Baylor Football
2016 record: 5-7, 3-6 Big 12
Postseason results: N/A
Coach: Tom Herman (22-4, 0-0 at Texas)
Top three players: LT Connor Williams, LB Malik Jefferson, QB Shane Buechele
Williams is likely gone after this season, looking to be the top draft pick next year. He’s currently Todd McShay’s No. 1 prospect for 2018 and for good reason. Pro Football Focus graded Williams with a pass block efficiency of 98.2, the highest in the nation. He’s allowed just one sack in 423 snaps. That’s a large reason why Buechele excelled as a freshman last season, tossing 21 touchdowns. That didn’t come without its lumps but he’s a dual threat defenses have to take extra time to prepare for. Jefferson’s talents have been well-documented since landing on campus as a 5-star recruit. He was especially disruptive against Baylor, totaling a season-high 10 tackles and two sacks.
Biggest losses: HB D’Onta Foreman, QB Tyrone Swoopes, S Dylan Haines
The loss of a 2,000-yard rusher is always devastating and while Chris Warren III is a talented back, he’s not near the level Foreman was in 2016. He had a historic stretch to close the season, rushing for over over 150 yards in each of the last five games. Also a big push in the run game was Tyrone Swoopes backing up Buechele. Swoopes had been UT’s go-to short yardage QB the past two seasons, scoring 19 times on the ground. That element of the game is gone now, as is UT’s leading ball hawk Dylan Haines who had 13 INTs the past three seasons.
Strength: Offensive Line
This could really be filled with something about the defense too. Malik Jefferson and Anthony Wheeler make quite the pair in the middle while the secondary hardly has a weakness and should be quite the ball hawking group. But the trenches is where games should start and end in Austin. Headlined by Connor Williams at the blindside, the line looks like one of the premier groups in the nation and has good depth to boot with the likes of former Baylor commit Patrick Hudson.
Weakness: Special Teams
Maybe it’s not fair to call the special teams the weak link this year. The group is largely made of unknowns in a new regime. But what is known is ordinary the unit has been the past few years. Tom Herman looks to adjust that quickly after recruiting top juco kicker Josh Rowland and so far praise has been high. But Trent Domingue was a top transfer too and gave UT fans heart attacks all season, kicking below 70 percent. The return game hasn’t been effective, either, scoring just twice on kickoffs in the past five seasons and were ranked 115th in average kickoff yardage last season.
Impact newcomer: QB Sam Ehlinger
While Buechele is the projected starter and is on the Heisman radar, Ehlinger enters the season much like Buechele did last season. He’s a top freshman recruit that’s making his name known at camp, especially grabbing Herman’s attention. The nation’s No. 4 dual-threat prospect, Ehlinger was named the offensive MVP of the team’s last scrimmage and is already recognized as a team leader. At the very least, he’s pushing Buechele in practice.
Threat to Baylor: Medium
Even being in the AAC together, Matt Rhule and Tom Herman only coached one game against each other. It was in the 2015 title game with the Cougars coming on top. So there’s not much precedent for Rhule-Herman games, leaving the coaching advantage in a stall. The raw talent Herman has to work with is substantial but that’s always been the argument for UT with mixed results lately. Playing in McLane gives Baylor a bit of a boost and as long as the Bears can contain Buechele, it should be a close game to the end.
Big 12 Preview: Texas hopes to be back for real this year
Texas Longhorns
2016 record: 5-7, 3-6 Big 12
Postseason results: N/A
Coach: Tom Herman (22-4, 0-0 at Texas)
Top three players: LT Connor Williams, LB Malik Jefferson, QB Shane Buechele
Williams is likely gone after this season, looking to be the top draft pick next year. He’s currently Todd McShay’s No. 1 prospect for 2018 and for good reason. Pro Football Focus graded Williams with a pass block efficiency of 98.2, the highest in the nation. He’s allowed just one sack in 423 snaps. That’s a large reason why Buechele excelled as a freshman last season, tossing 21 touchdowns. That didn’t come without its lumps but he’s a dual threat defenses have to take extra time to prepare for. Jefferson’s talents have been well-documented since landing on campus as a 5-star recruit. He was especially disruptive against Baylor, totaling a season-high 10 tackles and two sacks.
Biggest losses: HB D’Onta Foreman, QB Tyrone Swoopes, S Dylan Haines
The loss of a 2,000-yard rusher is always devastating and while Chris Warren III is a talented back, he’s not near the level Foreman was in 2016. He had a historic stretch to close the season, rushing for over over 150 yards in each of the last five games. Also a big push in the run game was Tyrone Swoopes backing up Buechele. Swoopes had been UT’s go-to short yardage QB the past two seasons, scoring 19 times on the ground. That element of the game is gone now, as is UT’s leading ball hawk Dylan Haines who had 13 INTs the past three seasons.
Strength: Offensive Line
This could really be filled with something about the defense too. Malik Jefferson and Anthony Wheeler make quite the pair in the middle while the secondary hardly has a weakness and should be quite the ball hawking group. But the trenches is where games should start and end in Austin. Headlined by Connor Williams at the blindside, the line looks like one of the premier groups in the nation and has good depth to boot with the likes of former Baylor commit Patrick Hudson.
Weakness: Special Teams
Maybe it’s not fair to call the special teams the weak link this year. The group is largely made of unknowns in a new regime. But what is known is ordinary the unit has been the past few years. Tom Herman looks to adjust that quickly after recruiting top juco kicker Josh Rowland and so far praise has been high. But Trent Domingue was a top transfer too and gave UT fans heart attacks all season, kicking below 70 percent. The return game hasn’t been effective, either, scoring just twice on kickoffs in the past five seasons and were ranked 115th in average kickoff yardage last season.
Impact newcomer: QB Sam Ehlinger
While Buechele is the projected starter and is on the Heisman radar, Ehlinger enters the season much like Buechele did last season. He’s a top freshman recruit that’s making his name known at camp, especially grabbing Herman’s attention. The nation’s No. 4 dual-threat prospect, Ehlinger was named the offensive MVP of the team’s last scrimmage and is already recognized as a team leader. At the very least, he’s pushing Buechele in practice.
Threat to Baylor: Medium
Even being in the AAC together, Matt Rhule and Tom Herman only coached one game against each other. It was in the 2015 title game with the Cougars coming on top. So there’s not much precedent for Rhule-Herman games, leaving the coaching advantage in a stall. The raw talent Herman has to work with is substantial but that’s always been the argument for UT with mixed results lately. Playing in McLane gives Baylor a bit of a boost and as long as the Bears can contain Buechele, it should be a close game to the end.
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