FIVE AS ONE

By Jerry Hill
Baylor Bear Insider

Starting three redshirt freshmen and four first-year starters for most of the season, Baylor's offensive line certainly had its issues last season, allowing a league-high 34 sacks and averaging a Big 12-low 3.34 yards per rushing attempt.

"I think the whole game depends on us," said Campbell Barrington, who's back at right tackle after splitting time at right guard, right tackle and left tackle last season. "If we're not doing our job and we're not encouraging others to do their job, then the offense as a whole is going to struggle to succeed. So, it relies a lot on us."

Now, they have that year under their belts and are being pushed by a bunch of newcomers that includes Division I transfers Omar Aigbedion (Montana State), Sidney Fugar (South Carolina), Colton Thomasson (Texas A&M) and Colin Truett (Chattanooga).

"Omar and Sidney and all the other guys that have come in, they've been wonderful," said redshirt sophomore Coleton Price, who started the last six games at center. "They brought all this energy, different backgrounds, new things. We had different things last year, but this a whole new offense, a whole new team. Having these different guys bring this type of energy and a different mentality helps a whole lot."

Price was one of those redshirt freshmen that got thrown into the fire last year, playing limited snaps before getting his first start at Cincinnati.

"Just understanding the whole game, not just my position, but the five positions and the whole offense," he said. "And just understanding the whole entire scheme of things, that slows things down so much. Understanding what's going on around you, because I've got to lead this thing around me and make calls and stuff like that. It just slowed down the game so much."

Of course, just about the time Price started understanding things, the offense went through a complete makeover with the switch from Jeff Grimes' wide zone to first-year coordinator Jake Spavital's spread attack. In all, the Bears have four new offensive assistant coaches, including offensive line coach Mason Miller.

"It's a completely different offense, and it's taken time," Barrington said. "But we were definitely figuring things out in the spring. Now that we're rolling, it's slowly getting better."

Redshirt sophomore Alvin Ebosele, who started the last 11 games at left tackle, said this year's offense is "fast, violent and physical."

"Last year, that's stuff that we all believed in, but the product we put out on the field didn't really reflect that," he said. "This year, we've got to smash that into our souls and make sure that's what every single one of us truly believe. We have to know that we can accomplish it, and the last thing is to just go out on the field and do it."

With an extra emphasis on physicality, the Bears have beefed up the offensive line, averaging 6-5 and 310 pounds among the five starters. But that's a tough balance with an up-tempo offense that's constantly looking to go fast.

"I won't lie," said Ebosele, who added right at 10 pounds to his 6-6 frame, "at first in the spring, it was rough. We're putting on weight in the winter, we get to the spring and we're all bigger. So, it's a little harder to move. And then, with the tempo, oh my gosh, I'm tired. But we got used to it. And the more you rep it, the less it affects you. So, the tempo's not going to bring us down, it's going to be something that we use to our advantage."

It could possibly change after Saturday's scrimmage at McLane Stadium, but the current starting five has Ebosele and Barrington at the tackles, Price at center and Aigbedion and redshirt junior Ryan Lengyel (6-5, 310) at the guards.

But that leaves quality depth with Gavin Byers, a fifth-year senior with 26 career starts; redshirt sophomore Kaden Sieracki, who started seven games a year ago; massive redshirt freshman Isaiah Robinson (6-7, 323), a former four-star recruit; and the other three transfers in Fugar, Thomasson and Truett.

"He's grown tremendously this past year, being able take the position at left guard and grow with it," Price said of Lengyel, who has played limited snaps in six games over his first three seasons at Baylor. "His football IQ level, understanding the whole scheme of things, right now it's slowing down so much for him. I think he's going to be great at that position."

While it's sometimes difficult for five guys to mesh as one, particularly with so many new faces and moving pieces, but Ebosele said "this is the tightest O-line I've ever been on."

"Everybody's talking all the time, helping with corrections, holding each other accountable," he said. "Really, all the things you need from a cohesive unit. As an O-line, we've got to be closer than any other position group on the team, because we're right next to each other all the time. Receivers are out wide; tight ends, quarterback and running back, usually only one on the field. We've all got to be key, on-point, working together as a group."

Price said all the offensive linemen on the team are different, "but we all are one."

"We're all five, but we've got to play as one," he said. "If we don't do that, we don't go as far as an O-line and help this whole offense and this whole team. Obviously, we brought in some new guys, so it's changed a few things. Which, I think, has made the O-line better. I think it's something we really need. We've never been so close together."

The Bears will have Sunday off after the first of two closed scrimmages at McLane Stadium before returning to the practice fields on Monday. Baylor's annual "Meet the Team" event will be held at 2:30 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 24, at the Allison Indoor Practice Facility.

For football season tickets, mini plans or single-game tickets, go to the link at 2024 Football

Players Mentioned

Omar Aigbedion

Campbell Barrington

Gavin Byers

Alvin Ebosele

Sidney Fugar

Ryan Lengyel

Coleton Price

Isaiah Robinson

Kaden Sieracki

Colton Thomasson

Colin Truett

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