Baylor’s season opener against Auburn is going to lean on the obvious names, but the Bears’ depth chart points to a handful of backups who should matter just as much once the game gets rolling.
That starts in the middle of the defense, where Kaleb Burns is set to remain a steady part of the rotation behind Travion Barnes and Kyland Reed. Burns appeared in 12 games last season and was pushed into a larger role because of injuries, so even though he is back in a reserve spot for 2026, Baylor still has real trust in him.
He should be the first linebacker off the bench, and when the Bears go with three linebackers, he’ll be the No. 3.
The JACK spot also looks like a position where Baylor can keep the pressure on without much drop-off. The depth chart lists an OR between Tyler Davis and Ricky Ponder, and both transfers are expected to have a major say in the season.
Davis arrives from Kansas State already familiar with Joe Klanderman’s defense, while Ponder brings production from Southern Miss after posting 11.5 tackles for loss and 4.5 sacks last season. That gives Baylor two options it can rotate freely at the position.
Another key OR on the depth chart sits in the middle of the defense, where Hosea Wheeler and Jamaal Whyce are both expected to play important roles. Wheeler, Baylor’s major portal addition aside from DJ Lagway, played plenty for Indiana last season and brings what the Bears want in stopping the run.
Whyce, the Marshall transfer, is no afterthought either after standing out a year ago. With Baylor trying to clean up a rushing defense that ranked among the worst in the country last season, both players figure to be involved right away against Auburn.
The receiving corps is also dealing with some movement, which opens the door for more snaps from the backups. Louis Brown and Gavin Freeman are locked in as starters, but with Taz Williams sidelined by a broken collarbone, Baylor will need Jadon Porter and Dre’lon Miller to handle the No. 3 and No. 4 roles for now.
Porter caught nine passes last season and already knows Jake Spavital’s offense. Miller, meanwhile, offers versatility and can be used in a bunch of different ways.
Both should be on the field often as Baylor mixes things up against Auburn’s defense.
At running back, Dawson Pendergrass is back after last season’s season-ending injury and is the starter, but Baylor is unlikely to keep the workload limited to him alone. Caden Knighten and Michael Turner should both get touches, and Knighten stands out as the one to watch.
He has speed, explosion and the kind of ability that can turn a short play into something bigger. Pendergrass is expected to have a big outing, but Knighten looks like the first back off the bench and could be the one who creates the flash plays.
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Auburns Atlanta Opener Created A Tradeoff Fans Immediately Noticed
Moving Auburns season opener to Mercedes-Benz Stadium gave the program a different kind of stage for its Aflac Kickoff Game, and it came with a tradeoff fans noticed right away. The atmosphere was not what Jordan-Hare Stadium would have delivered, but Auburn still brought a strong contingent to Atlanta and made sure the place did not feel like a neutral site for long.
Athletics director John Cohen said the move was shaped in part by a lucrative NIL deal for players, which gave the decision a broader football-business context beyond the usual scheduling conversation. Some season ticket holders stayed home instead of making the trip, but Auburn still held the majority of fan support and carried a 10-7 halftime lead over Baylor, a sign the Tigers made the arrangement work even if the crowd size did not match a home opener. [Read more 🡒]
Former Auburn QB Is Finally Getting The Chance He Never Had
After a frustrating start to his college career, Hank Brown is finally getting the kind of opportunity that never quite came together at Auburn. The former Tigers quarterback, a 3-star recruit in the 2023 class, transferred to Iowa before the 2025 season and spent much of that first year waiting for a real opening while seeing limited action.
Brown stayed with the Hawkeyes into 2026, and the payoff arrived in Week 1 when he was named the starter against Northern Illinois. He rewarded that trust with a touchdown pass, a small but meaningful step for a quarterback whose path has been more about patience and persistence than instant results. [Read more 🡒]
Auburn's Offensive Line Battle May Be Smaller Than Fans Expected
Auburns offensive line competition has drawn plenty of attention this spring, but Alex Golesh made it sound like the picture is a little less crowded than some fans may have expected. The Tigers have eight linemen who have earned the right to play, yet Golesh said the staff is not looking to rotate bodies simply to keep people involved. If the group up front is holding up well, the starting five can stay put.
The spot still worth watching is left guard, where Auburn continues to evaluate options as camp moves along. Goleshs message was that the offensive line will be judged by performance and by the demands of each game, not by any preset plan to shuffle players in and out. For a unit trying to settle in, that leaves some room for competition, but not the kind of wholesale rotation some around the program may have been anticipating. [Read more 🡒]