Scattershooting 2024 Class (Part 1): Top 5 In The Class, Needs at WR, OL Evaluation
SicEm365 Lead Recruiting Analyst and Co-Editor Grayson Grundhoefer gives his in-depth thoughts on Baylor's 2024 recruiting class.
National Signing Day Preview: Bears look to finish the 2024 class strong
National Signing Day No. 2 is here as the staff look to secure a few more major signatures to close out the 2024 class. SicEm365 Lead Recruiting Analyst and Co-Editor Grayson Grundhoefer provides insider information on the upcoming decisions and what it means for the future of Baylor recruiting.
What I'm Hearing…
- As I mentioned yesterday, Fort Bend (TX) Ridge Point 2024 wide receiver Ashton Bethel-Roman took a visit to Baylor in the afternoon/night yesterday. He was able to go to the basketball game with his dad and Dave Aranda last night. By all accounts everything went very well and Baylor made up some ground. He has good relationships with the staff but Baylor just wasn't a real contender the last six months or so of his recruitment for a variety of reasons. Things have obviously changed for Baylor on the recruiting front which has allowed them to be in on a target like this.He visited Texas A&M today. The Aggies were the favorites to land him when he got released from his Arkansas NLI. Baylor made up ground and it may have closed the gap enough to compete for his signature on Wednesday even though A&M has felt like the choice for a week. We will see following this trip where things stand.The four-star prospect and top 135 recruit in the nation according to 247 would be a massive, massive addition to the 2024 class. The staff looked at more transfer outside WRs but didn't find the right one, Bethel-Roman would solidify that short term and long term.- Fort Bend (TX) Marshall 2024 four-star safety Josh Lair visited for a couple days on Friday and Saturday. Baylor was in a great spot going into the visit and I think that position increased. I also have not heard of any other visits coming up this week for him which would put Baylor in a prime position and means he should be deciding soon. Baylor has a great chance to solidify a position of need with a priority target late in the cycle, just have to close. Check predictions.
Weekend Visitor List
I just wanted to consolidate the list from notes I have had this week. I will post if there are anymore added for the weekend but this should be pretty close to the full group.FridayDeSoto 2025 RB Deondrae Riden DeSoto 2025 EDGE/LB Keylan Abrams DeSoto 2025 WR Daylon Singleton DeSoto 2025 OL Byron Washington DeSoto 2025 S Sael Reyes (maybe)Red Oak 2025 WR Taz Williams Duncanville 2025 S Tyren Polley Lake Ridge 2026 OL Felix Ojo DeSoto 2027 WR Ethan Feaster Friday/SaturdayFB Marshall 2024 Safety Josh Lair SaturdayFB Ridge Point WR Ashton Bethel-Roman
Major Visitor Note
Dave Aranda and Matthew Powledge went by Fort Bend Marshall on Monday to talk to multiple prospects but especially 2024 safety prospect Josh Lair. By all indications this meeting went really well and solidified Baylor's spot as a legit contender in his recruitment.The former Washington signee who was released form his NLI earlier this month will take an unofficial visit to Baylor starting Friday and ending at some point on Saturday. He took an official visit but his gives the staff a final opportunity to pitch the direction of the program and for him to be around the staff, see his fit in the scheme/program again, etc. It will be very important as the staff tries to add another four-star prospect to the class.This is a huge deal for the staff as recruitment since the end of the season has continued to gain positive momentum. Landing another four-star here would be huge but even just getting a late visit is a significant step and continues to prove that the staff has improved in this area. To what extent we don't know yet but an improvement is an improvement.I do not know what his other scheduled visits are but I do know he has received interest from multiple including Texas A&M, Texas, LSU, and Alabama. Again the Bears are in this race to the finish.All eyes turn towards National Signing Day a week from today on February 7th. I expect him to make a decision before then, maybe after this weekend, but it will be made by that point.