2021 Baylor Bears football team

The 2021 Baylor Bears football team represented Baylor University during the 2021 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Bears played their home games at McLane Stadium in Waco, Texas, and competed in the Big 12 Conference. The team was coached by second-year head coach Dave Aranda.

The Baylor Bears football team drew an average home attendance of 44,729.

Offseason

Offseason departures 12 seniors from the 2020 team graduated. No players declared early for the NFL Draft. Baylor offseason departures Name Number Pos. Height Weight Year Hometown Notes Charlie Brewer 5 QB 6’1 210 Senior Austin, TX Graduated – Transferred to Utah John Lovett 7 RB 6’0 212 Senior Burlington, NJ Graduated – Transferred to Penn State Jared Atkinson 16 WR 6’3 210 Senior Mesquite, TX Graduated Skyler Wetzel 20 S 5’9 190 Senior San Antonio, TX Graduated Trystan Slinker 35 LB 5’11 222 Senior Cache, OK Graduated Gunnar Royer 40 LS 6’2 230 Senior Mannheim, PA Graduated Thor Rodoni 47 LS 6’2 225 Senior Los Banos, CA Graduated Blake Bedier 56 OL 6’5 310 Senior Lehi, UT Graduated Micael McNair 58 LB 6’2 220 Senior Richardson, TX Graduated Jake Burton 73 OL 6’6 312 Senior Alpine, CA Graduated Jay Sedwick 89 K 5'11 211 Senior Arlington, TX Graduated William Bradley-King 99 LB 6’4 248 Senior Kansas City, MO Graduated

Recruiting

2021 NFL draft

NFL Combine

Team players drafted into the NFL 7 240 William Bradley-King Defensive end Washington Commanders

Preseason

Big 12 media poll Big 12 media poll 1 Oklahoma 365 (35) 2 Iowa State 351 (4) 3 Texas 273 4 Oklahoma State 266 5 TCU 255 6 West Virginia 185 7 Kansas State 163 8 Baylor 124 9 Texas Tech 103 10 Kansas 39

Spring game The Bears held spring practices in March and April 2021. The Baylor football spring "Green and Gold game" took place in Waco, TX on April 24, 2021.

Schedule

Schedule source:

Personnel

Roster 2021 Baylor Bears FootballQuarterback 11 Gerry Bohanon – junior (6'3, 221) 12 Blake Shapen – freshman (6'0, 192) 14 Jacob Zeno – sophomore (6'2, 211) 15 Kyron Drones – freshman (6'2, 222) 17 CJ Rogers – freshman (6'3, 200) 18 Brandon Bass – junior (5'10, 195)

Running back  1 Trestan Ebner – 5th year senior (5'11, 215)  7 Abram Smith – senior (5'11, 221) 20 Craig Williams – sophomore (5'8, 173) 22 Taye McWilliams – sophomore (6'1, 211) 23 Jordan Jenkins – freshman (6'1, 208) 25 Jacoby Clarke – sophomore (6'0, 205) 33 Jonah White – sophomore (6'0, 220)

Wide receiver  0 R.J. Sneed – senior (6'1, 203)  6 Gavin Holmes – junior (5'11, 207)  9 Tyquan Thornton – senior (6'3, 182) 15 Tripp Mitchell – sophomore (6'1, 195) 16 Hal Presley – freshman (6'3, 197) 17 Jackson Gleeson – junior (6'0, 185) 18 Drew Estrada – 6th year senior (6'0, 196) 19 Javon Gipson – freshman (6'3, 192) 21 Josh Fleeks – senior (5'11, 192) 24 Cameron Bonner – freshman (5'11, 175) 26 Jonah Burton – freshman (6'0, 190) 27 Kolby White – sophomore (5'8, 175) 34 Josh Cameron – freshman (6'2, 210) 80 Monaray Baldwin – freshman (5'9, 165) 81 Jonathan Davidson – freshman (6'1, 210) 83 Elijah Bean – freshman (6'5, 203) 84 Jaylen Ellis – sophomore (6'0, 194) 88 Seth Jones – freshman (5'11, 190)

Placekicker 95 John Mayers – junior (5'10, 187) 96 Bryce Boland – freshman (5'11, 172) 97 Chris Esqueda-Almanza – sophomore (5'8, 185) 98 Isaiah Hankins – freshman (6'0, 193) 99 Noah Rauschenberg – junior (6'1, 195)

Punter 43 Issac Power – junior (6'1, 200) 

Offensive line 50 Connor Heffernan – freshman (6'4, 283) 52 Jackson Kimble – junior (6'3, 303) 54 Micah Mazzccua – freshman (6'4, 326) 55 Xavier Newman-Johnson – 5th Year Senior (6'2, 315) 57 Johncarlo Valentin – 5th Year Senior (6'4, 345) 58 Gavin Byers – sophomore (6'5, 320) 62 Ryan Lengyel – freshman (6'5, 285) 63 Grant Miller – senior (6'4, 309) 64 Khalil Keith – senior (6'5, 329) 65 Clayton Collier – freshman (6'3, 280) 66 Jacob Gall – senior (6'2, 305) 68 Jacob Frater – sophomore (6'3, 280) 71 MJ Ruhman – freshman (6'5, 270) 72 Mose Jeffery – senior (6'4, 320) 75 Elijah Ellis – sophomore (6'6, 320) 76 Connor Galvin – senior (6'7, 310) 77 Tate Williams – freshman (6'4, 290)

