The 2022 Baylor Bears football team represented Baylor University in the 2022 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. They were led by third-year head coach Dave Aranda.
Initially picked by many to win the Big 12 Conference, the Bears won some key road games against Oklahoma and Texas Tech, but also suffered key home defeats to ranked opponents like Oklahoma State, Texas, and a crushing one-point defeat to eventual national runner-up, TCU. They would ultimate finish the year in a disappointing 6th place in the Big-12 and lose their subsequent bowl game, finishing the year 6-7.
The Baylor Bears football team drew an average home attendance of 45,463, up from 44,729 in 2021 and more than capacity.
Offseason
2022 NFL draft
2 37 Jalen Pitre S Houston Texans 2 50 Tyquan Thornton WR New England Patriots 3 79 JT Woods S Los Angeles Chargers 3 99 Terrel Bernard LB Buffalo Bills 6 203 Trestan Ebner RB Chicago Bears 7 242 Kalon Barnes CB Carolina Panthers
Preseason
Spring game The Bears held spring practices in March and April 2022. The Baylor football spring "Green and Gold game" took place in Waco, TX on April 23, 2022.
Big 12 media poll The preseason poll was released on July 7, 2022. Big 12 media poll 1 Baylor (17) 365 2 Oklahoma (12) 354 3 Oklahoma State (9) 342 4 Texas (2) 289 5 Kansas State 261 6 Iowa State (1) 180 7 TCU 149 8 West Virginia 147 9 Texas Tech 119 10 Kansas 48
Preseason Big-12 awards 2022 Preseason All-Big 12 teams
Position Player Class OffenseTEBen SimsSeniorOLConnor GalvinRS SeniorJacob GallRS Senior DefenseDL Siaki IkaJuniorLB Dillon Doyle Senior Source:
Preseason All-Americans Second Team All-Americans Player No. Position Class Selector(s) Source(s) Jaxon Player 90 DL Senior Walter Camp
Schedule Baylor and the Big 12 announced the 2022 football schedule on December 1, 2021.
Game summaries
Vs. Albany
Uniform CombinationHelmetJerseyPants
Statistics ALBBU First downs 10 29 Total yards 237 573 Rushes/yards 30/87 41/259 Passing yards 150 314 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 13–30–0 22–27–0 Time of possession 30:28 29:32 Team Category Player StatisticsAlbany Passing Reese Poffenbarger 13–26, 150 yards, 1 TD Rushing Reese Poffenbarger 12 carries, 45 yards Receiving Thomas Greaney 3 receptions, 57 yardsBaylor Passing Blake Shapen 17–20, 214 yards, 2 TD Rushing Richard Reese 9 carries, 62 yards, 2 TD Receiving Monaray Baldwin 4 receptions, 84 yards, 1 TD
At No. 21 BYU
Uniform CombinationHelmetJerseyPants
Statistics BUBYU First downs 22 24 Total yards 289 366 Rushes/yards 152/52 83/33 Passing yards 137 283 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 18–28–0 24–40–0 Time of possession 34:15 25:45 Team Category Player StatisticsBaylor Passing Blake Shapen 18–28, 137 yards, 1 TD Rushing Craig Williams 17 carries, 68 yards Receiving Hal Presley 3 receptions, 31 yardsBYU Passing Jaren Hall 23–39, 261 yards, 1 TD Rushing Christopher Brooks 13 carries, 31 yards Receiving Chase Roberts 8 receptions, 122 yards
Vs. Texas State
