Ika made an immediate impact as a transfer from LSU, earning the 2021 Big 12 Defensive Newcomer of the Year Award. Per PFF, Baylor QBs were pressured 35.2 percent of the time in 2020 (8th in the Big 12, 96th in the FBS) but only 29.1 percent of the time in 2021 (first in the conference, 45th nationally). 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. Remember, too: Texas regular season losses last year came by a total of 18 points. 14. Why is Baylor the potential favorite to win its second consecutive Big 12 title? And with seven of 11 starters returning on defense, the Red Raiders could bow up on that side of the ball with increased experience and the toughness that McGuire is attempting to instill. Power is in contention to be named the top punter in college football after averaging 45 yards per punt in 2021. Baylor had the most players of any team in the state of Texas chosen in the 2022 NFL Draft (six) and those recruits came from the 2017 and 2018 classes, which ranked 40th and 29th, respectively. (Top photo of Dave Aranda: Stephen Lew / USA Today). The returning starters are listed in every preseason magazine and cited in nearly any preview. Another key defensive position to fill is the star, Baylors hybrid nickelback/outside linebacker role, previously occupied by 2021 Big 12 defensive player of the year and second-round pick Pitre. There are also five transfers combined from those two cycles still around. Hes the smallest guy out there but maybe the toughest guy, Grimes said. There was a point in spring where you say, Hes one of the top guys on our team, just based on production, Aranda said. Five different pass catchers have been 21-30 receptions and they dont have a true #1. Baker played receiver for the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Florida Gators, winning championships with each. Get the fastest scores, stats, news, LIVE videos, and more. [Get a FREE 7-day trial of Inside Texas Plus!]. (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. 8 national ranking last fall and has Pac-12 title and CFP aspirations in 2023. No one should expect to make money from the picks and predictions discussed on this website. 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. Baylors one-two punch of Abram Smith and Trestan Ebner left the program. 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. 2021 stats: 62-86 passes for 596 yards and five TDs (six games, two starts). Dont expect too big a slide, if any, overall. Now that hes gotten to the top, he needs to figure out to how keep Baylor there. Talent hasnt been and will continue to not be the issue in Austin. Baylor has to settle its quarterback situation, and Grimes doesnt have a Zach Wilson to work with. Theyre headlined by OT Connor Galvin and C Jacob Gall. Following that group is a young trio: redshirt freshman Cisco Caston, true freshman Devyn Bobby and third-year sophomore Mike Harris. The Bears have young athletes out wide capable of explosive plays, but they are remarkably inconsistent and inexperienced. 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. The Cyclones were one of the nations most experienced teams last year the reason for Iowa States lofty preseason expectations and now need to start over in a major way after a number of those players moved on. In that regard, the Big 12 is a league in transition. Collins joined the Baylor staff in 2020 and spent three seasons with Aranda at LSU. With a solid crop of returning players, the question will be whether that talent can start delivering results on the field. We know. Theres still plenty of talent in H-Town, and the offense still has enough pieces to cause havoc (the young receiving corps could be particularly nasty). This is a let it hang out game and Sark and PK should expect Dave Aranda to go for it on 4th down until Texas punishes them for it. Leading receiver Tyquan Thornton is off to the NFL and No. Sophomore quarterback Baylor Romney, brother of wide receiver Gunner Romney, announced Friday on Twitter that he will not return to the Cougars in 2022. Run blocking has improved, Aranda said. Ronnies smart, he cares a lot, hes a tireless worker, Aranda said. Your favorite teams, topics, and players all on your favorite mobile devices. Defensively, adding Player and having the entire two-deep back up front is viewed as a strength. Theyre certainly at their best running free on play action shots. #Baylor OL @grantmiller55 spoke highly of RB @TayeMcwilliams Thursday:I think hes like a little bit of a combination of both Abram and Trestan. Im truly excited to see what the defense will accomplish in 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. He currently resides in Kansas City where he is a talk show host and program director at KCMO Talk Radio. Try a week on us. Returning that kind of experience should give Baylor the best offensive line in the Big 12, and possibly the country, in 2022. Breakdown: McWilliams time on the turf was limited, as he played behind two NFL running backs in Trestan Ebner and Abram Smith. Tay McWilliams is the top returning player at running back and he had just 181 yards on 17 carries last year. Cornerback Al Walcott and safety Christian Morgan, both returning starters, will also see time at star, Roberts said. 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.

Five best college football futures bets to make, including our Syracuse Orange, who return 80% of their starters this season. Only five scholarship players have entered the portal since August: Bohanon, Sneed, defensive lineman Josh Landry, former backup quarterback Jacob Zeno and safety Tyrone D. Brown. Breaking down the five best futures bets, picks, and predictions for the 2022 season. Starters Gabe Whoever wins the job should have plenty of talent to utilize, but will need the offensive line to come together. Venables defensive bonafides will be put to the test with a talented, but young, group that brings back four defensive starters. Players Im most excited to see in CFB - Pt 20Ben Sims - TE - BaylorSims was very productive on @BUFootball Big 12 championship run. A year ago, Dave Aranda sensed his team still having doubts. I dont say it in an ugly way, I say it as thats probably where it is right now. On defense, the second coach sees Baylors defensive line as the deepest in the Big 12. Doyle and Jones are plenty physical, but Jones can miss assignments and both can be exploited in space by Bijan or Keilan. Get the fastest scores, stats, news, LIVE videos, and more. 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. Aranda recruited the 2020 four-star prospect while with the Tigers but left for Baylor before getting a chance to coach him. Developing some receivers. One opposing coach sees the Bears as a force in the Big 12 again. A '21 start against Baylor (461 passing yards and two scores and 70 rushing yards) showcased Morris' talent. A native Houstonian, Sam graduated from the University of Houston. 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. 2022 College Football Returning Production Rankings Team Ret. I always win. Qualan Jones, a fourth-year junior, hasnt seen many carries but is among the options. Josh Cameron, a former walk-on who was awarded a scholarship, gives the group some size (6-2, 210 pounds). This year it could be the playoff by avoiding another loss like that pesky one against TCU. 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 Aranda had to replace three departures from his on-field staff. Josh Fleeks moved this offseason from receiver to running back. Will the unproven receivers step up? Breakdown: Apu, one of Halls companions, is one of the best nose guards in the country. All betting content is intended for an audience ages 21+. Unlike last year, they dont take care of the ball all that well. So though some may expect a return to the Big 12 title game, Aranda is zeroing in on how his team acts in these summer months. If he can avoid making mistakes, the Cougars should be physical enough a trait BYU has shown in recent matchups with Big 12 teams to at least compete.