25 Days till Kickoff: Baylor’s #25s Byron Hanspard Jr. & Jacoby Clarke

Byron Hanspard Jr. is a fifth-year senior cornerback from Desoto, Texas. Hanspard Jr. has one year of Covid eligibility remaining if he elects to come back. Baylor’s website has him listed at 6-foot-0, 180 pounds. While at BU, he was named the Big 12’s Champion for Life Mentor in 2022. He has also made the Big 12 Commissioner’s Honor Roll three times, was honored with Academic All-Big 12 four times, and is majoring in kinesiology. 

Trey Mena

Hanspard Jr. was named a Big 12 Champion for Life in 2022.

In 2021, Hanspard Jr. played in 13 of 14 games, mostly on special teams. He tallied his only tackle of the year in the victory over Texas.

As a sophomore in 2020, the Desoto native played in four games, primarily on special teams. He collected a career-high three solo tackles against Kansas. 

He appeared in three games as a true freshman in 2018 and collected his first collegiate tackle against Texas Tech. He ultimately ended up redshirting the season. As a redshirt freshman in 2019, he appeared in seven games and collected two tackles and 1 TFL in the victory against Kansas. 

At Desoto High School, Hanspard Jr. was selected as an Under Armour All-American. Playing both defense and offense as a senior, he had 36 receptions for 493 yards and two touchdowns. While on defense, he totaled 42 tackles, three TFLs, and one interception. He was the No. 289 player in the nation, the No. 33 player in Texas, the No.12 athlete in the country, and was a four-star recruit, according to 247. Hanspard Jr. committed to Baylor over Arkansas, Texas Tech, and Houston in the class of 2018. 

His father, Byron Hanspard, was a unanimous All-American and Doak Walker award winner in 1996 at Texas Tech. 

Jacoby Clarke is a junior running back from The Woodlands, Texas. He should have two years of eligibility remaining past this season, and Baylor’s website has him listed at 5-foot-11, 230 pounds. While at BU, he is majoring in business and was First Team Academic All-Big 12 in 2020 & 2021.

Trey Mena

Clarke at spring practice.

Clarke saw two carries in the 2021 season, both in the blowout victory over Texas Southern. He played in 13 of the 14 games, mostly on special teams. 

In the shortened 2020 season, Clarke played in eight games. He had one tackle and two receptions for two yards. As a freshman in 2019, Clarke had two carries for seven yards against SFA before electing to redshirt the season. 

At The Woodlands High School, Clarke helped lead his team to a 10-3 record and the area championship. He was an All-District honoree and was Academic All-State. He had 21 carries for 93 yards and a touchdown.