Baylor Bears

Head Coach: Dave Aranda 
Offensive Coordinator: Jake Spavital 
Defensive Coordinator: Joe Klanderman 
2025 Record: 5-7 
2025 Big 12 Finish: 3-6 (11th) 
2026 Record Projection: 
   Ceiling: 8
   Floor: 4
Top NFL Prospects: Hosea Wheeler, Garrick Ponder 
Biggest Impact Transfers: DJ Lagway, Dre'lon Miller 
Most Likely Impact Freshmen: London Smith (WR) , Donel Robinson (OL)
Biggest Strength: Lines of scrimmage 
Biggest Concern: Linebackers and WR/TE production
Biggest Game: Auburn
Trap Game: Colorado

QB: DJ Lagway instantly changes the ceiling of this offense and gives Baylor one of the biggest portal additions in the conference. Talent has never been the question. He has a huge arm and real athletic ability. Baylor is betting that a fresh start finally helps him put everything together consistently. If that happens this offense could become dangerous quickly. The problem is the depth behind him. Baylor simply does not have a P$ level backup quarterback right now. An injury to Lagway would completely change the direction of the season and could spell disaster for the offense.

RB: The running back room feels solid enough, even if it may not scare many defenses. Caden Knighten and Michael Turner should give Baylor a dependable rotation with enough size and physicality to fit this offense well. What the group seems to lack is a true difference maker or explosive home run threat. The depth behind the top two backs is also somewhat concerning, so staying healthy will matter. Still, behind what should be one of the better offensive lines in the conference, this group could quietly be productive.

WR: There is some potential in this receiver room, but right now it is hard to point to a proven star. Baylor added Dre’lon Miller through the portal and there are a few intriguing younger pieces, yet this still feels like one of the weaker receiver groups in the Big 12 until somebody actually produces consistently on Saturdays. The Bears badly need someone to emerge as a dependable target for DJ Lagway. Tight end Tony Livingston might end up being one of the more interesting weapons in the offense. He has size, athletic ability, and matchup potential. It will be interesting to see how Jake Spavital chooses to use him because Baylor may need the tight ends to become a bigger part of the passing game this season.

OL: The offensive line should be one of the strengths of the team this season. Baylor finally looks bigger and more physical up front, and the Sieracki brothers give the unit real stability and experience. Kaden Sieracki especially has a chance to become one of the better tackles in the Big 12, while Koltin helps bring toughness inside. The transfer additions also raised the floor of the room quite a bit. There are still some questions in pass protection against elite edge rushers, but overall this looks like a group capable of helping Baylor control games at times.

DL: The defensive line looks much better suited for Baylor’s scheme this season. The Bears added size, experience, and depth through the portal, and most of the newcomers look capable of stepping in and playing winning football right away. Hosea Wheeler gives Baylor a real presence at nose tackle, while Garrick Ponder should help the pass rush quite a bit off the edge after posting 12 tackles for loss and 5 sacks at Southern Miss last season. This group may end up being one of the more improved defensive fronts in the conference and should help take pressure off the linebackers behind them.

LB: Linebacker looks like one of the weaker spots on the roster entering the season. There is experience here, but it still does not really feel like a true Power 4 linebacker group right now. Baylor probably needed a bigger upgrade from the portal at this position. The defensive line should help keep these guys clean, but the linebackers will still need to step up in a major way if this defense is going to improve consistently week to week. Kyland Reed especially needs to take a major step forward and become a much more reliable playmaker in the middle of the defense.

DB: The secondary has experience and some versatility, but it still feels more steady than dangerous. Baylor added several transfers to help stabilize the group, and Daniel Cobbs should help immediately at nickel after coming over from Kansas State. Jacob Redding and Devin Turner give the Bears some older players at safety, which should help communication on the back end. LeVar Thornton is also an intriguing player to watch at corner. He has good size and real upside. Do not be surprised if he ends up earning First Team All-Big 12 honors by the end of the season.

ST: Special teams feels somewhat mixed entering the season. Palmer Williams gives Baylor a very good punter and one of the more reliable specialists on the roster. He should help Baylor quite a bit with field position this year. The bigger question is at kicker where the Bears are breaking in a new option without much proven experience at this level.

