Baylor Football

Baylor Adds Proven Havoc Creator in Southern Miss EDGE Garrick Ponder

Southern Miss rising redshirt senior EDGE Garrick Ponder has committed to Baylor following his official visit on Jan. 8.
By Grayson Grundhoefer
January 9, 2026
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10 Comments
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2026 Baylor Football Transfer Portal Tracker

Southern Miss rising redshirt senior EDGE Garrick Ponder has committed and signed with Baylor following his official visit on Jan. 8. He joins Kansas State’s Ryan Davis as the second EDGE commit this portal cycle.

The 6-foot-2, 250-pound prospect totaled 37 tackles, 11.5 for loss, 4.5 sacks and 18 QB pressures in 2025. According to Pro Football Focus, he posted a 78.7 defensive grade with a 74.7 pass rush grade and a 72.9 run defense grade.

Ponder spent the previous three seasons at North Alabama; in 2024, he recorded 25 quarterback pressures across 12 games.

At Pinella Park High School in St. Petersburg, Florida, Ponder earned the team’s defensive MVP award and was selected for the county all-star game, but was a zero-star recruit.

Ponder would be a great addition as a havoc creator and makes up for missing out on Western Kentucky’s Koron Hayward, who committed to TCU.

He has one year of eligbility reamaining.

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10 Comments
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Transfer Portal EDGE Carson Hall Garrick Ponder Southern Miss North Alabama Football Football Recruiting Baylor Southern Miss 2025
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Baylor Adds Proven Havoc Creator in Southern Miss EDGE Garrick Ponder

3,405 Views | 10 Replies | Last: 13 hrs ago by Karab
william
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6:43p, 1/9/26
arbyscoin - the only crypto you can eat....
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Cove Dawg
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7:06p, 1/9/26
Zero star recruit, nice!
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Delmar 2.0
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8:00p, 1/9/26
BU needs Havoc Creators


W
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tpj1991
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8:01p, 1/9/26
Is he actually committed? Or is this another Lagway blunder
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Youre a clown
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In reply to Cove Dawg • 8:06p, 1/9/26
Cove Dawg said:
Zero star recruit, nice!


As the guys that we lost take visits to SEC schools. The team had talent, it was just squandered with Dave as coach
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Dia del DougO
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11:32p, 1/9/26
We got plenty of havoc here, it's just pointed the wrong direction.
"The only true currency in this bankrupt world is what you share with someone else when you're uncool."
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Mitch Blood Green
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In reply to tpj1991 • 1:34a, 1/10/26
tpj1991 said:
Is he actually committed? Or is this another Lagway blunder


I don't understand?
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bear2be2
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11:45a, 1/10/26
I like this addition -- as a depth piece if nothing else. His numbers are good, and he appears to be disruptive, which is what Klanderman is looking for from his defense.

So far all of the DL guys we've added look like solid rotation pieces. It would be nice to add a true difference-maker, but I don't think we're swimming in those waters from an NIL perspective.
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canoso
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In reply to Youre a clown • 11:54a, 1/10/26
Youre a clown said:
Cove Dawg said:
Zero star recruit, nice!


As the guys that we lost take visits to SEC schools. The team had talent, it was just squandered with Dave as coach

As much as I see Dave Aranda as a fine person, the second sentence above is inarguable.
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Karab
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In reply to Cove Dawg • 6:35p, 1/10/26
Cove Dawg said:
Zero star recruit, nice!


I'm not as worried about this. He has a lot of snaps with only one year of eligibility remaining.

Klanderman is used to evaluating talent and not chasing the shiny stars. Cignetti is the same way (not that Klanderman is necessarily on his level).

Will he go pro? Almost certainly not. But will Klanderman be able to weaponize him? I have a feeling he will
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