Baylor spent heavily in the offseason, and now the Bears need that investment to start paying off when fall camp opens.
With roster turnover forcing Baylor to dig into its NIL budget, four newcomers stand out as players who have to make a fast impression. According to The NIL Standard, DJ Lagway is the only Baylor player making over $1,000,000, and the former five-star quarterback is the biggest name in the group.
After two years at Florida, Lagway arrives in Waco with turnover issues in his past, but Baylor is banking on a fresh start under Jake Spavital to unlock the talent that made him a top-five prospect. The Bears also have the kind of QB-friendly system and pass-catching talent that should help him settle in.
This was his first healthy offseason of his career and that is hopefully a good sign for the 2026 season.
Garrick Ponder is right behind him financially, and Baylor needs him to justify that price tag on the edge. The Southern Miss transfer posted 37 tackles, 11.5 tackles for loss and 4.5 sacks last season, giving the Bears a proven backfield disruptor after their edge rushers fell short a year ago.
Baylor’s top three players at that spot all left through the portal, so Dave Aranda targeted Ponder to become the new headliner. Playing under Joe Klanderman, the Bears want more havoc up front, and Ponder is expected to be a big part of that push.
The other two major additions are wideouts Gavin Freeman and Dre'lon Miller, who sit as the top two paid playmakers on the roster. Baylor lost its best offensive weapons from last season and went into the portal to restock the room.
Freeman brings slot production, even if it came in less-than-ideal offenses over the past two years, while Miller offers a versatile skill set and can line up all over the formation. With Lagway at quarterback and Spavital running the offense, both receivers should have a chance to cash in on the opportunities that come their way.
Lagway’s arm strength and ability to extend plays should give both Freeman and Miller room to show what they can do.
In Other News...
Baylors New Receiver Peeking Order Just Opened A Long Awaited Door
Baylors passing game is entering a reset, with DJ Lagway stepping in for Sawyer Robertson and two of the Bears most established targets, Josh Cameron and Michael Trigg, moving on to the NFL. That leaves a real opening for the next wave of receivers, and Louis Brown is one of the names positioned to benefit most as the offense sorts out its new pecking order.
Brown kept his redshirt intact in 2025, a move that should pay off now that he is lined up for a much bigger role in 2026. He flashed enough in limited action to hint at what might be coming, and Baylor will need that hint to turn into consistent production if the offense is going to find the kind of balance it lost with so much proven receiving talent gone. [Read more 🡒]