Uniform CombinationHelmetJerseyPants
Statistics TXSTBU First downs 17 23 Total yards 268 501 Rushes/yards 34/82 37/293 Passing yards 186 208 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 24–36–0 17–28–1 Time of possession 31:32 28:28 Team Category Player StatisticsTexas State Passing Layne Hatcher 24–36, 186 yards, 1 TD Rushing Calvin Hill 12 carries, 41 yards Receiving Ashtyn Hawkins 13 receptions, 114 yards, 1 TDBaylor Passing Blake Shapen 15–26, 184 yards, 1 TD, 1 interception Rushing Richard Reese 19 carries, 156 yards, 3 TD Receiving Gavin Holmes 3 receptions, 46 yards, 1 TD
At Iowa State
Uniform CombinationHelmetJerseyPants
Statistics BUISU First downs 23 17 Total yards 361 350 Rushes/yards 42/123 27/66 Passing yards 238 284 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 19–26–0 23–36–2 Time of possession 34:39 25:21 Team Category Player StatisticsBaylor Passing Blake Shapen 19–26, 238 yards, 3 TD Rushing Richard Reese 21 carries, 78 yards Receiving Gavin Holmes 3 receptions, 92 yards, 1 TDIowa State Passing Hunter Dekkers 23–36, 284 yards, 2 TD, 2 interceptions Rushing Jirehl Brock 14 carries, 73 yards, 1 TD Receiving Jaylin Noel 7 receptions, 120 yards
Vs. No. 9 Oklahoma State
Uniform CombinationHelmetJerseyPants
Statistics OKSTBU First downs 23 31 Total yards 379 457 Rushes/yards 46/166 30/112 Passing yards 213 345 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 21–30–1 28–40–2 Time of possession 30:46 29:14 Team Category Player StatisticsOklahoma State Passing Spencer Sanders 20–29, 181 yards, 1 TD, 1 interception Rushing Spencer Sanders 14 carries, 75 yards, 1 TD Receiving Brennan Presley 8 receptions, 86 yardsBaylor Passing Blake Shapen 28–40, 345 yards, 2 TD, 2 interceptions Rushing Richard Reese 17 carries, 85 yards, 1 TD Receiving Monaray Baldwin 7 receptions, 174 yards, 2 TD
At West Virginia
Statistics BUWVU First downs 28 26 Total yards 590 500 Rushes/yards 35–169 37–217 Passing yards 421 283 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 21–37–1 24–37–1 Time of possession 29:35 30:25 Team Category Player StatisticsBaylor Passing Blake Shapen 14/22, 326 yards, 2 TD Rushing Richard Reese 13 rushes, 57 yards Receiving Gavin Holmes 7 receptions, 210 yards, TDWest Virginia Passing JT Daniels 24/37, 283 yards, TD, INT Rushing Tony Mathis Jr. 22 rushes, 163 yards, 2 TD Receiving Kaden Prather 8 receptions, 109 yards, TD
Vs. Kansas
At Texas Tech
At Oklahoma
Statistics BU OU First downs 24 29 Total yards 413 499 Rushes/yards 48/281 45/238 Passing yards 132 261 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 14–23–1 22–24–3 Time of possession 33:42 26:18 Team Category Player StatisticsBaylor Passing Blake Shapen 14/23, 132 yards, 1 INT Rushing Craig Williams 25 carries, 192 yards, 2 TD Receiving Josh Cameron 5 receptions, 72 yards Oklahoma Passing Dillon Gabriel 22/34, 261 yards, 2 TD's, 3 INT's Rushing Eric Gray 23 carries, 106 yards, 2 TD Receiving Eric Gray 8 receptions, 58 yards
Vs. No. 19 Kansas State
