Five Bears Earn AP All-Big 12 Accolades

WACO, Texas – Five Baylor football standouts earned All-Big 12 recognition from the Associated Press, as announced Friday morning.

Senior offensive lineman Connor Galvin and junior defensive lineman Siaki Ika were named to the First Team, while senior linebacker Dillon Doyle, senior offensive lineman Grant Miller and senior safety Al Walcott each earned second-team honors.

Galvin, a native of Katy, Texas, shattered the Baylor career games started record in 2022 with 49 career starts. He was named second-team All-Big 12 by the league’s coaches, helped Baylor to distinction by Pro Football Network as the offensive line of the year in the league, and was just a year removed from being named by the league’s coaches as the Big 12 Offensive Lineman of the Year. According to Pro Football Focus, Galvin graded out as the third-best tackle in the league and the 54th best in the nation with a 76.5 rating.

A native of Salt Lake City, Utah, Ika had another strong season while anchoring the middle of the Baylor defense. A 6-foot-4, 358-pound force, Ika was named first-team All-Big 12 by the league’s coaches. Ika, the 2021 Big 12 Defensive Newcomer of the Year, played in all 12 games with 11 starting nods, totaling 24 tackles, including a pair for a loss, while adding five QB hurries and two pass break-ups.

A heady linebacker from Iowa City, Iowa, Doyle ranked tied for the team lead with 80 tackles, adding two interceptions, three QB hurries and two pass break-ups in 2022, helping lead the Bears to a second-consecutive bowl game. A fullback on offense and a middle linebacker defensively, Doyle became the first player in program and league history to be named all-conference at an offensive and defensive position in 2022. He was tabbed second-team All-Big 12 by the league’s coaches at fullback and linebacker. Offensively, he carried the ball six times and had two catches, including one TD grab. Over his career, which began with two years at Iowa, Doyle has 251 career tackles, 11.5 stops for a loss, three interceptions and two sacks.

Miller, a native of Fort Lauderdale, Fla., and a transfer from Vanderbilt, graded out as the third-best guard in the Big 12 by PFF, ranking 49th in the nation at his position. He earned a 74.1 rating, behind only Cooper Beebe of Kansas State and his teammate Micah Mazzccua in the league. Miller, the son of Baylor great Fred Miller, helped anchor the interior of the Baylor offensive line the last two years and has played in 57 games over his career. A year ago, he helped pave the way for a rushing attack that led the Big 12 and ranked 10th in the nation in rushing yards per game (219.3).

A senior out of Wilmington, N.C., Walcott moved over from cornerback to the STAR position in 2022 after the graduation of Jalen Pitre to the NFL. Walcott played the majority of the season with a cast on one hand after suffering an injury that required surgery in training camp. The 6-foot-2, 219-pound transfer from Butler Community College had a breakout season, ranking tied for the team lead with 80 tackles, including a club-best 10 for a loss, with two sacks, one interception, four pass break-ups and a team-high three forced fumbles.