Baylor Football
Family First: Brian Nance returns to Baylor after year hiatus
So often in college football, commitment means a high school player is using countless hashtags about the flavor of the week school he just toured. The recruiting trail is blazing with #fire photo edits and turns into a stream of top seven (really, any number) schools he’s considering a commitment.
You can choose your school and your friends but you can’t choose your family. Brian Nance has broken that rule.
He chose family first. Nance looked like a key contributor for the Bears last season coming off a sophomore campaign of nine tackles, three tackles for loss, and two sacks in seven games as a reserve.
Despite being destined for the spotlight, looking to fill in the the oversized shoes of Shawn Oakman and Jamal Palmer, Nance decided to leave the program to help his family.
For most students, that might just mean helping his parents but Nance was already a father of two kids. Playing college football doesn’t pay the bills. Instead of taking support that the NCAA could deem as payment (oh what could have been of Salsa Nacho), he decided leaving football for the time was the right commitment.
After a year away from the turf, Nance is geared up for 2017 in time for a defensive overhaul from Matt Rhule and crew. His family-first mentality already has the coaches’ attention that will hopefully translate to the field among his teammates.
“You see a smile on his face when he talks about his family,” defensive line coach Elijah Robinson said. “It tells you a lot about him.” He’s proven to be a A1 dad for his five-year-old and 11 month old it can only be imagined he can function the same in the trenches, helping guide his younger teammates. Coming out of Hargrave Military Academy, Nance was the second-ranked prep school outside linebacker in 2013. Only NFL first-round pick and Clemson product Shaq Lawson ranked higher.
At 6-foot-4, Nance had a frame tailor-made for the edge but was deceptively strong in coverage as well thanks to his twitchy athleticism. Scouts also fawned over his ability to fill gaps against the run. A year away from the game could have regressed some of that ability that made him a hot commodity but the building blocks are there for Rhule and his Temple staff to build.
Nance's family first mentality fits right into Rhule's philosophy of building men, not just players- Nance is already a proven man.
All the pieces seem to be coming together. Hopefully that will help Nance’s oldest kid see that defense can be just as cool as his favorite players Odell Beckham Jr. and Antonio Brown.
You can choose your school and your friends but you can’t choose your family. Brian Nance has broken that rule.
He chose family first. Nance looked like a key contributor for the Bears last season coming off a sophomore campaign of nine tackles, three tackles for loss, and two sacks in seven games as a reserve.
Despite being destined for the spotlight, looking to fill in the the oversized shoes of Shawn Oakman and Jamal Palmer, Nance decided to leave the program to help his family.
Football player, future Baylor graduate, father. Meet Brian Nance.
— Baylor Football (@BUFootball) June 18, 2017
Happy #FathersDay pic.twitter.com/FkswhXTYX1
For most students, that might just mean helping his parents but Nance was already a father of two kids. Playing college football doesn’t pay the bills. Instead of taking support that the NCAA could deem as payment (oh what could have been of Salsa Nacho), he decided leaving football for the time was the right commitment.
After a year away from the turf, Nance is geared up for 2017 in time for a defensive overhaul from Matt Rhule and crew. His family-first mentality already has the coaches’ attention that will hopefully translate to the field among his teammates.
“You see a smile on his face when he talks about his family,” defensive line coach Elijah Robinson said. “It tells you a lot about him.” He’s proven to be a A1 dad for his five-year-old and 11 month old it can only be imagined he can function the same in the trenches, helping guide his younger teammates. Coming out of Hargrave Military Academy, Nance was the second-ranked prep school outside linebacker in 2013. Only NFL first-round pick and Clemson product Shaq Lawson ranked higher.
At 6-foot-4, Nance had a frame tailor-made for the edge but was deceptively strong in coverage as well thanks to his twitchy athleticism. Scouts also fawned over his ability to fill gaps against the run. A year away from the game could have regressed some of that ability that made him a hot commodity but the building blocks are there for Rhule and his Temple staff to build.
Nance's family first mentality fits right into Rhule's philosophy of building men, not just players- Nance is already a proven man.
All the pieces seem to be coming together. Hopefully that will help Nance’s oldest kid see that defense can be just as cool as his favorite players Odell Beckham Jr. and Antonio Brown.
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