taking over play-calling most fun Ive had as Cowboys coach, PK winners! Tay McWilliams is the top returning player at running back and he had just 181 yards on 17 carries last year. The Bears won the league last year, return their starting quarterback from a season ago in Gerry Bohanon and top all other projected contenders and rank second in the Big 12 in returning starters. March 1, 2023 12:56 pm CT. College football writers are taking notice of the Longhorns loaded returning roster. Dont expect too big a slide, if any, overall. The buildup to the 2021 season was full of change. 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. 2022 College Football Returning Production Rankings Team Ret. He led the Bears in tackles in five games. Morgan, the one returning starter in the group, will be deployed either at safety or star, depending on need. The Mountaineers will be leaning fairly heavily on the transfer portal after bringing back six offensive starters and three defensive starters from last years team. Redshirt freshman Devin Lemear graded out the highest of all the safeties this spring, Roberts said. The Longhorns werent far off. 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. 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