Second Scrimmage Standouts for Baylor on Saturday at McLane

Two weeks out from the season opener against Tarleton on Aug. 31, Baylor officially concluded fall camp with a scrimmage on Saturday at McLane Stadium. It was the Bears' second scrimmage in two weeks, and head coach Dave Aranda identified it as crucial for the team as the season approached rapidly. 

Though the scrimmage was closed to the media, SicEm365’s Colt Barber and Grayson Grundhoefer reported in detail what they heard from the event. What was made public by Aranda, however, were the four players who have made good recent impressions in practice and, ultimately, in the scrimmage.

Offensively, it was two transfer playmakers mentioned by Aranda who have made great strides and worked their way up to potentially being big pieces for Jake Spavital’s new offensive scheme. 

“I thought that Michael Trigg really played well,” Aranda said. Trigg, a transfer from Ole Miss who began his career at the University of Southern Cal, was a highly regarded four-star prospect out of high school. The fourth-year junior has 28 career receptions for 338 yards and five touchdowns but has never met his full potential because of a variety of reasons.

Through his time on campus in the spring, summer and fall, Trigg has taken the proper steps off the field to hopefully become a factor on it. Though listed as a tight end, Trigg’s 6-foot-4, 246-pound body is more likened to a slot receiver than your typical tight end. The potential impact he could have on this team is significant, but until this time, it has been a day-by-day process. 

The good news is that the season is less than two weeks away, and he’s performing at his best, according to Aranda. 

“I thought this week was his best week, and he's had a couple of good ones, but you talk about trending, he would be a guy that's been trending really, really strong,” Aranda concluded. 

Texas State transfer receiver Ashtyn Hawkins was the second offensive player Aranda mentioned. Hawkins, like Trigg, also arrived in the spring. Hawkins was a known commodity as he played for Spavital in the 2021 and 2022 seasons. 

His combination of route running, speed and steady hands have been noted, but his playmaking ability has come to light in fall camp. Hawkins has 1,745 receiving yards and 11 touchdowns on 141 receptions in his 33 career games. He had had eight career games of over 100 yards. 

The question has always been if his production could translate to a higher level of competition. So far, it has.

“Ashtyn Hawkins, this week, was almost unguardable at times,” Aranda said. Plugging him and Trigg into the offensive scheme could, along with the rest of the receivers, create problems for opposing defenses.

“Both of [Trigg and Hawkins] really kind of jump off the page in terms of when the tempo is fast, and there are formations and routes that can give you issues in terms of rules and eye transfers and all of it,” Aranda said. “Their talent combined with the scheme makes it difficult to defend in the moment.”

Defensively, the topic of standout players turned once again to transfer nose tackle Elinus Noel III (6-2, 337). Noel has been a steady name discussed by Aranda in fall camp, and fortunately, he plays at a position which was a big question mark after the 2023 season when the Bears were bullied regularly by opponents in the trenches.

“I thought that big Elinus [Noel III] really played well,” Aranda said. In this scheme, it is preferred to have a nose tackle who demands attention because of their inability to be uprooted in the run game. That’s the case with Noel, at least in fall camp. 

“He commands a double team,” Aranda said. “When he's singled, he makes plays consistently. When we move him, he's able to make even more plays.”

On the edge, it’s super senior Garmon Randolph, who is back for his final season and has caught Aranda’s attention. The 6-foot-8, 260-pounder has been full of potential in his career and, though solid, has never had a breakout season. 

“Garmon Randolph is playing the best that he's ever played, and he's taken his game to a new level,” Aranda said. “Happy for Garmon. I want to see it continue. I think that boy sacrificed a lot, so he's in a position to reap some of it. Excited for him.”