FINDING THE RIGHT FIT
4/25/2020 11:10:00 PM | Football
Baylor Has Four Players Drafted, 10 Others Sign as Free Agents
By Jerry Hill
Baylor Bear Insider
James Lynch has been used to doubters his whole life.
The fact that the Baylor All-American defensive tackle and Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year didn't come off the NFL Draft board on Saturday until the middle of the fourth round wasn't about to faze him.
"It wasn't tough," said the 6-4, 289-pound Lynch, who was drafted by the Minnesota Vikings with the 130th pick overall.
"My whole life I've been – I wouldn't say overlooked – but some people have doubted me. I'm just waiting for that opportunity to have that chance to go play in the NFL. Although it's Day 3, it doesn't matter to me. I still get a chance to play in the NFL, and that's all you could ever ask for."
Lynch's fourth-round selection started a busy day for Baylor football that saw two other defensive players taken in the last two rounds, a former Bear go in the fifth and 10 other players sign free agent contracts.
Nose tackle Bravvion Roy was reunited with former Baylor coach Matt Rhule as a sixth-round pick (184th overall) by the Carolina Panthers, then linebacker Clay Johnston went to the Los Angeles Rams in the seventh round with the 234th pick. Temple cornerback Harrison Hand, who started 13 games in his first two years at Baylor, was a fifth-round pick and joins Lynch with the Vikings.
"It's just a blessing. Coach Rhule is like a second father to me," said the 6-1, 330-pound Roy, a first-team All-Big 12 pick who had a career-high 61 tackles, 13.0 tackles for losses and 5 ½ sacks. "He speaks wisdom and he speaks truth. It's just real authentic. And that's the way I like to be coached."
Rhule brought 12 staff members from Baylor with him to Carolina, including defensive coordinator Phil Snow and assistant defensive line coach Frank Okam. He also added versatile offensive lineman Sam Tecklenburg as a free-agent signee.
When Roy saw Rhule's number come up on his phone, he got "very emotional because I already had his number saved. I saw Coach Rhule's number, and I looked at the TV and saw they had the pick. And I was like, 'Man, it's crazy if this is real.' I'm so happy that he told me, and I just started crying. It's just a blessing to be back with Coach Rhule and his staff."
Lynch, who set Baylor's single-season (13 ½) and career sacks (22.0) records, was part of a deep Minnesota draft that saw the Vikings go defense with eight of their last 12 picks. He was the sandwich pick in a fourth round that also included defensive end D.J. Wonnum from South Carolina and inside linebacker Troy Dye from Oregon.
"Talking with (Vikings head coach Mike) Zimmer, I knew I'd fit well," Lynch said. "I liked the way Minnesota played as a kid. I like the new stadium and the facilities. It's everything I could have ever asked for. So, to be able to go there, whenever I get a chance to, is going to be an amazing feeling."
The Rams, who missed the playoffs in 2019 after going to the Super Bowl the year before, also loaded up on defense late. Four of head coach Sean McVay's last seven picks were on the defensive side, including outside linebacker Terrell Lewis in the third round.
Despite missing the last eight games of his senior season with a torn ACL, Johnston earned second-team All-Big 12 honors, making 58 tackles with eight stops behind the line, 2 ½ sacks and one interception.
After calling Johnston, McVay said he was so excited that he was ready to run through a wall. The feeling is mutual.
"I'm hyperventilating," Johnston said. "I wanted to get under the squat rack, wanted to get some pads on. I'm freaking stoked."
Johnston joked with the Los Angeles media in a conference call that he was so pumped when McVay asked him if he wanted to be a Ram, he said, "By God, I want to be a Ram, let's freaking go!"
"I screamed, and everyone was screaming, going nuts in here, I instantly put some pads on, ran through our front door, broke the windshield. It was awesome!"
When a reporter called him on it and asked if the story was true, Johnston admitted, "No, not at all. Totally fictional. I just had to say that. The way I feel right now, I don't blame you for asking that, because I'm about to run through the door right in front of me right now."
Baylor's day was far from over when the 255th and final draft pick was made, with Georgia linebacker Tae Crowder selected by the New York Giants.
Ten other Baylor players signed as free agents, including seven from a Baylor defense that made dramatic strides in helping the Bears go from one win in 2017 to 11 this year and make their first-ever Big 12 Championship game appearance.
Other than Tecklenburg, defensive end James Lockhart signed with the Pittsburgh Steelers, with linebackers Blake Lynch and Jordan Williams inking with the Minnesota Vikings and Atlanta Falcons, respectively. From the secondary, cornerbacks Grayland Arnold and Jameson Houston went with the Philadelphia Eagles and Cleveland Browns, the Seattle Seahawks signed safety Chris Miller and the Green Bay Packers added safety Henry Black.
Rounding out the free agent signings, the San Francisco 49ers picked up running back JaMycal Hasty and the Jacksonville Jaguars signed long snapper Ross Matiscik. Over the last 20 years, Baylor's had five long snappers get shots in the NFL, including Super Bowl champion Justin Snow with the Indianapolis Colts and Pro Bowler Jonathan Weeks with the Houston Texans.
Including All-Big 12 wide receiver Denzel Mims, a second-round pick by the New York Jets, Baylor had a total of four players drafted off the 2019 team and 10 defensive players who were either drafted or signed as free agents.
"I feel like I'm going to adjust well to the game," Mims said. "What I was always taught at Baylor was to be a pro. We always did everything first-class and pro-style, like we were already in the league. I feel like I'm in the league and I'm ready to be there."
