Baylor releases “We Pay Players” t-shirts!
At Big 12 Media Days in July, head coach Dave Aranda's “we’re paying players” comment to 365 Sports created a firestorm across the college football community and has subsequently become a mantra that has defined Baylor’s red-hot summer on the recruiting trail.
Since that controversial comment, depending on your perspective, the Bears have landed four more four-star prospects, including wide receiver Taz Williams (Red Oak, ‘25), running back Michael Turner (North Richland Hills, ‘25), running back Ryelan Morris (Honey Grove, ‘26) and quarterback Quinn Murphy (Argyle Liberty Christian, ‘26).
Baylor is currently ranked 30th in the country for the 2025 recruiting class and is tied atop the Big 12 alongside TCU and UCF with five four-star commitments, according to 247’s Composite Rankings. While it's still extremely early, the Bears’ 2026 recruiting class is also off to a promising start so far and is listed as the 12th-best in the nation.
At practice on Aug. 2, Baylor further leaned into the bit with running backs coach Khenon Hall and defensive coordinator Matthew Powledge going viral for donning green shirts with the words “We Pay Players” in gold lettering across the chest.
When asked about the t-shirts after the Bears' opening scrimmage of fall camp last Saturday, Aranda told the media in attendance, “It was brought to me that, ‘Hey, this is something that could make sense to do. This is something that has some momentum right now, and we could capitalize on it.’ I could see that right away.”
“I know that there were coaches that we had who were jumping at the bit to put that on and walk around in it,” Aranda added. “We were able to do that, and I think it’s way cool.”
As a refresher, it’s not that Baylor is suddenly money-whipping prospects; it’s more that the Bears' NIL principles underwent restructuring this offseason, allowing BU to now make competitive NIL offers to high school recruits on par with similar programs across the country.
Baylor’s recently appointed NIL General Manager, David Kaye, said it best in an interview with the Waco Tribune-Herald, “We don’t want people to choose [Baylor] because of NIL, but we don’t want people to not choose us because of NIL.”
Athletic Director Mack Rhoades has also taken note of the recent recruiting success, telling SicEm365’s Colt Barber in an exclusive interview on Baylor+, “I’ve been here now seven or eight years, but I don’t remember more momentum than we have right now with recruiting.”
“We’ve found a way to be really competitive [with NIL] and do it really well and extremely thoughtfully,” Rhoades said. “Now we’re getting young people to visit our campus; Dave [Aranda], the football staff and our football administration do such a great job with them. I’m really proud of the momentum and the excitement they’ve created.”
Aranda has received mixed reactions about the “We Pay Players” t-shirts, but he believes it’s time for Baylor to take a stand and publicly display that the reinvigorated NIL program is here and it’s here to stay.
“I’ve got a bunch of negative reviews on [the t-shirts] and positive ones too,” Aranda said, laughing. “I think [we have to embrace] putting it out there like that and not be ashamed or bashful about what it takes to win. You make that statement because we weren’t in the game, and now we’re saying we’re in it, and I think a lot of people needed to hear that.”
Baylor football will open its season against Tarleton at 6 p.m. on Aug. 31 at McLane Stadium. For the latest fall camp news, stay up to date on SicEm365.
