Underrated Performer for Baylor Against Texas Tech: Carl Williams IV
We’ve all been waiting to see Baylor put together a complete game. The Bears (3-4, 1-3) did just that on Saturday in Lubbock, dominating Texas Tech (5-2, 3-1) 59-35 and crashing the Red Raiders’ homecoming. While the offense got most of the shine — and rightly so, with 529 total yards — this week’s underrated performer did his damage for Baylor in the secondary.
Carl Williams IV (So.) brought his hard hat and lunch pale out to West Texas and helped Baylor’s defense keep the Texas Tech offense at bay with a career-high seven tackles. While the secondary play wasn’t flawless by any means, giving up 286 yards and three touchdowns through the air, Williams IV and Caden Jenkins (So.) stood out amongst the group.
One of our keys to the game coming into Saturday was to bottle up Tahj Brooks (Sr.); Williams and the entire Baylor defense did just that, holding Brooks to 125 yards and one score on the day. Williams did an excellent job of tackling in space when the opportunity presented itself, finishing with four solo tackles and 1.5 TFLs.
The back half of the schedule looks promising for the Bears, who can go on a run and make it to a bowl game while saving head coach Dave Aranda’s job. Baylor has three opportunities to take care of business at McLane Stadium, starting this Saturday when a bad Oklahoma State (3-4, 0-4) team.
Williams and the rest of the Bears must carry the momentum over and prove that what everyone witnessed in Lubbock wasn’t a fluke. Kickoff between the Bears and Pokes is set for 2:30 p.m. and will be streamed on ESPN+.