Freshman D-Lineman 'Will Be A Force'
10/23/2017 12:00:00 AM | Football
Baylor Bear Foundation
No position on the football field is harder to recruit than the defensive line, particularly the interior guys, because "you don't know how good they are," Baylor defensive coordinator Phil Snow said.
Freshman James Lynch is one that seems to be better than advertised.
"I didn't know he would be quite as light on his feet as he is," Snow said. "If you just watch him walk, he walks like a linebacker. He's light on his feet, up on the front half of his feet, he's not on his heels. Over the years, when you get big guys that are light on their feet, you've got something. Especially if they'll work at it, or they're smart, and he's both."
One of 17 true freshmen who have seen game action this season, Lynch recorded his first sack in Saturday's 38-36 loss to 23rd-ranked West Virginia, dumping quarterback Will Grier for a 10-yard loss in the second quarter.
"As a d-lineman, you always want to get the sack, make the big play," said the 6-foot-4, 285-pounder from Round Rock High School. "For me, just to be able to make a play for my team and help my team out, it was great to have that feeling. Coach Snow, all the coaches, they call the right defense. I just do what I'm told, trust whatever they say, and it works."
Although Baylor's camp was the first he visited, with the coaching transition last year, Lynch didn't get an official scholarship offer until Matt Rhule was hired last December. He originally committed to TCU and then switched to USC, but said Baylor was his first choice all along.
"I just knew this is where I wanted to be," Lynch said. "I had no problems with going away but, obviously, for me it's a bonus that I'm an hour and a half away from home. It's nice to have my family be able to come up for games."
Snow said it's hard for freshman lineman to "play at their age because of the physicality of the game today." And in most cases, they're going against fully grown men "that have been lifting."
Ranked the nation's 31st-best defensive tackle prospect by 247Sports, Lynch was a two-time Defensive Lineman of the Year in District 16-6A. As a senior, he registered 46 tackles, 14 stops behind the line, eight sacks, three pass breakups, three fumble recoveries and one fumble forced for a 10-4 team that reached the state quarterfinals.
But, as Snow pointed out and Lynch concurs, "it's a big jump, honestly."
"There's a lot more strength up front, obviously," he said. "You have to be a technician in college. That's what I've learned so far is if you don't stay low . . . you'll end up on your back. I've just been listening to Ira (Lewis) and (Bravvion Roy), because they've been there and done that."
Coming in, Lynch wasn't sure about his chances to play this season, because "I knew we had a pretty good d-line. Before some of the injuries, I wasn't sure if I was going to redshirt or play." Since KJ Smith has yet to play and Xavier Jones is lost for the season, it opened up spots for Lynch and fellow freshmen DJ Artis and BJ Thompson.
"James has done a great job," Snow said. "He's got some abilities, he's quick on his feet, and we'll play him at some end and tackle this week. I'm excited about his future here."
In addition to his sack, Lynch was part of a defense that held West Virginia scoreless in the fourth quarter, when the Bears gave up just 11 yards in nine plays.
"All year, we've been trying to get the shutout in the fourth quarter. That's part of the `Plan to Win,''' he said. "To do that against West Virginia, that high-powered offense, it was really nice. To have the special teams steal a possession on the onside kick, and then for (the defense) to go out and stop them when we needed to, that was good for us to keep our confidence up."
Without help and advice from older players like Lewis, Roy and senior defensive end Brian Nance, Lynch said, "I don't know where I would be, honestly. I'd be lost of it wasn't for them."
While he's able to play end and tackle, Snow said Lynch's future is likely inside at tackle, "unless we're playing special defenses, and then he can play end."
"It's hard to find inside guys that can rush," Snow said. "You can find them that can play the run, but it's hard to find guys that are mobile enough to run. And he has the mobility to do that. If he gets up to 295, 300, he'll be a force."
Baylor (0-7, 0-4) will face Texas (3-4, 2-2) at 11 a.m. Saturday at McLane Stadium in a game that will be televised by ESPNU. The Bears' Nov. 4 game at Kansas (1-6, 0-4) will also be an 11 a.m. kickoff in Lawrence, Kan., and will be broadcast by FSN.
