The Baylor Bears have been one of the elite teams in college football since the 2013 season. They had a three year record of 32-7, from 2013-2015. That record is good for best in the Big 12 over that span of time. Baylor also has the best record of any school in Texas since 2011, at 50-15. Things in Waco had been going really well until a sexual assault scandal of enormous proportions would start to tear down one of the best programs in college football.
According to USA Today, Baylor’s scandal started to get uncovered when ESPN’s Outside The Lines reported mishandling of a sexual assault accusation against one of their players. The Bears have lost their quarterback of the future in Jarrett Stidham to transfer. And according to 247Sports, the Bears are ranked 133rd nationally in the 2017 team recruiting class rankings. They are down to two commits left in the class. With the future looking bleak in the way of recruiting, it’s interesting to think of the future for Baylor football. Let’s look at why Baylor’s time as one of the elite teams in college football is running out.
Baylor’s Time as one of the Elite Teams in College Football is Running Out
Baylor’s Current Situation
Baylor came into the 2016 season still with a largely positive outlook. They entered the season ranked 23rd in the AP Poll. Key players like quarterback Seth Russell, running back Shock Linwood, and wide receiver K.D. Cannon, are still on the roster. The Bears also hired former Wake Forest head coach Jim Grobe to come in and “clean up” the situation. So far, he has done a pretty good job, as the Bears are currently 4-0. Multiple other players have also stepped up like running back JaMycal Hasty (over 250 yards rushing) and wide reciever Blake Lynch. Wide receiver Ishmael Zamora also had a big game against Oklahoma State in his comeback game with 175 yards receiving and two touchdowns. The Bears do look like the top team in the Big 12 after the first four weeks.
Outlook for the Future
Entering the 2017 season, Baylor will be without Russell and Linwood. Not to mention what the coaching situation might be come next season. Furthermore, with only two commitments in the next recruiting class, depth will be hard to come by. The most apparent problem is that the coach that got Baylor to where they are is now gone. Art Briles built the foundation for Baylor football, and it’s hard to imagine the next head coach being able to fill his shoes.
Freshman quarterback Zach Smith should have the keys to the offense next season. Running back Terence Williams will also be a featured part of the offense. Cannon’s status is up in the air, as we will have to wait and see if he declares for the 2017 NFL Draft. Zamora’s performance against Oklahoma State does give Baylor’s receiving core some hope for the future. However, when you look at the bigger picture, Baylor does have some other things in place that could help. McLane Stadium is brand new and can be a recruiting tool for many years in the future. The lookout for Baylor is bleak, but there are a few things that fans can hang their hats on for some hope.
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