WINNING AND RECRUITING
12/4/2024 4:39:00 PM | Football
Bears parlay six-game winning streak into one of Big 12's top signing classes
Jerry Hill
Baylor Bear Insider
Two months ago, with Baylor football losing its third game in a row and falling to 2-4, head coach Dave Aranda said the Bears "had some of our top guys looking around."
"That was probably the toughest time," Aranda said of a recruiting process that culminated on Wednesday with a signing class of 21 that is ranked as the third-best in the Big 12 and 34th nationally by 247sports.
"When you're in the building, you know that it's turning, you can see it, we're so close," Aranda said of a six-game winning streak that has the Bears at 8-4 and headed to their 12th bowl game in the last 15 years. "You just felt that we were so close, we're right there. I think the ability to kind of have that inside enabled us to take it outside. And I think the guys saw it, too."
That late surge, capped by Saturday's 45-17 win over Kansas, played a big part in Baylor's coaching staff being able to hold on and even add to the 2025 recruiting class.
"I think just about everybody was waiting for us to prove it, wanting us to show everybody," Aranda said. "I can think of countless guys that want all of this to be true, want the relationships, what the quality people, want everything Baylor offers. And then, to be a really effective, winning team. So, to finally see it, and then to see that, 'Hey, I can be a part of it and take it to the next step,' is something they were all very much waiting for it."
Topping Baylor's signing-day list are five players that were rated four-star prospects by at least one service – linebackers Kaleb Burns from Houston Cy Falls and Kamauryn Morgan from Dallas South Oak Cliff, running backs Caden Knighten from Pauls Valley, Okla., and Michael Turner from North Richland Hills and wide receiver Taz Williams Jr. from Red Oak.
Recruiting for need, the Bears signed five linebackers and four wide receivers.
"Receiver-wise, we've got guys that can play outside; we've got guys that can play inside," Aranda said. "There are really good tools and options there in terms of the guys coming in. Linebacker-wise, I think, is really strong in terms of talent and guys that can run and hit. I think our running back group is a really strong group. You can put those two (Knighten and Turner) versus anyone in the country. And our linebacker group is close to that as well."
Aranda continued to tap into the Texas pipeline, with 16 of the 21 players in the class coming from the Lone Star State.
"It's good to be able to have the relationships to be able to recruit in-state," he said. "Just the quality of football that's played here, the coaching that's here, the development that's here and then just the lineage. There are guys that have come from schools where we've recruited a fair amount, and there's guys that maybe we haven't recruited there recently, and we wanted to start something. I think all of those things you can parlay into a history and a tradition.
"Just being where we are in the state and just so centrally located, there's a bunch of moms and dads that are going to be able to come watch their boy play."
One of those is defensive lineman Jackson Blackwell (6-3, 305) from nearby Lorena. As a senior, he had 33 tackles, eight QB hurries and three sacks for the Leopards.
"Probably the thing I'm most proud of is that," Aranda said of being able to keep a Central Texas recruit close to home. "Love his family and love everything he's about. And he's such a great fit here. On and off the field, I think the system fits him. . . . He's someone that can probably play sooner rather than later. I think once he gets here, he's just going to take off."
Blackwell is one of 14 players in the class that will enroll in January for the Spring 2025 semester and be able to go through spring training.
Among the few out-of-state recruits, the Bears signed offensive linemen Harrison Cluff (6-4, 295) from Columbia, Miss., and Matthew Parker (6-7, 295) from Flowood, Miss., a pair of prospects that current offensive line coach Mason Miller spotted when he was on Mike Leach's staff at Mississippi State.
"Mason had an idea of where they were at in their particular development," Aranda said. "When he came calling, they came right on. One was committed elsewhere, and we had to get them with us. So, all of that during the summer was a heavy lift when there wasn't much to show in terms of a running game or offensive production at all. So, a lot of credit to (Miller). They both had successful seasons, and excited for their development here with us."
With only two scholarship quarterbacks on the 2025 roster, Baylor signed Edward Griffin (6-1, 205), who threw for a combined 6,360 yards and 81 touchdowns with only six interceptions over the last two seasons in leading Coppell to back-to-back 12-1 seasons and the third round of the playoffs.
"Sitting down with (offensive coordinator Jake Spavital) and kind of going through, 'Hey, here's a few guys that kind of fit the bill,' but no one fit it as completely as Edward did," Aranda said. "His study habits, his attention to detail, he's almost a machine when it comes to that. And I think he's a self-starter, in that sense. The on-field, off-field combo is way strong with him."
As far as the transfer portal, which opens Dec. 9, Aranda said the Bears will look for some immediate help in the secondary, defensive front and receiver, "and we're going to need to be able to add some depth on the O-line."
After completing the regular season, Baylor is now awaiting Sunday's bowl announcement to see where the Bears will head for the holidays. The possibilities include the Texas Bowl in Houston, Alamo Bowl in San Antonio, Liberty Bowl in Memphis, Tenn., and the Pop Tarts Bowl in Orlando, Fla.
"I think we're going to have a really good bowl game coming up, and we'll see who the opponent is," Aranda said. "But that, for sure, is a game that we want to win, be competitive, and have something our fans can cheer us on for. Anything that comes in front of us, our aim is to win."
