Baylor Football

Baylor Set to Lose Standout Linebacker Keaton Thomas to Transfer Portal

Baylor rising redshirt senior linebacker Keaton Thomas is set to enter the transfer portal, according to his social media.
By Levi Caraway
December 22, 2025
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10 Comments
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Photo by Jack Mackenzie - SicEm365

Baylor rising redshirt senior linebacker Keaton Thomas will enter the transfer portal, according to his social media.

Thomas earned back-to-back All-Conference honors after totaling over 200 tackles in the last two seasons; he was expected to be a standout piece next fall under first-year defensive coordinator Joe Klanderman.

As a redshirt junior, Thomas amassed 105 tackles, seven for a loss and a sack. In his first season in Waco, Thomas started all 13 games alongside Matt Jones at linebacker and finished with 114 tackles, seven for a loss and an interception.

The Jacksonville, Florida, native started his collegiate career at West Virginia before transferring to Northeast Mississippi Community College, where he earned First-Team All-American honors.

The transfer portal window this offseason runs from Jan. 2 to Jan. 16.

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Transfer Portal Keaton Thomas Keaton Thomas Football Baylor 2025
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Baylor Set to Lose Standout Linebacker Keaton Thomas to Transfer Portal

8,059 Views | 10 Replies | Last: 3 mo ago by ImABearToo
Danielsjackson114
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2:39p, 12/22/25
Revolving door of coaches. Revolving door of players. smh
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ImABearToo
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3:24p, 12/22/25
Glad Linda kept Dave around so this wouldn't happen. Brilliant strategy.
“Life is short, eat desert first!”
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BellCountyBear
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3:33p, 12/22/25
He doesn't want to play for a "defensive guru"?!
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Dia del DougO
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3:33p, 12/22/25
Not good attrition.
"The only true currency in this bankrupt world is what you share with someone else when you're uncool."
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Bearsalwayswin
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3:56p, 12/22/25
biggest loss by far
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Ewalker80
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3:59p, 12/22/25
Hopefully just testing market but will return.
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BluesBear
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6:54p, 12/22/25
You have 1 year left to play - and the DC brought in has put guys in the NFL and runs sets that naturally help you - either a real short sighted decision or Baylor wouldn't meet his financial demands....Joe K knows his stuff....
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Dia del DougO
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10:44a, 12/23/25
I wonder how many of these players would have left regardless of the past season or situation. I mean, it certainly didn't help. But maybe that's just the way college football go for most programs. A lot of it is, I'm sure.

It is not sustainable.
"The only true currency in this bankrupt world is what you share with someone else when you're uncool."
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Space Cutter
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11:32a, 12/23/25
Now I'm very confused! In Lady Livingstone's letter to the Baylor Family she assured us that keeping Aranda would be the best decision because Dave's a defensive genius, we had to hire a new AD first & then our recruits would stick with their commitments. Lastly ALL IS WELL.

Bottom line:
1. A lot of schools are searching for HC because we actually do have time to make a positive change
2. Most of the top recruits abandoned their commitments because they didn't believe in current HC program
3. Now several of our top current players are hitting the road too. Maybe they see something we don't?
4. I still haven't heard which big money BU alum is willing to invest in our current HC
5. Replacing our current players with Kansas St. guys seems like a step back. K State wasn't that good.

PLEASE ENLIGHTEN US, Baylor President Livingstone, how's your decision working out now?


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ImABearToo
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In reply to Space Cutter • 12:02p, 12/23/25
A glorious failure as I see it.
“Life is short, eat desert first!”
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