FB Making Most of Lessons Learned Last Year

By Jerry Hill
Baylor Bear Insider

Dave Aranda wants nothing more than to prove the media wrong . . . again.

Three years ago, when the Bears were picked to finish eighth in the 10-team Big 12 media poll, all they did was record the best season in program history. That 2021 Baylor team not only beat Oklahoma State in the Big 12 Championship game, it won a school-record 12 games (12-2) and capped it all off with a win over Ole Miss in the Sugar Bowl.

With the Bears picked 12^th in the 16-team league this year, Aranda said he is "excited to get to work and to prove that we're a better team than what we are perceived as."

"I look at the lessons from last year showing up in the moves that we made this year," Aranda said at Wednesday's Big 12 Media Day in Las Vegas. "We're fully invested now in the transfer portal. We're full invested with name, image and likeness (NIL). And I'm fully invested in football, which I think is probably the No. 1 thing.

"I think those things moving forward just put us in position to be so much a better team. There's just an energy around the building that I think shows that. You talk to any of our kids, they feel that. I'm excited to get started."

Embracing the transfer portal, Aranda added potential impact offensive players in Toledo quarterback Dequan Finn, wide receiver Ashtyn Hawkins from Texas State and tight end Michael Trigg from Ole Miss.

But easily the biggest target area for the Bears was the offensive line, bringing in Coleton Thomasson from Texas A&M, Omar Aigbedion from Montana State, Sidney Fugar from South Carolina and Colin Truett from Chattanooga, a commit flip from Kansas State.

"Offensive line-wise, we really hit the portal hard," Aranda said. "We had a bunch of young guys playing (last season) . . . because I failed to hit the portal the previous year. You get a chip on your shoulder with those guys that were probably playing too early. And then, we bring in some guys that are really sought-after transfer guys that have worked their way in and are leaders now on the team. There's a chip on the shoulder with that group. They're somewhere angry."

Finn, last year's Mid-American Conference MVP, is in a battle for the starting quarterback job with former Mississippi State transfer Sawyer Robertson that is continuing into fall camp.

"You could see the growth in the quarterbacks and the improvement (in the spring)," Aranda said. "Towards the end, I'm wishing we had two more weeks. If we had two more weeks of spring ball, I'm thinking we could get this wrapped up. Obviously, we didn't. I'm hopeful by the middle part of fall camp we'll have an idea of who it is."

Along with growth off the field, Aranda said one of the keys at the quarterback position is "making plays when the plays aren't there, getting us in the best situations, navigating a negative play. How are you right after that? I think all those things tie into that."

Aranda said what makes Hawkins "different" in what's become a deep corps of receivers "is the acceleration and the top-end speed to close it out."

"Sometimes, the quick guys aren't necessarily the fast guys," Aranda said, "and he's got both of those things. I think the thing that defines him is that he's not in it to lose. He's in it to win, and then kind of put it in your face after he wins. All of that can't help but come out of him, and I think that's been a welcome addition to the team."

The offense also went through a staff makeover, with former Texas State head coach Jake Spavital coming in as offensive coordinator and joined by offensive line coach Mason Miller, running backs coach Khenon Hall and tight ends coach Jarrett Anderson.

Spavital, who had his second stint as the OC at California last year, brings an "energy with him," Aranda said.

"Sometimes, when you get to an offense or defense that is so black and white, for the guys to play fast and play green, it's hard to be either/or," Aranda said. "Jake gives us the ability to have choice routes. If (the defender) is low, you go high. If someone's out, you go in. And then, it's really kind of maximizing the gray and getting comfortable with those looks. To have the sync with that in the quarterback can be scary stuff. You double that with the tempo, now you're talking. I think the kids, for sure, see that. And he's continued to add to it, add wrinkles."

The Bears have also added some help on the defensive side, signing defensive lineman Tonga Loloheah, Ronnie Mangeo and Elinus Noel III, linebackers Keaton Thomas, JaQues Evans and Steve Linton and safeties Kendrick Simpkins, Cameren Jenkins and Lorando "Snaxx" Johnson.

But the biggest change on defense is Aranda taking over play-calling duties, a role that he thrived in as the defensive coordinator at Wisconsin and LSU, winning a national championship with the Tigers in 2019.

"I think I am at my best when I am all the way through a technique or all the way about a scheme, all the way to the depths of it," Aranda said. "And then, when I come back, I can speak really strong about it, and I can own it. And then, if it doesn't look right, I can get mad at it so it's right. And that's a big change. I think that echoes throughout our building."

Linebacker Matt Jones said one of the main reasons he came back for his sixth season is when Aranda decided to take "over the coordination" of the defense.

"It hyped me seeing all the NFL talent he's produced," Jones said. "If you don't want to play for him, something's wrong with you."

With the Bears opening on August 31 at home against Tarleton State, they will begin fall camp on August 1. For season tickets, mini plans or single-game tickets, go to the link at 2024 Football.

FB Making Most of Lessons Learned Last Year

Players Mentioned

Omar Aigbedion

Dequan Finn

Ashtyn Hawkins

Cameren Jenkins

Matt Jones

Steve Linton

Tonga Lolohea

Sawyer Robertson

Kendrick Simpkins

Keaton Thomas

Michael Trigg

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