With Mike Locksley out at Maryland, the first big question is what comes next for the Terrapins’ roster. Nothing has actually started moving yet - no Maryland player has announced for the transfer portal - but that could change once a new permanent head coach is in place. At that point, current players will have a 15-day window to enter the portal, and Baylor is a school worth watching if any of the right names decide to leave.
The obvious headline target is quarterback Malik Washington. A former top 15 high school national prospect, the sophomore arrived in college with plenty of buzz, and even in a Maryland offense that struggled this season, his talent still stands out. Washington’s physical tools and upside have him viewed as the most attractive potential Terrapin transfer if he does choose to move on.
That kind of profile fits what Dave Aranda and offensive coordinator Jake Spavital have already shown they like. Baylor recruited DJ Lagway, a sign they’re drawn to quarterbacks with real ceiling, and Washington’s raw ability could make him a strong match for Spavital’s quarterback-friendly system. If Baylor ends up needing help at the position, Washington could give the Bears a multi-year option under center.
The quarterback picture in Waco could get crowded or it could open up, depending on what happens with Lagway and Nate Bennett. If either one leaves after this season, Washington would immediately become even more intriguing as a younger piece for the Bears’ quarterback room next year.
On the defensive side, Zion Elee is the kind of player who changes the conversation fast. Listed at 6'4" and 233 pounds, the freshman edge rusher has already put up 7 solo tackles, 3.5 sacks, and 3 forced fumbles this season. That kind of production, paired with his pass-rushing ability, would make him one of the most coveted defensive players in the country if he chooses to enter the portal.
Baylor’s defensive setup could make that a natural fit. Aranda’s schemes, along with defensive play-caller Joe Klanderman, lean on pressure coming off the edge, and Elee’s disruption skills would slot right into that approach. Add him to that front, and Baylor would get a lot closer to having one of the Big 12’s most dangerous pass rushes.
Then there’s Darrell Carey, a freshman defensive back who could be a sneaky important name in this whole picture. At 6'2", Carey brings size, range, and a physical style that should play well in the Big 12, where depth and talent in the secondary matter against pass-heavy offenses.
He has already been tested in the Big Ten, and that experience could make him ready for a bigger role right away. If Carey winds up in Waco, he has the look of a potential multi-year starter and a player who could become a real problem for opposing passing attacks.
In Other News...
Baylor's Guards Could Expose Illinois In A Way Fans Notice
Illinois has already shown some early cracks against dynamic perimeter scorers, and Baylors backcourt is the kind of group that can turn those issues into a bigger talking point. In exhibition play, Cincinnatis Tylen Riley piled up 31 points and 13 assists against the Illini, while Baylor guard Kayden Mingo went for 31 in an overtime win over Florida, a reminder of how much damage a confident, high-volume guard can do when the defense struggles to stay in front.
For Baylor, that creates an opening worth watching whenever these teams meet. The Bears do not need a perfect offensive night to stress Illinois if their guards can get downhill, create space and force the kind of reactions that have already given the Illini trouble. The bigger question is whether Illinois has the personnel to keep that from becoming a recurring problem once the games count. [Read more 🡒]
Baylors Offense Is Back Under Pressure Heading Into Kansas
Baylors offense has quickly become a focal point again after a rough showing against TCU left the Bears looking out of sync in all the places they can least afford it. The run game never found footing, the line had trouble creating space, and the passing attack did not provide enough relief, leaving Dave Aranda and offensive coordinator Jake Spavital with plenty to sort out before Kansas comes to town.
The concerns stretch beyond one bad afternoon because the issues were spread across the operation, from the protection up front to the way the receivers created separation and the accuracy from quarterback DJ Lagway. With Kansas next, Baylor does not just need a cleaner script - it needs a response that shows the problems were a one-game setback and not a deeper trend. [Read more 🡒]
Baylor May Have A Maryland Opportunity Worth Watching Closely
Marylands coaching search has already created a situation worth monitoring from Waco, even before any player makes a move. Once the Terps hire a permanent head coach, their roster will get a 15-day window for players to enter the Transfer Portal, and Baylor is the kind of program that could be in the mix if some familiar names decide they want a fresh start.
Among the players tied to that possibility are Malik Washington, Zion Elee and Darrell Carey, each of whom could make sense for Baylor in different ways based on what the Bears need and what their current staff values. None of it is real until those decisions are made, but with no Maryland players in the portal yet, it is the sort of recruiting subplot Baylor fans will want to keep an eye on as the coaching dominoes keep falling. [Read more 🡒]