Sources: K-State Box Score
Statistics Kansas StateBaylor First downs 30 17 Total yards 405 306 Rushing yards 184 103 Passing yards 221 203 Turnovers 0 2 Time of possession 37:37 22:23 Penalties−yards 4−23 6−51 Team Category Player StatisticsKansas State Passing Will Howard 19/27, 196 YDS, 3 TD Rushing Deuce Vaughn 25 CAR, 106 YDS, 18 Long Receiving Ben Sinnott 7 REC, 89 YDS, 2 TD, 23 LongBaylor Passing Blake Shapen 22/38, 203 YDS, 2 INT Rushing Richard Reese 9 CAR, 54 YDS, 14 Long Receiving Josh Cameron 6 REC, 83 YDS, 25 Long
Vs. No. 4 TCU (Big Noon Kickoff)
Statistics No. 4 TCU Baylor First downs 2025 Total yards 442501 Rushes/yards 27-11546-232 Passing yards 327269 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 24-36-121-30-1 Time of possession 26:0233:58 Team Category Player StatisticsNo. 4 TCU Passing Max Duggan 24/35, 327 yards, TD, INT Rushing Max Duggan8 carries, 50 yards, TD Receiving Taye Barber5 receptions, 108 yardsBaylor Passing Blake Shapen 21/30, 269 yards, TD, INT Rushing Craig Williams19 carries, 112 yards Receiving Monaray Baldwin6 receptions, 123 yards
At No. 23 Texas
Sources: Stats
Statistics BaylorTexas First downs 18 22 Total yards 280 402 Rushing yards 101 208 Passing yards 179 194 Turnovers 1 1 Time of possession 33:24 26:36 Team Category Player StatisticsBaylor Passing Blake Shapen 18–36, 179 yards, 2 TD, 1 INT Rushing Reese Richard 15 carries, 54 yards Receiving Josh Cameron 4 receptions, 48 yardsTexas Passing Quinn Ewers 12–16, 194 yards Rushing Bijan Robinson 29 carries, 179 yards, 2 TDs Receiving Ja'Tavion Sanders 4 receptions, 65 yards
Vs. Air Force (Armed Forces Bowl)
Statistics BU AF First downs 11 20 Total yards 230 379 Rushes/yards 26/42 67/276 Passing yards 188 103 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 11–23–0 4–7–0 Time of possession 19:57 40:03 Team Category Player StatisticsBaylor Passing Blake Shapen 11/23, 188 yards, 2 TDs Rushing Craig Williams 7 carries, 25 yards Receiving Jaylen Ellis 1 reception, 57 yards Air Force Passing Haaziq Daniels 4/7, 103 yards, 1 TD Rushing Brad Roberts 37 carries, 116 yards, 2 TDs Receiving Amari Terry 1 reception, 68 yards
Personnel
Roster 2022 Baylor Bears FootballQuarterback 12 Blake Shapen – sophomore (6'0, 200) 13 Luke Anthony – 7th year senior (6'1, 208) 17 Landry Kinne – junior (6'0, 185) 18 Brayson McHenry – freshman (5'11, 193)
Running back 0 Craig Williams – junior (5'9, 168) 22 Taye McWilliams – junior (6'1, 213) 23 Jordan Jenkins – freshman (6'1, 222) 25 Jacoby Clarke – junior (5'11, 231) 28 Qualan Jones – junior (5'10, 242) 29 Richard Reese – freshman (5'9, 175) 85 Kaian Roberts-Day – freshman (6'3, 269)
Wide receiver 6 Gavin Holmes – 6th year senior (5'11, 200) 14 Armani Winfield – freshman (6'2, 203) 15 Tripp Mitchell – junior (6'1, 192) 16 Hal Presley – sophomore (6'3, 199) 18 Jordan Nabors – freshman (5'11, 182) 19 Javon Gipson – freshman (6'3, 200) 24 Cameron Bonner – freshman (5'11, 178) 26 Jonah Burton – freshman (5'11, 203) 34 Josh Cameron – freshman (6'1, 216) 80 Monaray Baldwin – sophomore (5'9, 164) 81 Jonathan Davidson – sophomore (6'1, 206) 83 Elijah Bean – freshman (6'4, 220) 84 Jaylen Ellis – junior (6'3, 184)
