The transfer portal will help the Sooners make up for some of the losses, and if Dillon Gabriel can join the five returning offensive starters and hit the ground running, the Sooners could take off. Breakdown: Another grizzled veteran, Morgan is stepping into a bigger role after playing alongside former Bear and current Los Angeles Charger JT Woods. 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. Will that be enough for the Cyclones to overcome the leagues lowest returning starter count? 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. Were winning every day. 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. Even with Bijan Robinson moving on, Texas still ranks third nationally in returning offensive production, and with Texas bringing in the No. No one should expect to make money from the picks and predictions discussed on this website. He looked inward, forcing himself to evolve. The Wildcats return 14 starters from last seasons 8-5 team, with 10 being All-Conference players. Grimes also looks at fifth-year senior Mose Jeffery, sophomore Micah Mazzccua and redshirt freshman tackle Tate Williams as possible contributors. Hes long and has some quickness, but hes a one trick finesse pony. Hes a graduate of BGSU and works as an auditor for Google content curation products. Key stat to know: Baylors offensive line improvement from 2020 to 2021 was significant. This page is All betting content is intended for an audience ages 21+. The ranking takes a look at data on both sides of the football for all FBS teams in the country. 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. 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. 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. He and his wife, Karina, got married last January and have Another opposing coach agrees that Baylors offensive and defensive lines will be the strength and expects the Bears to be a contender to return to the Big 12 championship game. 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. 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. Flahertys reasoning: While the team loses plenty on the defensive side, the Wildcats return Will Howard and all five offensive linemen. A year ago, Dave Aranda sensed his team still having doubts. True freshman Kyron Drones might be a factor in the fall camp battle for the open gig. Longtime starter Charlie Brewer is off to Utah, but backups Jacob Zeno and Gerry Bohanon are around with a little time logged in. 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! 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. Everybodys going to talk about Apu Ika, and rightfully so, but Gabe Hall is the real deal, he said. The stuff youre battling, especially if youre a young team, is, Im cool. Losing Deuce Vaughn and Felix Anudike-Uzomah arguably the Wildcats best player on offense and defense, respectively certainly hurts. Injuries certainly played a part, but the offseason attrition was also worrisome. Heres why he prefers it that way, Are these Rangers good? The Bears badly miss Jalen Pitre and JT Woods. 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. Baylor will get the Cowboys at home, but theyll be coming back from a road trip to Iowa State while OSU will be coming off a bye week. The Horned Frogs suffered a surprising collapse last year, particularly defensively, that ushered in changes at the highest levels. 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 Aranda recruited the 2020 four-star prospect while with the Tigers but left for Baylor before getting a chance to coach him. Dave Aranda can flat out coach defense, but 2021s elite unit was gutted by the NFL draft and theyre currently in a transitional phase. Will receive lots of Vita Vea comps. Can Iowa State replace Xavier Hutchinson, who seemed like the offenses only option at times last year? Posted on January 10, 2022. 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 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. 19 in the nation, good for second in the Big 12 Conference. Miller returns after a solid year, Byers could play guard or tackle and Jeffery and Mazzccua will also compete for those spots. 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. Its safe to expect him to continue performing at a high level as a blocker and as a lethal receiving threat for Shapen. 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. Following that group is a young trio: redshirt freshman Cisco Caston, true freshman Devyn Bobby and third-year sophomore Mike Harris. But if he comes in and truly finds his footing, the Cougars could be too low here. Already an A+ run defender and also shows flashes of having passing down value to melt the pocket. With belief no longer an obstacle, Aranda fights different beasts: the teams attitude and maturity. 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. Aranda stressed the need for reps among the candidates to get comfortable. Will the rushing attack be as reliable as it was a year ago? 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. Subscribe to The Athletic for in-depth coverage of your favorite players, teams, leagues and clubs. The defense could improve, and the cupboard is far from bare in Fort Worth, where Sonny Dykes will get back his original starting quarterback in Chandler Morris, who should sling the ball to Alabama transfer JoJo Earle, among others. If Shapen gets hurt this year, theyre (in trouble).. 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). The Mountaineers looked like a better team with Garrett Greene at quarterback because of his toughness and ability to make big plays with his legs when he needed to. 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. WebBaylors special teams will be in good hands with junior punter Issac Power and freshman kicker Isaiah Hankins returning. 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. Grimes said Sims has improved as a blocker and Drake Dabney as a receiver. Ben Sims is the teams returning leader in receptions (31), receiving yards (361) and touchdown catches (six). The biggest piece were moving through right now is probably just immaturity, Aranda told The Athletic. I always win. Thats the bad. 247Sports writer Kevin Flaherty joined Athlon Sports At jack, Baylors edge rusher, Garmon Randolph returns. The top three tight ends on the 2021 depth chart return. But the defense let Houston down in a major way at times, including allowing 48 points to now-Big 12 foe Kansas, and will need to become more consistent in 2023. Breaking down the five best futures bets, picks, and predictions for the 2022 season. Hes going to be filling some big shoes. Aranda said Baker has done wonders with the receiving corps and called it probably the most improved group of the spring. 