• Four reasons why Baylor football is optimistic as 2018 begins

    Baylor football practice

    When Baylor football kicks off its second season under head coach Matt Rhule next Saturday, they’ll do so with a renewed sense of optimism as they look to build on a trying 2017 season. After last year’s frustrations, here’s why the Bears are confident enough to be talking about a bowl appearance:

    Maturity: Head coach Matt Rhule brought to Baylor a complex pro-style system; couple that with a team playing large numbers of freshmen and sophomores, and you can see why the Bears struggled at times last season. In contrast, this year’s preseason depth chart shows 18 of the 22 offensive and defensive positions filled with a returning starter who will benefit from his experience on the field and in Rhule’s system.

    Impact transfers and healthy stars: Joining those returning starters is a significant new offensive weapon: Jalen Hurd, an elite talent who transferred from Tennessee to play wide receiver for the Bears. He’s not the only transfer adding depth and talent to the team; both the offensive line (Jake Fruhmorgen, Clemson) and defensive line (James Lockhart, Texas A&M) have added top talent from other Power Five schools. Cornerback Derrek Thomas (Temple) and quarterback Jalan McClendon (North Carolina State) also chose to transfer to Baylor, bringing veteran savvy and, in Thomas’ case, a depth of experience in Rhule’s system at Temple. Four other Bears — wide receiver Chris Platt, starting linebacker Clay Johnston, defensive end Xavier Jones, and punter Drew Galitz — are all back after suffering season-ending injuries last year.

    Depth: The 2018 Bears feature quality depth at a number of positions. In addition to talented sophomore Charlie Brewer, the Bears’ quarterback ranks include McClendon and highly-touted freshman Gerry Bohanon. In the secondary, Thomas joins a talented group of young players that include Grayland Arnold and Harrison Hand, along with a more experienced group of backups. The offensive and defensive lines have also received attention for the emergence of quality depth in the trenches.

    Finding a way to win: Last year, despite all the challenges, the Bears had the ball with a chance to either tie the game or take the lead in the fourth quarter during eight of their 11 losses last year. While football isn’t about moral victories, those close games gave the players a sense of what they can accomplish if they cut down on mistakes and play just a little bit better. For an example that shows it can be done, the Bears need only look at Rhule’s time at Temple. The team went 2-10 in his first season, but improved to 6-6 his second year — and then won 10 games in year No. 3.

    The Bears host Abilene Christian in the season opener next Saturday, Sept. 1, at 7 p.m. A limited number of tickets are still available; get yours today!

    Sic ’em, Bears!