Baylor’s defense is going to lean on LeVar Thornton in a big way in 2026, and that’s exactly why he lands at No. 7 on the Bears’ list of most important players.
The 6-foot-3 cornerback has climbed steadily since arriving in Waco. He started as a useful rotational piece in 2024, then turned into a true impact defender in 2025 under Dave Aranda. By the end of last season, Thornton had put together 30 tackles, one interception and seven pass breakups.
It wasn’t a flawless rise. Baylor’s pass defense had a rough start to the year, and Thornton went through some early turbulence with it.
Against Auburn, Pro Football Focus had him allowing 66.7% of the passes thrown his way to be completed. The next week against SMU, every ball thrown at him was caught.
But the back half of the season told a different story. Thornton settled in and started looking like the player Baylor needed him to be. In three games last year, he didn’t allow a single completion when targeted, including the matchup with Cincinnati and Brendan Sorbsy.
That progression matters because Baylor is asking more of him now. With one season as a starter under his belt, Thornton is positioned to take another step, and he said during spring that the first few weeks were about finding his footing before everything started to click over the course of the season.
The Bears also added pieces to the secondary this spring, which only raises the importance of having Thornton back in the room. He’s expected to be one of the leaders there in 2026, and he made it clear he sees a different edge around the program.
"Yes sir, there is," Thornton said of the urgency to win during spring camp. "We did not like how we went out last year.
Like that's not the standard that we want to be this year. And you can just tell with the new coaches, like they don't like that standard that how we went out last year.
Like everything's changed. We're on a different standard than how we were last year."
That message fits what Joe Klanderman’s defense is built to do. Baylor wants turnovers, and the front has to help make that happen by creating disruption at the line of scrimmage. If that pressure shows up, Thornton and the rest of the secondary should have chances to make plays.
And Thornton should be in the middle of it. He’s expected to handle the opponent’s top receiver, which means the ball is likely to find him. After snagging just one interception in 2025, a jump to three or more in 2026 feels like the next logical step.
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Baylor May Have Finally Found The Receiver This Offense Needed
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For Baylor, the appeal is obvious: Freeman fills a spot the receiving corps needed and gives the staff a player who can move around the formation and handle more than just routine targets. He is expected to spend plenty of time in the slot, where his quickness and experience could make him a useful piece right away, while also giving himself one last chance to sharpen his game for the next level. [Read more 🡒]