Offseason Notebook: Answering Baylor's Biggest Transfer Portal Questions

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Read as insiders Grayson Grundhoefer and Travis Roeder answer questions regarding Baylor football’s offseason plans and what direction they believe the Bears should head this winter.

What is Baylor's biggest position of need this offseason?

• Grayson: The answer is wide receiver because I think it is a very under-appreciated position. Bayor’s offense next year will likely come down to this position, and it is set up to succeed very well IF the coaching staff finds difference-makers there to pair alongside a top-10 quarterback, strong running backs, four returners on a top-five offensive line in the league and a matchup nightmare at tight end. This offense is loaded, but the next step is completing that side of the ball with guys who can win you games out wide. If they can find the right one, then this offense has a chance to be special and better than the dominant one we saw to end the season. If they miss, we could see a group that sometimes struggles, especially against better defenses. If you want to see the impact that position can have, look back at Baylor’s 2022 season. My second biggest need was a tie between nose tackle and EDGE, which the staff addressed with Samu Taumanupepe and Matthew Fobbs-White.

• Travis: You can answer this question in a few different ways. I think wide receiver is the biggest need purely from a “Baylor absolutely must add a few wide receivers.” The Bears cannot go into 2025 just with what they have. However, the transfer portal is always replete with options for wide receivers. So, I basically cannot foresee a scenario where they don't find good options at wide receivers. On the other hand, Baylor desperately needs to add some EDGE defenders on defense to replace Garmon Randolph (6Sr.) and Steve Linton (6Sr.). Baylor’s homegrown guys are not yet ready to be the alphas there. EDGE is a position where it’s harder than at wide receiver to find guys, so that’s the spot I most have my eyes on that Baylor needs to fill with a good addition. 

How many portal additions would you feel comfortable with?

• Grayson: I think 10-15 total transfer portal additions would make me feel comfortable that Baylor did enough to take advantage of its opportunities in the portal. The roster doesn’t need a ton of pieces added for next year but does need some high-quality ones at specific positions like EDGE, wide receiver, middle linebacker, nose tackle and defensive back. They need to take around nine or nine very high-quality starter types, and then after that, they need some depth pieces to go along with a couple of dart throws. College football is changing every day, so when opportunities to improve the roster for a year or future years are in front of you, then you have to be able to take advantage. It is important to add talent from the portal every year, even if some of it is adding guys who won’t necessarily contribute for next season.
   
• Travis: That depends on how many spots they have to work with. I imagine they’ll go into spring ball with at least a few spots open, so they can add another handful of guys after spring. For me, this is a quality, not quantity, portal class for Baylor. Sometimes, you need bodies, and I think that is the case for Baylor at a few positions (WR, EDGE). But basically, everywhere else, it’s about smart, good additions. For example, Baylor could use an inside linebacker to replace Matt Jones (6Sr.). But that’s not a spot where you bring in any guy with experience just for the heck of it; I’d rather roll with Kyland Reed (Fr.) than stunt his development with a subpar older guy. I think that applies to a lot of positions like safety, cornerback, offensive line, etc. I expect Baylor to add guys at all those positions, but I don’t have a total number in mind.

What position do you feel doesn't need any additional players?

• Grayson: I’d say running back. We all know Bryson Washington (RFr.) is a rising star, and Dawson Pendergrass (So.) continues to show he is a more reliable option. Combine those two with Richard Reese (Jr.) and Joseph Dodds (Fr.), along with two four-star running backs in the 2025 group, and you have a loaded room. I fully expect true freshman Caden Knighten to bring the high-end speed the staff hoped to add to the room. As long as Michael Trigg (RJr.) returns, I don’t see a need at tight end either. I could see reasons to add at every other position.
   
• Travis: For me, it’s tight end. I’d be in favor of the right addition at every other position.

What is Baylor's biggest advantage in recruiting in the portal this offseason as opposed to just two years ago?

• Grayson: Momentum and winning. Those two things make Baylor very attractive to prospects all over the country. Baylor is seen as an ascending program instead of one that needs to win or the head coach is gone. That is a huge advantage. Mix that with a good NIL budget, very talented players returning, plus a high-powered offense, and you have a very attractive destination.
   
• Travis: More money and running a more attractive offense. Baylor will often be going after “come back home” guys who may have left the state and are considering returning. It also helps potential portal prospects to come back and play in a spread offense that they likely ran during their high school days.

How much more attractive will it be for potential offensive transfers to play with Sawyer Robertson and Jake Spavital?

• Grayson: There was so much momentum and production to end the season on the offensive side of the ball, and it’s a talking point that the coaching staff is going to use heavily on the recruiting trail. Skill position guys want to see that there is a path to putting up a bunch of numbers, which Jake Spavital’s offense does. Plus, they want to know that the quarterback is going to be able to produce, which Sawyer Robertson (RJr.) proved. It is a great offensive environment to be a part of, and transfers are going to respond well to that.
   
• Travis: It’s huge. Wide receivers are keenly aware that they can only shine if their surroundings allow them to. Not only is Robertson a great quarterback, but he has great stats. It’s easy to show them to a potential WR and say, “Do you want to play with a QB who just lit up the statbook?” Furthermore, if Baylor is in the market for a quarterback, Spavital’s history with developing QBs, and what he did with Robertson in one year, will make it more likely that a guy would be willing to come in knowing that in all likelihood that he’s going to sit for a year.