Defensive line 50 Dakote Doyle-Robinson – freshman (6'1, 270) 54 Brayden Utley – junior (6'1, 270) 57 Prince Ugoh – freshman (6'2, 247) 62 Siaki Ika – sophomore (6'4, 350) 90 TJ Franklin – junior (6'4, 290) 91 Rob Saulin – senior (6'5, 295) 92 Josh Landry – junior (6'1, 285) 94 Frank Jin – sophomore (6'1, 280) 95 Gabe Hall – sophomore (6'5, 290) 96 Cole Maxwell – senior (6'5, 295) 97 Cooper Lanz – freshman (6'4, 255) 98 Chidi Ogbonnaya – senior (6'5, 305)

Tight end 29 Jackson Shupp – junior (6'4, 284) 43 Gavin Yates – freshman (6'3, 240) 82 Tyler Henderson – junior (6'4,253) 86 Ben Sims – junior (6'4, 253) 87 Christoph Henle – senior (6'6, 255) 89 Drake Dabney – sophomore (6'5, 252)

Long snapper 40 Gunnar Royer – 5th year senior (6'2, 220) 41 Garrison Grimes – freshman (6'2, 200) 47 Thor Rodoni – 6th year senior (6'2, 222) Linebacker 2 Terrel Bernard – senior (6'1, 222) 5 Dillon Doyle – junior (6'3, 242) 33 Will Williams – sophomore (6'2, 215) 35 Jackie Marshall – freshman (6'2, 235) 36 Tyrone M. Brown – freshman (6'0, 225) 41 Brooks Miller – freshman (6'1, 228) 47 Caleb Parker – freshman (6'0, 210) 49 Will Garner – freshman (6'2, 215) 52 Matt Jones – sophomore (6'3, 237) 53 Ben Hamilton – freshman (6'1, 195) 53 Bradon Strauss – freshman (5'11, 217) 58 Jaden Maronen – freshman (6'0, 225)

Defensive back 3 Raleigh Texada – 6th Year Senior (5'10, 188) 4 Christian Morgan – senior (6'1, 214) 8 Jalen Pitre – senior (6'0, 197) 11 Lorando Johnson – freshman (5'11, 200) 12 Kalon Barnes – senior (6'0, 186) 13 Al Walcott – junior (6'2, 211) 14 Devin Neal – sophomore (5'11, 202) 16 Mike Harris – freshman (5'10, 170) 19 AJ McCarty – freshman (5'11, 194) 20 Devin Lemear – freshman (6'0, 177) 21 Chateau Reed – freshman (6'2, 188) 22 JT Woods – senior (6'2, 193) 23 Zeke Brown – 6th Year Senior (6'0, 180) 24 Brandon White – sophomore (6'0, 201) 25 Byron Hanspard Jr. – junior (6'0, 189) 26 Cisco Caston – freshman (6'2, 195) 27 Tevin Williams III – freshman (6'1, 183) 29 Romario Noel – freshman (6'2, 202) 31 Griffin Speaks – sophomore (6'0, 185) 37 Mark Milton – junior (6'1, 185) 38 Shevin Smith – sophomore (5'11, 163) 39 Colby Delashaw – junior (6'0, 194) 42 Jarion McVea – 6th Year Senior (5'9, 185) 48 Collin Losack – sophomore (5'10, 180) 59 Michael Mastrodicasa – freshman (6'0, 188)

Coaching staff Dave ArandaHead Coach2ndLSU (DC)Joey McGuire‡Assoc. HC/OLB5thCedar Hill High School (HC)Jeff GrimesOC/TE1stBYU (OC)Ron RobertsDC/ILB2ndLouisiana (DC)Caleb CollinsƒOLB2ndLSU Tigers football (Quality Control Coach - Defense)Shawn BellQB5thCedar Ridge High School (HC)Kevin CurtisCB1stSMU (CB)Dennis JohnsonDL2ndLSU (DL)Justin JohnsonRB2ndHouston (RB)Eric MateosOL1stBYU (OL)Matt PowledgeS/ST2ndLouisiana (OLB/ST)Chansi StuckeyWR1stClemson (offensive staff) ‡ On November 8, 2021 and during the middle of the 2021 college football season, Joey McGuire was hired by Texas Tech University to replace the recently fired Matt Wells as the Red Raiders' next head football coach. As such, McGuire departed the Baylor Bears' 2021 football staff immediately and did not finish the season with the Bears.

ƒ Collins was promoted in November 2021 to replace Joey McGuire as the Bears' OLB coach.

