30 for 30: #23 Clay Johnston — Athletic

Linebacker, Clay Johnston (6-1, 220) | Abilene (TX) Wylie High School

— Johnston's 124.86 SPARQ rating out of high school, testing as one of the top linebackers in the country for the 2015 class, wasn't a fluke. Johnston's explosiveness and lateral quickness are tailored made for the linebacker position and also allowed him to play running back in high school as well.

— Johnston made two starts as a sophomore in 2016 and played in all of Baylor's 13 games. A redshirt freshman in 2016, he recorded 24 tackles on the season including 4.0 tackles for loss and an interception with a returned for 65 yards.

— Now listed as the starting middle linebacker in Phil Snow's defense, Johnston's presence along with fellow listed starters Taylor Young and Lenoy Jones Jr. allow Baylor's entire linebacking unit to have plus athletic ability while also possessing more than enough traits to stop the run.

— The son of a former NFL strength and conditioning coach, Johnston's work ethic and understanding of the game of football will allow him to be a perfect fit for the MLB position, a position which Snow requires a lot from in terms of setting and aligning the defense.

— At the deepest position on the field for the Bears, Johnston is set for a productive season if he can stay healthy. He could wind up reminding many Baylor fans of former Baylor linebacker Bryce Hager. 

Previous: #24 Lenoy Jones Jr.