Big 12 Football - 2021 Baylor Bears Preview
Our Baylor Bears preview 2021 does not see this team making substantial progress from last season when they went 2-7 in the conference, finishing eighth. The best ranking for the Bears’ offense last season was in passing yards where they were seventh in the Big 12 and 72nd nationally. Their 23.3 PPG ranked ninth in the conference and 100th in the country. The Baylor rush attack was good for just 90.3 YPG (10th Big 12, 123rd Nation). On defense, the Bears allowed 203.0 YPG in passing, which was second in the conference and 30th in the nation. However, in the Big 12, they ranked eighth versus the rush and allowed 29.2 PPG, giving them a PF/PA deficit of 5.9 PPG.
Baylor Offense
The major question on offense is who will be running it? The issue is Charlie Brewer, who ranks second in Baylor history with 9,700 passing yards, transferred to Utah after last season. Four quarterbacks are competing for the starting spot. At this point, junior Gerry Bohanon is the top candidate. But sophomore Jacob Zeno and freshmen Blake Shapen and Kyron Jones are certainly in the mix. Bohanon’s strength is the ground game while Zeno is more of a pocket QB. All five top receivers from 2020 return, including R.J. Sneed who had 39 catches for 497 yards and three TDs.
Trestan Ebner, a double threat, returns to anchor the ground game. Last season, he was not very productive, but he should be a good fit for this offense which is designed to utilize his various talents. Senior center X. Newman-Johnson, who started last season, is back as is three-year starter LT Connor Galvin. Vanderbilt transfer Mose Jeffery takes over at RG. The O-line has a decent amount of experience. The question is can they gel?
Baylor Bears Preview 2021 - Defense
A total of 22 players who saw significant snaps last season return. Two starters come back to the frontline. Of those, junior T.J. Franklin was the most productive, making 23 tackles while recording 1.5 sacks and 1.5 TFL. LSU transfer Siaki Ika, a big presence, should contribute mightily upfront. The linebacking unit is the best on this side of the ball, as three starters return, including LB Terrel Bernard. Bernard, a second-team All-Big 12 pick for each of the last two seasons, is a tackle machine. Despite being injured last season, he recorded 55 tackles, 3.5 sacks, and three TFL. Last year, MLB Dillon Doyle and WLB Abram Smith totaled 56 and 48 tackles respectively. Both are back.
At Star, Jalen Pitre is primed after leading the Bears in tackles last season with 60 while notching 10.5 TFL. He also recorded 2.5 sacks, two PBU, and two INTs. Corner Raleigh Texada and safety J.T. Woods, both seniors, headline in a secondary that returns intact. Last season, Texada posted three PBU and one INT while Woods had three picks, one PBU, and 46 tackles.
Specialists
Our Baylor Bears preview 2021 notes that the versatile Ebner is a masterful return man. Last season, he returned two kickoffs for scores and was named a second-team All-American and Big 12 Special Teams Player of the Year. Placekicker John Mayers is solid, while punter Issac Power averaged 40.3 YPP last season. He placed 11-of-54 within the 20 and had just four touchbacks.
Baylor Bears Preview 2021 - Projection
Our Baylor Bears preview 2021 notes that Dave Aranda’s first year as a college football head coach was filled with huge challenges. In 2020, when Aranda took over the football program, he attempted to install new offensive and defensive schemes in a short amount of time. It resulted in quite a plummet for the Bears, who the year prior had recorded an 11-3 record, were ranked eighth in the nation, and met number five Georgia in the Sugar Bowl. There will be some progress this season but not enough to propel this team into the top five of the Big 12.
Big 12 Football - Baylor Bears 2021 - Predictions:
Ninth Place - Big 12
Armed Forces Bowl vs. UTSA