Game summaries

At Texas State

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Statistics BUTXST First downs 22 20 Total yards 386 235 Rushes/yards 45/238 27/79 Passing yards 148 156 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 15–24–0 20–40–3 Time of possession 34:48 25:12 Team Category Player StatisticsBaylor Passing Gerry Bohanon 15–24, 148 yards Rushing Trestan Ebner 20 carries, 120 yards Receiving R.J. Sneed 6 receptions, 92 yardsTexas State Passing Brady McBride 20–40, 156 yards, 1 TD, 3 INT Rushing Jahmyl Jeter 8 carries, 45 yards, 1 TD Receiving Marcell Barbee 4 receptions, 56 yards, 1 TD

Vs. Texas Southern

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Statistics TXSOBU First downs 16 33 Total yards 281 714 Rushes/yards 40/161 43/419 Passing yards 120 295 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 12–22–0 19–26–0 Time of possession 27:56 32:04 Team Category Player StatisticsTexas Southern Passing Jalen Brown 7–12, 96 yards Rushing Jacorey Howard 11 carries, 68 yards Receiving Ke'Lenn Davis 2 receptions, 45 yardsBaylor Passing Gerry Bohanon 17–23, 247 yards, 3 TD Rushing Abram Smith 12 carries, 126 yards, 2 TD Receiving Tyquan Thornton 5 receptions, 103 yards, 2 TD

At Kansas

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Statistics BUKAN First downs 29 8 Total yards 576 166 Rushes/yards 45/307 33/109 Passing yards 269 57 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 19–24–0 8–18–0 Time of possession 33:22 26:38 Team Category Player StatisticsBaylor Passing Gerry Bohanon 19–23, 269 yards, 2 TD Rushing Abram Smith 16 carries, 122 yards, 1 TD Receiving RJ Sneed 6 receptions, 128 yards, 1 TDKansas Passing Jason Bean 8–17, 57 yards, 1 TD Rushing Jason Bean 12 carries, 62 yards Receiving Luke Grimm 2 receptions, 25 yards

Vs. No. 14 Iowa State

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Statistics ISUBU First downs 27 15 Total yards 479 282 Rushes/yards 40/216 33/123 Passing yards 263 159 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 22–33–1 14–19–0 Time of possession 35:39 24:21 Team Category Player StatisticsIowa State Passing Brock Purdy 22–33, 263 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT Rushing Breece Hall 27 carries, 190 yards, 2 TD Receiving Chase Allen 7 receptions, 98 yardsBaylor Passing Gerry Bohanon 14–19, 164 yards, 2 TD Rushing Abram Smith 10 carries, 47 yards Receiving R.J. Sneed 4 receptions, 57 yards

At No. 19 Oklahoma State

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Statistics BUOKST First downs 10 24 Total yards 280 401 Rushes/yards 29/107 59/219 Passing yards 173 182 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 13–27–0 13–23–3 Time of possession 25:33 34:27 Team Category Player StatisticsBaylor Passing Gerry Bohanon 13–27, 173 yards Rushing Abram Smith 10 carries, 97 yards, 1 TD Receiving Drew Estrada 6 receptions, 88 yardsOklahoma State Passing Spencer Sanders 13–23, 182 yards, 1 TD, 3 INT Rushing Jaylen Warren 36 carries, 125 yards, 2 TD Receiving Tay Martin 6 receptions, 110 yards

Vs. West Virginia

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Statistics WVUBU First downs 24 21 Total yards 362 525 Rushes/yards 38/90 32/171 Passing yards 272 354 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 24–37–1 20–31–0 Time of possession 34:21 25:39 Team Category Player StatisticsWest Virginia Passing Jarret Doege 20–31, 237 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT Rushing Garrett Greene 10 carries, 55 yards, 1 TD Receiving Winston Wright Jr. 6 receptions, 86 yardsBaylor Passing Gerry Bohanon 18–29, 336 yards, 4 TD Rushing Abram Smith 11 carries, 87 yards, 1 TD Receiving Tyquan Thornton 8 receptions, 187 yards, 2 TD

Vs. No. 19 BYU

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Statistics BYUBU First downs 15 22 Total yards 409 534 Rushes/yards 24/67 47/303 Passing yards 342 231 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 22–31–0 18–28–1 Time of possession 24:24 35:36 Team Category Player StatisticsBYU Passing Jaren Hall 22–31, 342 yards, 1 TD Rushing Tyler Allgeier 15 carries, 33 yards, 1 TD Receiving Puka Nacua 5 receptions, 168 yards, 1 TDBaylor Passing Gerry Bohanon 18–28, 231 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT Rushing Abram Smith 27 carries, 188 yards, 3 TD Receiving Tyquan Thornton 5 receptions, 84 yards

Vs. Texas

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Statistics TEXBU First downs 18 23 Total yards 382 427 Rushes/yards 29/102 42/199 Passing yards 280 228 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 23–38–1 19–32–2 Time of possession 27:06 32:54 Team Category Player StatisticsTexas Passing Casey Thompson 23–38, 280 yards, 2 TD, 1 INT Rushing Bijan Robinson 17 carries, 43 yards, 1 TD Receiving Xavier Worthy 4 receptions, 115 yards, 1 TDBaylor Passing Gerry Bohanon 18–31, 222 yards, 2 INT Rushing Abram Smith 20 carries, 113 yards, 1 TD Receiving RJ Sneed 8 receptions, 94 yards, 1 TD

At TCU

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