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 Bears will ride the hot hand the 175 pound Reese has two games where he had 30+ carries, the 170 pound Sqwirl has a 25 carry game and theyre not going to worry about work load in a season finale. While Gundy and Pokes fans seemed to have put their His physical talent has always been there, but his improved maturity and preparation have readied him this season for the No. (Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports). Josh Cameron, a former walk-on who was awarded a scholarship, gives the group some size (6-2, 210 pounds). Its worth noting that while Baylor started the year rock-ribbed against the run with their massive interior Tite front, theyve surrendered 179 yards per game rushing over their last three games. To replace receivers coach Chansi Stuckey, who joined Marcus Freemans staff at Notre Dame, Aranda hired former Buffalo and Marshall receivers coach Dallas Baker. 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 been a strong Big 12 road team, compiling a 3-1 record, and their play style and experience tends to travel well. That has turned each team's returning starter count into one of the most panned metrics heading into a given season. Baylor had a backloaded schedule in terms of difficulty and theyre on a two game slide after being obliterated by Kansas State 31-3 and then losing a heartbreaker to TCU by one point in which they outplayed (an injured-riddled) TCU for most of the game. He scored two offensive touchdowns (rushing and receiving) versus BYU. Two years ago, Kansas had the youngest team in college football. The good news? Its a big gamble, the second coach said. Its one thing to go from being a weakness to a strength, Grimes said. 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. Seth Jones, another sophomore, is up to nearly 200 pounds after being recruited at 180. Previously, he spent eight years covering college sports at ESPN.com and seven years as a sports reporter at the Houston Chronicle. Prod. Here are our predictions for the Big 12's order of finish in 2023. SHARE If BYU football players, coaches were stocks, who would you buy? For there to be an ascent, there has to be a descent first. (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. And the unit got a boost in the offseason, when Baylor landed Tulsa defensive tackle transfer Jaxon Player, a Waco, Texas, native and two-time All-AAC selection. 8 national ranking last fall and has Pac-12 title and CFP aspirations in 2023. Heres the thing on the Red Raiders: Like TCU, the Red Raiders were undefeated in one-score games in the regular season. Theres a fair amount of moxie in him.. 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. Its another to go from being a strength to being leaders. 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Editors note:This ispart of a seriespreviewing Power 5 and top Group of 5 teams for the 2022 college football season. 21 transfer class, the third-best in the Big 12. Over their last 7 games, the Bears have given up 13 turnovers. 2022 Baylor Football Preview. Blake Shapen rode an excellent performance in the Big 12 title game to the starting job this spring, unseating Gerry Bohanon, who has since transferred and is now the starter at USF. 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. Offensive coordinator Jeff Grimes hopes Shapen gives the offense a higher ceiling. A returning starting quarterback in Dillon Gabriel is a good thing, and the Sooners have the No. There are tangible questions that need answers, too. Brennan Armstrong entered the 2022 season as one of the most experienced quarterbacks in the ACC but had the lowest completion percentage of his career as a starter. In the return game, Baylor lost Ebner, a third-round pick and the Big 12 special teams player of the year. 2023 On3 Media, Inc. All rights reserved. Baylor football shocked the Big 12 last year. Dont expect too big a slide, if any, overall. 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 slinger has proven he has an elite arm, and if the cards fall right, he is a legitimate contender for Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year. The Bears match up well in some spots to Texas, but theyre a five loss team for a reason. 14. 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. In a classic good news, bad news situation, Houston ranks 24th nationally in returning offensive production, but 119th in returning defensive production. Defensively, Kansas brings back most of its pieces on the back end, but will need to hope a transfer class of defensive linemen can hit the ground running if the Jayhawks are to make major (and much-needed) improvements on that side of the ball. One of the most important factors in a team's success in college football is its returning experience. Will the Bears scratch and claw for progress the way the 2021 team did? Wheat joined the Nevada staff in 2020, coaching safeties before shifting to linebackers in 2021. Projected defensive starters: DE Lonnie Phelps DT Kenean Caldwell DT Caleb Sampson* DE Malcolm Lee* LB Taiwan Berryhill* LB Gavin Potter* LB Rich Miller Related: College Football's Top Quarterbacks on the Rise for 2023 4. The Horns need Quinn Ewers to throw the ball capably within the construct of a run first offense. Baylor has added two more super-seniors to the list of returning players, as defensive linemen Cole Maxwell and Chidi Ogbonnaya have announced that they will be back in 2022. With who they return upfront, expect the road-grading to continue in 2022. Hes a graduate of BGSU and works as an auditor for Google content curation products. Ive watched them go through stretches where theyre utterly dominated by aggressive corner and nickel play. He was an All-Big-12 honorable mention in 2021 and will look to prove he deserved more than that with a big 2022. Breakdown: Player was a highly touted transfer portal prospect, so the fact that hes joining Apu, Hall, TJ Franklin and Cole Maxwell must be terrifying for any opposition. One opposing coach sees the Bears as a force in the Big 12 again. CBS Sports is a registered trademark of CBS Broadcasting Inc. (Photo: Kansas State Athletics Media Relations). 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. 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. UW, of course, finished an 11-2 season with a No. Still, he said, players wondered: Why are we doing this? During a 12-0 regular season, the Horned Frogs went a perfect 5-0 in one-score games, meaning TCU wasnt far from a vastly different season. Mark Milton, who started two games at corner last year, is a strong candidate at cornerback.
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