Preseason X Factors: Baylor Football

<p>Baylor has become a mainstay in the state championship game inside the DII-AAA classification, quickly becoming arguably the best program in the state since head coach Erik Kimrey was hired.</p>   <p>The Red Raiders will be in contention to win the state championship again this season, led by several key players that have bright futures ahead at the next level of the sport.</p>   <p>However, the team lost a significant amount of production and experience this offseason, leaving several players with the opportunity to step into larger leadership roles next season. If Baylor wants to claim another state title, these five players will have to step up this fall and will be the X-factors of the team.</p>   <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity" />   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">2027 RB David Gabriel Georges</h2>   <p>The standout tailback returns as one of the top players at his position across the entire nation and will continue to anchor the team's offense on the ground.</p>   <p>WIth his large frame, strong downhill running style and natural athleticism, he is simply impossible for defenses to contain at the line of scrimmage. All of his surroundings will look different this season beside his center, but he has shown that ability to hit an even higher level of play when his team needs him in clutch situations.</p>   <p>Any time a team has a running back such as David Gabriel Georges, there is a legitimate shot to win the state championship.</p>   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/shaynep_media/status/2010140410086338719?s=20 </div></figure>   <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity" />   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">2028 TE [player_tooltip player_id='1201841' first='Braxton' last='Rein']</h2>   <p>This offseason presents an opportunity for the standout tight end to have a massive breakout season in his junior year and he has more than enough talent to take advantage of the new situation.</p>   <p>Ole Miss commit [player_tooltip player_id='939950' first='Keegan' last='Croucher'] comes in at quarterback as a player who thrives on utilizing his impressive arm strength to fit the ball into tight windows over the middle of the field. Additionally, the team will be looking for playmakers to step up after losing the large majority of their wideout production.</p>   <p>Insert [player_tooltip player_id='1201841' first='Braxton' last='Rein'] from the tight end position, who has excellent length and athleticism, allowing for him to make any play in the receiving game that will be asked from him. He should become quick friends with his new quarterback this season.</p>   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/shaynep_media/status/1996771419909149067?s=20 </div></figure>   <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity" />   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">2027 OL/DL [player_tooltip player_id='1753840' first='Maddox' last='McClure']</h2>   <p>Baylor is losing four offensive line starters this offseason and will be looking for several players to step up in larger roles, one of those being two-way lineman [player_tooltip player_id='1753840' first='Maddox' last='McClure'].</p>   <p>He has rotated in along the offensive line in his career to this point with strong size and athleticism, that can especially effective when pulling to the second level of the defense. He will likely command one of the guard spots this season and will be someone that needs to perform as the staff looks for other options up front.</p>   <p>The depth along the defensive line is the best it has been at Baylor in a couple years and McClure will be a consistent part of that rotation. The size and athleticism translates to that side of the ball where he can generate pressure in the backfield.</p>   <p>WIth his versatility and experience, the rising senior is a player that the team needs to have a big season from this fall if they want to raise the trophy at the end ofthe season.</p>   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/Madx_McClure/status/2051432102973849987?s=20 </div></figure>   <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity" />   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">2027 LB [player_tooltip player_id='1512542' first='Khori' last='Faulkner']</h2>   <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1512542' first='Khori' last='Faulkner'] anchored the defense last season from his middle linebacker position and will be asked to do it again as a senior this season.</p>   <p>He showed the ability to hunt down ball carriers and provided a security blanket for the front seven of the defense, consistently making huge tackles in space during the biggest games of the season.</p>   <p>He burst onto the scene last year and will look to take another step forward in his development this season as he seeks to lead a Baylor defensive unit that will look a lot different this year.</p>   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/shaynep_media/status/1976719489287811398?s=20 </div></figure>   <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity" />   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">2027 DB [player_tooltip player_id='1605749' first='Jordan' last='Darren Djila']</h2>   <p>The entire Baylor secondary from last season has now left the building outside of standout cornerback [player_tooltip player_id='1605749' first='Jordan' last='Darren Djila'], leaving him in a massive leadership spot as he will have to help bring along a young group around him.</p>   <p>On the field, he has great size, liner athleticism and physicality, which helps him take talented opposing receivers out of the play. That is something that the defense needs to count on every snap during this fall.</p>   <p>With an improved front seven, the pressure will be taken off the secondary this season, but the rising senior will have his own pressure to lead a young defensive back room.</p>   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/JordanDarren27/status/1975222469599658472?s=20 </div></figure>

Baylor has become a mainstay in the state championship game inside the DII-AAA classification, quickly becoming arguably the best program in the state since head coach Erik Kimrey was hired.