Baylor Bear Insider
James Lynch has been used to doubters his whole life.
The fact that the Baylor All-American defensive tackle and Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year didn't come off the NFL Draft board on Saturday until the middle of the fourth round wasn't about to faze him.
"It wasn't tough," said the 6-4, 289-pound Lynch, who was drafted by the Minnesota Vikings with the 130th pick overall.
"My whole life I've been – I wouldn't say overlooked – but some people have doubted me. I'm just waiting for that opportunity to have that chance to go play in the NFL. Although it's Day 3, it doesn't matter to me. I still get a chance to play in the NFL, and that's all you could ever ask for."
Lynch's fourth-round selection started a busy day for Baylor football that saw two other defensive players taken in the last two rounds, a former Bear go in the fifth and 10 other players sign free agent contracts.
Nose tackle Bravvion Roy was reunited with former Baylor coach Matt Rhule as a sixth-round pick (184th overall) by the Carolina Panthers, then linebacker Clay Johnston went to the Los Angeles Rams in the seventh round with the 234th pick. Temple cornerback Harrison Hand, who started 13 games in his first two years at Baylor, was a fifth-round pick and joins Lynch with the Vikings.
"It's just a blessing. Coach Rhule is like a second father to me," said the 6-1, 330-pound Roy, a first-team All-Big 12 pick who had a career-high 61 tackles, 13.0 tackles for losses and 5 ½ sacks. "He speaks wisdom and he speaks truth. It's just real authentic. And that's the way I like to be coached."
Rhule brought 12 staff members from Baylor with him to Carolina, including defensive coordinator Phil Snow and assistant defensive line coach Frank Okam. He also added versatile offensive lineman Sam Tecklenburg as a free-agent signee.
When Roy saw Rhule's number come up on his phone, he got "very emotional because I already had his number saved. I saw Coach Rhule's number, and I looked at the TV and saw they had the pick. And I was like, 'Man, it's crazy if this is real.' I'm so happy that he told me, and I just started crying. It's just a blessing to be back with Coach Rhule and his staff."
Lynch, who set Baylor's single-season (13 ½) and career sacks (22.0) records, was part of a deep Minnesota draft that saw the Vikings go defense with eight of their last 12 picks. He was the sandwich pick in a fourth round that also included defensive end D.J. Wonnum from South Carolina and inside linebacker Troy Dye from Oregon.
"Talking with (Vikings head coach Mike) Zimmer, I knew I'd fit well," Lynch said. "I liked the way Minnesota played as a kid. I like the new stadium and the facilities. It's everything I could have ever asked for. So, to be able to go there, whenever I get a chance to, is going to be an amazing feeling."
The Rams, who missed the playoffs in 2019 after going to the Super Bowl the year before, also loaded up on defense late. Four of head coach Sean McVay's last seven picks were on the defensive side, including outside linebacker Terrell Lewis in the third round.
Despite missing the last eight games of his senior season with a torn ACL, Johnston earned second-team All-Big 12 honors, making 58 tackles with eight stops behind the line, 2 ½ sacks and one interception.
After calling Johnston, McVay said he was so excited that he was ready to run through a wall. The feeling is mutual.
"I'm hyperventilating," Johnston said. "I wanted to get under the squat rack, wanted to get some pads on. I'm freaking stoked."
Johnston joked with the Los Angeles media in a conference call that he was so pumped when McVay asked him if he wanted to be a Ram, he said, "By God, I want to be a Ram, let's freaking go!"
"I screamed, and everyone was screaming, going nuts in here, I instantly put some pads on, ran through our front door, broke the windshield. It was awesome!"
When a reporter called him on it and asked if the story was true, Johnston admitted, "No, not at all. Totally fictional. I just had to say that. The way I feel right now, I don't blame you for asking that, because I'm about to run through the door right in front of me right now."
Baylor's day was far from over when the 255th and final draft pick was made, with Georgia linebacker Tae Crowder selected by the New York Giants.
Ten other Baylor players signed as free agents, including seven from a Baylor defense that made dramatic strides in helping the Bears go from one win in 2017 to 11 this year and make their first-ever Big 12 Championship game appearance.
Other than Tecklenburg, defensive end James Lockhart signed with the Pittsburgh Steelers, with linebackers Blake Lynch and Jordan Williams inking with the Minnesota Vikings and Atlanta Falcons, respectively. From the secondary, cornerbacks Grayland Arnold and Jameson Houston went with the Philadelphia Eagles and Cleveland Browns, the Seattle Seahawks signed safety Chris Miller and the Green Bay Packers added safety Henry Black.
Rounding out the free agent signings, the San Francisco 49ers picked up running back JaMycal Hasty and the Jacksonville Jaguars signed long snapper Ross Matiscik. Over the last 20 years, Baylor's had five long snappers get shots in the NFL, including Super Bowl champion Justin Snow with the Indianapolis Colts and Pro Bowler Jonathan Weeks with the Houston Texans.
Including All-Big 12 wide receiver Denzel Mims, a second-round pick by the New York Jets, Baylor had a total of four players drafted off the 2019 team and 10 defensive players who were either drafted or signed as free agents.
"I feel like I'm going to adjust well to the game," Mims said. "What I was always taught at Baylor was to be a pro. We always did everything first-class and pro-style, like we were already in the league. I feel like I'm in the league and I'm ready to be there."
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