Baylor Bears 2023 Preview and Predictions

(Photo Credit: Jack Mackenzie/SicEm365)

Key Players Returning:

QB Blake Shapen, RB Richard Reese, WR Monaray Baldwin, WR Josh Cameron, WR Hal Presley, OG Gavin Byers, DE TJ Franklin, DE Gabe Hall, LB Matt Jones, LB Bryson Jackson, LB Gaemon Randolph and FS Devin Lemear.

Key Players Departing:

RB/KR Craig Williams, TE Ben Sims, OC Jacob Gall, OG Mose Jeffery, OG Grant Miller, OT Connor Galvin, DT Jaxon Player, NT Siaki Ika, LB Dillon Doyle, CB/PR Gavin Holmes, CB Lorando Johnson, CB Mark Milton, CB Al Walcott, DS Christian Morgan, DS Devin Neal, SS AJ McCarty KR Craig Williams, PK John Mayers and PT Isaac Power.

Top 10 Recruits:

4 Star Recruits: 
RB Dominic Richardson (Oklahoma State transfer), OT Clark Barrington (Yale transfer), OT Isaiah Robinson (Arlington, Texas), WR Ketron Jackson (Arkansas transfer) and CB LeVar Thornton Jr. (Keller, Texas).

3 Star Recruits:  CB Tay’Shawn Wilson (Houston, Texas), QB Sawyer Robertson (Mississippi State transfer), OT Campbell Barrington (Yale transfer), TE Matthew Klopfenstein (Scottsdale, Arizona) and LB Corey Kelly (League City, Texas).

2022 Results:

G01  ALBANY  W  69-10
G02  @ #21 BYU  L | 2OT  20-26
G03  TEXAS STATE  W  42-7
G04  @ Iowa State  W  31-24
G05  #9 OKLAHOMA STATE  L  25-36
G06  @ West Virginia  L  40-43
G07  KANSAS  W  35-23
G08  @ Texas Tech  W  45-17
G09  @ Oklahoma  W  38-35
G10  #19 KANSAS STATE  L  3-31
G11  #4 TCU  L  28-29
G12  @ Texas  L  27-38
BOWL  vs. Air Force  L  15-30

Team Info:

2022 Record:  6-7 (6th in Big XII)

Home:  3-3
Away:  3-3
Neutral:  0-1
B12:  4-5
Non-B12:  2-2

Head Coach:  Dave Aranda

Baylor:  20-16
Career:  20-16
Bowls:  1-1

Returning Statistical Leaders:

Passing:  Blake Shapen (233-368, 2790 yards, 63.3%, 7.6 avg., 18 TD, 10 INT)
Rushing:  Richard Reese (198 car., 972 yards, 4.9 avg., 14 TD)
Receiving:  Monaray Baldwin (33 rec., 565 yards, 17.1 avg., 4 TD)
TDs Scored:  Richard Reese (14)
Sacks:  Gabe Hall/Garmon Randolph (4.5)
Tackles:  Matt Jones (65)Tackles For Loss:  Gamon Randolph (7)
Interceptions:  Devin Lemear (2)
Pass Deflections:  Matt Jones/Dein Lemear (4)
Forced Fumbles:  Bryson Jackson/Jackie Marshall (1)
Kick Returns:  Monaray Baldwin (9 ret., 147 yards, 16.3 avg., 0 TD)
Punt Returns:  Jordan Nabors (4 ret., 58 yards, 14.5 avg., 0 TD)
Kicking:  Isaiah Hankins (0-1 fg/fga., 0%, 8-9 xp/xpa., 8 pts.)
Punting:  None

Projected Offensive Starters

QB:  12  Blake Shapen  (RS JR)
RB:  29  Richard Reese  (SO)
WR:  11  Ketron Jackson Jr.  (JR/TR)
WR:  34  Josh Cameron  (RS SO)
WR:  80  Monaray Baldwin  (JR)
TE:  89  Drake Dabney  (SR)
LT:  53  Campbell Barrington  (JR/TR)
LG:  58  Gavin Byers  (SR)
OC:  56  Clark Barrington  (RS SR/TR)
RG:  74  Kaden Sieracki  (RS FR)
RT:  75  Elijah Ellis  (RS SR)
KR:  24  Corey Gordon Jr.  (RS FR)
PK:  99  Jack Stone  (SO/TR)

Projected Defensive Starters:
 
DE:  9  TJ Franklin  (SR)
NT:  97  Cooper Lanz  (RS SO)
DT  95  Gabe Hall  (RS SR)
DE:  51  Kyler Jordan  (RS FR)
LB:  2  Matt Jones  (RS SR)
LB:  40  Mike Smith Jr.  (RS SR/TR)
NB:  7  Bryson Jackson  (RS SR)
CB:  27  Tevin Williams III  (RS SO)
CB:  21  Chateau Reed  (RS JR)
FS:  20  Devin Lemear  (RS SO)
SS:  28  Devyn Bobby  (SO)
PR:  34  Josh Cameron  (RS SO)
PT:  94  Palmer Williams  (FR)

Team Grades:

Offense

Quarterbacks:  A
Running Backs:  A
Wide Receivers:  C
Offensive Line:  B

Defense

Defensive Line:  C
Linebackers:  B
Secondary:  C

Special Teams

Kick Returners:  C
Punt Returners:  C
Kickers:  C
Punters:  C

Schedule:

09/02 
TEXAS STATE BOBCATS  |  Baylor leads the series 41-39-1.  The Bears are 7-3 since 2013 and their last series loss (23-24) was in 2020.

09/09 
UTAH UTES  |  First meeting between schools.

09/16 
LIU SHARKS  |  First meeting between schools.

09/23 
TEXAS LONGHORNS  |  Texas trails the series 28-80-4.  The Longhorns are 4-6 since 2013 and their last series win (31-24) was in 2021.

09/30 
@ UCF Knights  |  Baylor lost (52-42) the only prior meeting between schools in 2014.

10/07  
TEXAS TECH RED RAIDERS  |  Baylor leads the series 41-39-1.  The Bears are 7-3 since 2013 and their last series loss (23-24) was in 2020.

10/21 
@ Cincinnati Bearcats  |  First meeting between schools.

10/28 
IOWA STATE CYCLONES  |  Baylor leads the series 12-9.  The Bears are 7-3 since 2013 and their last series loss (31-38) was in 2020.

11/04  HOUSTON COUGARS  |  Baylor leads the series 14-13-1.  The Bears won (47-7) the last meeting between schools in 1996.

11/11 
@ Kansas State Wildcats  |  The series is tied 10-10.  The Bears are 7-3 since 2013 and their last series win (20-10) was in 2021.

11/18 
@ TCU Horned Frogs  |  Baylor trails the series 53-58-7.   The Bears are 3-7 since 2013 and their last series win (29-23 OT) was in 2019.

11/25  WEST VIRGINIA MOUNTAINEERS  |  Baylor trails the series 4-7.  The Bears are 4-6 since 2013 and their last series win (45-20) was in 2021.

Predictions:

Home:  3-5
Road:  0-4
Neutral:  0-0
B12:  1-8
Non-B12:  2-1

Overall:  3-9  (13th in Big XII)