QB
1. DJ Lagway — JR — 6'3/235 — Florida
  2. Nate Bennett — SO — 6'1/185 — Baylor
RB
1. Caden Knighten — SO — 5'11/205 — Baylor
  2. Michael Turner — SO — 6'0/215 — Baylor 
WR
1. Dre'lon Miller — JR — 6'1/210 — Colorado
1. Gavin Freeman — SR — 5'9/185 —  Ok St
1. Louis Brown IV — SR — 6'2/200 — Col St
  2. Jadon Porter — JR — 6'1/190 — Baylor
  2. Taz Williams Jr. — FR — 6'0/195 — Bay
  2. Ashton Jones — FR — 6'5/205 — Baylor 
TE
1. Tony Livingston — SR — 6'6/255 — Florida
2. Matthew Klopfenstein —SR — 6'4/245 — Bay
T
1. Kaden Sieracki — SR — 6'9/305 — Baylor 
1. Cole Rhett — JR — 6'6/340 — Toleldo
 2. Matthew Parker — FR — 6'7/310 — Baylor
 2. Logan Moore — JR — 6'8/290 — UAB 
G
1. Nate Kibble — SO — 6'3/320 — Texas
1. Koltin Sieracki — SO — 6'4/305 — Baylor
  2. Asher Hale — JR — 6'5/320 — S Bama
  2. Lawson Petty — JR — 6'3/305 — In Word
C
1. Yakiri Walker — SR — 6'2/295 — Memphis
  2. Harrison Cluff — FR — 6'4/310 — Baylor
DE
1. Daemian Wimberly — JR — 6'4/280 — UTSA
  2. Jordan Mack — SR — 6'5/280 — Coastal 
NT
1. Hosea Wheeler — GR — 6'3/305 — Indiana
 2. Devonte Tezino — SR — 6'5/295 — Baylor
DT
1. Kamren Washington — SR — 6'1/285 — TXST
  2. Jamaal Whyce Jr. — SR —6'4/310 — Marsh
EDGE
1. Garrick Ponder — SR — 6'2/250 — S Miss
  2. Ryan Davis — JR — 6'4/245 — Kan St
LB
1. Kyland Reed — JR — 6'1/225 — Baylor
1. Kedrick Walker — SR — 6'2/230 — Ga ST 
  2. Kaleb Burns — SO — 6'1/220 — Baylor
  2. Travion Barnes — SR — 6'0/250 — FIU
CB
1. LeVar Thornton Jr. — JR — 6'3/180 — Bay
1. Devon Jordan — JR — 5'11/180 — OU
  2. Reggie Bush II — SR — 6'0/195 — BAY 
  2. Stilton McKelvey — JR —5'11/185 — NMSU 
NB
1. Daniel Cobbs — SR — 5'11/190 — Kan St
  2. Tyler Turner — JR — 6'0/185 — Oregon
S
1. Jacob Redding — JR — 6'1/200 — Baylor
1. Devin Turner — SR — 6'2/205 — Baylor
  2. Colby McCalister —SR —5'10/200— Kan St
  2. Micah Gifford — SR — 6'3/200 — Baylor 
K 
1. Rhett Armstrong — SO — 6'5/205 — Baylor
P
1. Palmer Williams — SR — 6'2/215 — Baylor 

Coach: Dave Aranda enters the season firmly on the hot seat after another disappointing year in 2025. There is still a lot of respect for him as a defensive coach, but Baylor needs results now. The addition of DJ Lagway gives the offense real hope and Jake Spavital finally has a quarterback with major upside to build around. Defensively, Baylor brought in Joe Klanderman from Kansas State to help reset a unit that struggled for much of last season. His arrival feels important because the Bears needed a new voice and a more physical identity on that side of the ball.

Outlook: Baylor draws one of the more manageable schedules in the Big 12 this season, which gives the Bears a real chance to get back to a bowl game. There might be enough talent on this roster to win eight games if DJ Lagway breaks out and the lines of scrimmage become strengths like Baylor hopes they will. At the same time, there may not be enough overall playmakers to even reach five wins if the offense struggles again. Baylor also needs to be in strong bowl position before the final stretch of the season because finishing with Texas Tech, BYU, and Houston will not be easy. In many ways this entire season comes down to Lagway. If he works out, Baylor could surprise people. If not, it could be another frustrating year in Waco.

Swing Players

DJ Lagway, Dre’lon Miller, and Kyland Reed may ultimately determine how far Baylor can climb this season. Lagway completely changes the ceiling of the offense and Baylor needs him to finally play like the elite quarterback prospect many believed he could become coming out of high school. Miller is just as important because the Bears desperately need a reliable playmaker to emerge at wide receiver. If he becomes a true go-to target, the passing game suddenly looks much more dangerous. Reed might be the biggest wildcard on the defensive side of the ball. Baylor’s linebacker room remains one of the biggest concerns on the roster, and Reed needs to take a major step forward both as a tackler and overall playmaker. If all three deliver strong seasons, Baylor should have enough talent to push comfortably into bowl eligibility and potentially surprise a few teams along the way.