Fifteen for '20: The top 15 pure athletes on Baylor's 2020 roster
In this “Fifteen for ‘20” series, SicEm365’s Colt Barber looks closely at a variety of different categories related directly and indirectly to Baylor’s 2020 football season. Today he looks at the top athletes on Baylor’s team for the 2020 season regardless of on-field production. Five players from three different player categories were selected to total 15.
- Baylor’s top future NFL Draft Prospects
- Baylor’s top individual offensive skill matchups
- Top three players of Baylor’s five classifications
Offensive & Defensive Linemen
5. Defensive Lineman James Sylvester (6-4, 245, Fr.)
Sylvester doesn’t have the documented testing numbers like the majority of the others on this list, but after couple of months on campus in the spring as an early enrollee, it was obvious to those close to the program tha Sylvester was a different type of athlete on the defensive line. Coming from Newton High School the raw attributes are there, he just needs refinement technically.
4. Offensive Lineman Khalil Keith (6-5, 325, RSJr.)
The prototypical Matt Rhule recruit here. Back in high school, measuring 6-foot-5 and 285-pound, Keith was a star basketball player in a small Alabama town. Yes, he could throw it down and rumor is that he still can at the 325 pounds he weighs currently. In high school Keith ran a 5.08-second 40-yard dash, a 4.76-second shuttle and went over 28 inches in the vertical testing on his way to a 96.63 SPARQ ranking, among the best in the country for offensive linemen.
3. Defensive Lineman Gabe Hall (6-5, 305, So.)
Hall’s testing numbers from high school are highlight by his 33.2-inch vertical as a junior in high school, but his most impressive physical traits are his raw strength to go along with his long arms, usually an issue for those players who want to move heavy weight. Hall was a candidate to land on the offensive line, but his flexibility and explosiveness on the defensive line was too hard to pass up.
2. Offensive Lineman Casey Phillips (6-5, 303, RSSo.)
When it comes down to pure athleticism, there isn’t a more natural pick on either side of the trenches than Phillips. Keith is in the same ballpark, but Phillips was a slightly better tester overall. His 96.72 SPARQ score was made up of 4.98-second 40-yard dash, a 4.69-second shuttle and a 29.0-inch vertical. Another small town raw athlete, Phillips played tight end in high school.
1. Defensive Lineman Garmon Randolph (6-7, 242, RSFr.)
Though he still had a ways to go to fill out his uniform, the former tight end easily passed the eye test as a true freshman. But it has always athletic ability that makes him more than exciting. As a 6-foot-6, 226-pound junior, Randolph ran a 4.69-second 40-yard dash and just missed 30 inches on his vertical leap. His traits could easily be used on either side of the ball, but as a defensive end he has the tools to dominate.
Defensive Skill Players
5. Linebacker Hakeem Vance (6-1, 215, RSFr.)
Vance might get lost in the shuffle after his redshirt year and after being committed to Baylor for nearly a year before signing his Letter of Intent, but his athletic ability is real dating back to his high school days. Vance posted a 109.17 SPARQ score back in 2018 with an impressive 4.63-second 40-yard dash and a 36.7-inch vertical at 200 pounds. Vance is now up to 215 pounds and working at linebacker after being projected as a safety originally.
4. Defensive Back Lorando Johnson (5-11, 181, Fr.)
Some might question the film of Baylor’s most recent 2020 signee, but the former LSU commit is as athletic as it gets as a potential defensive back. Johnson ran a 4.54-second 40-yard dash and a 4.21-second shuttle with a 36.6-inch vertical at The Opening finals in July of 2019. His current weight hasn’t been update for a year so his first official weight update will be worth noting.
3. Cornerback Kalon Barnes (6-0, 186, Jr.)
Toss everything else aside... when you have a player who is running anything close to sub-10 seconds in the 100-meters, you have something special. Throw in the fact he is a natural football player with good ball skills who plays cornerback and they could transform into a first-round pick. Barnes’ testing as a junior left some to be desired, but he made up for it in his senior year with his performance on the track.
2. Linebacker Matt Jones (6-3, 237, RSFr.)
Imagine Clay Johnston with two inches and five pounds with similar athletic ability despite being five years behind the curve. Yes, Johnston was a very good to great athlete despite what your personal opinion might be of his style of football. As a high school junior Jones posted a a 4.79-second 40-yard dash, a 4.2-second shuttle and a 30.5-inch vertical, good enough for a 111.96 SPARQ. Time will tell if the instincts are similar.
1. Safety Christian Morgan (6-1, 211, Jr.)
Morgan once posted a video of himself jumping out of a pool which the water was at least to his waist. There are videos of him from this spring squatting 2.77 times his body weight (585 pounds). And that comes after Morgan posted THE best SPARQ score in the entire country in high school at 144.0. That was made up of a 4.56-second 40-yard dash, 4.03-second shuttle, 42.8-inch vertical and a 43.5 power throw.
Offensive Skill Players
5. Wide Receiver Jared Atkinson (6-3, 216, RSSr.)
Atkinson is still waiting for his moment on the field, but there is no doubting his athletic ability at the receiver position. He constantly drew comparisons to former Baylor receiver Denzel Mims during the spring before his junior season, but the production didn’t follow. As a high school junior Atkinson posted a 4.54-second 40-yard dash, a 4.34-second shuttle and a 37.4-inch vertical at 6-foot-3 and 200 pounds. He’s flying under the radar into his senior season, but he’s a flip switch away from a big final year.
4. Wide Receiver Josh Fleeks (5-11, 188, Jr.)
Fleeks hasn’t been showcased in his first two years on campus yet, but rumor is that he’s improved on his 4.48-second 40-yard dash from high school and is a perfect fit for Larry Fedora’s offense. His 89.28 SPARQ score is a bit misleading as Fleeks posted a 4.10-second shuttle and a 34.6-inch vertical as well.
3. Running Back Taye McWilliams (6-1, 205, Fr.)
Another true freshman on this list and another name to add to the long list of talented running backs to Baylor’s depth chart. McWilliams has been discussed as potentially the most natural running back despite having never taken a snap at the college level, but his athletic ability is terrific as well. His 118.38 SPARQ was made up of a 4.48-second 40-yard dash, a 4.23-second shuttle and a 38.3-inch vertical while measuring 202 pounds.
2. Wide Receiver Tyquan Thornton (6-3, 176, Jr.)
He is the fastest player on the team according to several close to the Baylor program. And it might not even be much of a contest. Thornton has consistently timed in the low 4.3s in the 40-yard dash since arriving on campus. However, it’s his start stop ability on the football field that might be his best trait. We probably won’t know all of his testing numbers until he hits the combine, but whatever they are, they translate well to the gridiron.
1. Running Back Qualan Jones (5-11, 230, RSFr.)
Behind Christian Morgan, Jones is the “biggest freak” on the Baylor football roster in terms of recording athletic testing numbers. Jones, who showed out some as a true freshman with two rushing touchdowns including a 61-yarder, ran a 4.49-second 40-yard dash, 4.26-second shuttle and recorded a 37.1-inch vertical on his way to a 130.35 SPARQ score.
Also Considered:
- Linebacker Dillon Doyle (6-3, 237, RSSo.)
- Wide Receiver Jackson Gleeson (6-0, 185, RSSo.)
- Wide Receiver Jaylen Ellis (6-0, 186, RSFr.)
- Tight End Sam Snyder (6-5, 209, RSFr.)
- Offensive Lineman Jackson Kimble (6-3, 303, RSSo.)
- Running Back Craig Williams (5-8, 173, RSFr.)