Placekicker 95 John Mayers – 5th year senior (5'11, 189) 96 Bryce Boland – sophomore (5'11, 172) 98 Isaiah Hankins – sophomore (6'0, 189) 99 Noah Rauschenberg – senior (6'1, 204)
Punter 1 Issac Power – 5th year senior (6'1, 201) Offensive line 50 Connor Heffernan – freshman (6'4, 287) 54 Timothy Dawn – freshman (6'2, 304) 57 Coleton Price – freshman (6'2, 311) 58 Gavin Byers – junior (6'5, 310) 62 Ryan Lengyel – freshman (6'5, 302) 63 Grant Miller – 6th year senior (6'4, 312) 64 Khalil Keith – 6th year senior (6'5, 314) 65 Micah Mazzccua – sophomore (6'5, 331) 66 Jacob Gall – 6th year senior (6'2, 299) 69 Clayton Collier – freshman (6'2, 272) 70 Bryce Simpson – freshman (6'5, 340) 71 MJ Ruhman – freshman (6'4, 282) 72 Mose Jeffery – 5th year senior (6'4, 321) 73 George Maile – freshman (6'3, 298) 74 Kaden Sieracki – freshman (6'8, 314) 75 Elijah Ellis – junior (6'6, 339) 76 Connor Galvin – 5th year senior (6'7, 302) 77 Tate Williams – freshman (6'4, 284) 79 Alvin Ebosele – freshman (6'6, 308)
Defensive line 9 TJ Franklin – senior (6'5, 265) 54 Brayden Utley – 5th year senior (6'1, 275) 57 Prince Ugoh – freshman (6'1, 235) 59 Devonte Tezino – freshman (6'5, 292) 62 Siaki Ika – junior (6'4, 358) 90 Jaxon Player – 5th year senior (6'0, 299) 94 BoChao Jin – junior (6'0, 264) 95 Gabe Hall – junior (6'6, 296) 96 Cole Maxwell – 6th year senior (6'5, 285) 97 Cooper Lanz – freshman (6'3, 270) 98 Chidi Ogbonnaya – 6th year senior (6'5, 302) 99 Tre Emory – freshman (6'2, 318)
Tight end 8 Ben Sims – 5th year senior (6'5, 258) 43 Gavin Yates – sophomore (6'3, 248) 44 Mark Patton – junior (6'4, 238) 82 Cody Mladenka – freshman (6'4, 241) 87 Kelsey Johnson – freshman (6'2, 243) 89 Drake Dabney – junior (6'5, 251)
Long snapper 26 Garrison Grimes – freshman (6'2, 215) 40 Corbin Robertson – senior (6'4, 238) Linebacker 2 Matt Jones – junior (6'3, 224) 5 Dillon Doyle – 5th year senior (6'3, 240) 32 Carmello Jones – freshman (6'2, 222) 33 Will Williams – junior (6'2, 211) 35 Jackie Marshall – freshman (6'3, 281) 36 Tyrone M. Brown – freshman (5'11, 222) 41 Brooks Miller – sophomore (6'1, 225) 42 Jeremy Evans – freshman (6'1, 209) 44 Josh White – sophomore (6'0, 229) 47 Caleb Parker – sophomore (5'11, 213) 49 Will Garner – sophomore (6'2, 220) 53 Ben Hamilton – sophomore (6'0, 187) 56 Braden Strauss – sophomore (5'11, 215) 58 Jaden Maronen – freshman (5'10, 226)
Outside linebacker 7 Bryson Jackson – 6th year senior (6'2, 204) 46 Tony Anyanwu – sophomore (6'2, 243) 51 Kyler Jordan – freshman (6'2, 225) 55 Garmon Randolph – junior (6'7, 247) 93 Victor Obi – senior (6'5, 220)
Defensive back 3 Mark Milton – 5th year senior (6'2, 191) 4 Christian Morgan – 5th year senior (6'1, 211) 11 Lorando Johnson – sophomore (6'0, 193) 12 Alfonzo Allen – freshman (5'11, 183) 13 Al Walcott – senior (6'2, 219) 16 Mike Harris – sophomore (5'10, 168)