Like I said in the other thread, the media is going to assume that we are terrible until we prove otherwise. Just is what it is. TBH, I like that we are really under the radar.
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Athlon Sports recently released its ranking of the Big 12 quarterbacks for the upcoming 2024 season. Athlon ranked Baylor transfer Dequan Finn No. 10 on the list for the league.
“Baylor's offense is getting a fresh start with coach Dave Aranda entering a critical '24 campaign. Former Texas State coach and veteran play-caller Jake Spavital was hired as the team's new coordinator, and Finn was brought in to start at quarterback after the team struggled to get consistent play under center last fall,” Athlon’s Steve Lassan wrote.
“At Toledo in '23, Finn threw for 2,657 yards and 22 touchdowns to nine picks and ran for 563 yards and seven scores. The Detroit native led the MAC with 247.7 total yards a game and ranked first in the conference in completions of 30-plus yards (15). Finn's ability to make plays with his legs is a huge plus behind a Baylor offensive line in transition, but he will also have to adapt to the power conference level of play.”
Finn hasn’t won the starting quarterback battle over Sawyer Robertson (RJr.) quite yet but is expected across the conference to be behind center for the Bears this fall. The Toledo transfer has already been named to the Maxwell Award Watch List, presented annually to the most outstanding player in college football.
Finn, the 2023 MAC Most Valuable Player, led the league in passing efficiency (151.04), yards (2,657), touchdown passes (22) and total offense (247.7) a year ago. His 563 rushing yards were also the most among MAC quarterbacks.
After transferring to Baylor, Finn must adjust to Power Four competition and a new scheme under first-year offensive coordinator Jake Spavital.
“[The offense] fits my skill set very well,” he said after a fall camp practice. “It’s obviously a spread offense, but my ability to extend it with my legs suits me well.”
The 6-foot-2, 205-pound quarterback has been timed in-game at 21.8 and 21.9 miles per hour on two separate occasions, the second being the sixth-fastest time for a ball carrier nationally in 2023. He has rushed for 1,841 career yards and 25 touchdowns in his career. Since 2021, he has converted 99 first downs with his feet, including 44 times in 2022.
Full Big 12 QB Rankings
1. Jalon Daniels, Kansas
2. Shedeur Sanders, Colorado
3. Noah Fifita, Arizona
4. Cameron Rising, Utah
5. Avery Johnson, Kansas State
6. Garrett Greene, West Virginia
7. KJ Jefferson, UCF
8. Rocco Becht, Iowa State
9. Behren Morton, Texas Tech
10. Dequan Finn, Baylor
11. Donovan Smith, Houston
12. Alan Bowman, Oklahoma State
13. Josh Hoover, TCU
14. Brendan Sorsby, Cincinnati
15. Sam Leavitt, Arizona State
16. Jake Retzlaff, BYU
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