Baylor Bear Insider
Two months ago, with Baylor football losing its third game in a row and falling to 2-4, head coach Dave Aranda said the Bears "had some of our top guys looking around."
"That was probably the toughest time," Aranda said of a recruiting process that culminated on Wednesday with a signing class of 21 that is ranked as the third-best in the Big 12 and 34th nationally by 247sports.
"When you're in the building, you know that it's turning, you can see it, we're so close," Aranda said of a six-game winning streak that has the Bears at 8-4 and headed to their 12th bowl game in the last 15 years. "You just felt that we were so close, we're right there. I think the ability to kind of have that inside enabled us to take it outside. And I think the guys saw it, too."
That late surge, capped by Saturday's 45-17 win over Kansas, played a big part in Baylor's coaching staff being able to hold on and even add to the 2025 recruiting class.
"I think just about everybody was waiting for us to prove it, wanting us to show everybody," Aranda said. "I can think of countless guys that want all of this to be true, want the relationships, what the quality people, want everything Baylor offers. And then, to be a really effective, winning team. So, to finally see it, and then to see that, 'Hey, I can be a part of it and take it to the next step,' is something they were all very much waiting for it."
Topping Baylor's signing-day list are five players that were rated four-star prospects by at least one service – linebackers Kaleb Burns from Houston Cy Falls and Kamauryn Morgan from Dallas South Oak Cliff, running backs Caden Knighten from Pauls Valley, Okla., and Michael Turner from North Richland Hills and wide receiver Taz Williams Jr. from Red Oak.
Recruiting for need, the Bears signed five linebackers and four wide receivers.
"Receiver-wise, we've got guys that can play outside; we've got guys that can play inside," Aranda said. "There are really good tools and options there in terms of the guys coming in. Linebacker-wise, I think, is really strong in terms of talent and guys that can run and hit. I think our running back group is a really strong group. You can put those two (Knighten and Turner) versus anyone in the country. And our linebacker group is close to that as well."
Aranda continued to tap into the Texas pipeline, with 16 of the 21 players in the class coming from the Lone Star State.
"It's good to be able to have the relationships to be able to recruit in-state," he said. "Just the quality of football that's played here, the coaching that's here, the development that's here and then just the lineage. There are guys that have come from schools where we've recruited a fair amount, and there's guys that maybe we haven't recruited there recently, and we wanted to start something. I think all of those things you can parlay into a history and a tradition.
"Just being where we are in the state and just so centrally located, there's a bunch of moms and dads that are going to be able to come watch their boy play."
One of those is defensive lineman Jackson Blackwell (6-3, 305) from nearby Lorena. As a senior, he had 33 tackles, eight QB hurries and three sacks for the Leopards.
"Probably the thing I'm most proud of is that," Aranda said of being able to keep a Central Texas recruit close to home. "Love his family and love everything he's about. And he's such a great fit here. On and off the field, I think the system fits him. . . . He's someone that can probably play sooner rather than later. I think once he gets here, he's just going to take off."
Blackwell is one of 14 players in the class that will enroll in January for the Spring 2025 semester and be able to go through spring training.
Among the few out-of-state recruits, the Bears signed offensive linemen Harrison Cluff (6-4, 295) from Columbia, Miss., and Matthew Parker (6-7, 295) from Flowood, Miss., a pair of prospects that current offensive line coach Mason Miller spotted when he was on Mike Leach's staff at Mississippi State.
"Mason had an idea of where they were at in their particular development," Aranda said. "When he came calling, they came right on. One was committed elsewhere, and we had to get them with us. So, all of that during the summer was a heavy lift when there wasn't much to show in terms of a running game or offensive production at all. So, a lot of credit to (Miller). They both had successful seasons, and excited for their development here with us."
With only two scholarship quarterbacks on the 2025 roster, Baylor signed Edward Griffin (6-1, 205), who threw for a combined 6,360 yards and 81 touchdowns with only six interceptions over the last two seasons in leading Coppell to back-to-back 12-1 seasons and the third round of the playoffs.
"Sitting down with (offensive coordinator Jake Spavital) and kind of going through, 'Hey, here's a few guys that kind of fit the bill,' but no one fit it as completely as Edward did," Aranda said. "His study habits, his attention to detail, he's almost a machine when it comes to that. And I think he's a self-starter, in that sense. The on-field, off-field combo is way strong with him."
As far as the transfer portal, which opens Dec. 9, Aranda said the Bears will look for some immediate help in the secondary, defensive front and receiver, "and we're going to need to be able to add some depth on the O-line."
After completing the regular season, Baylor is now awaiting Sunday's bowl announcement to see where the Bears will head for the holidays. The possibilities include the Texas Bowl in Houston, Alamo Bowl in San Antonio, Liberty Bowl in Memphis, Tenn., and the Pop Tarts Bowl in Orlando, Fla.
"I think we're going to have a really good bowl game coming up, and we'll see who the opponent is," Aranda said. "But that, for sure, is a game that we want to win, be competitive, and have something our fans can cheer us on for. Anything that comes in front of us, our aim is to win."
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