Baylor’s opener against Auburn is still two weeks away, but a few starting jobs already feel like they’re tilting in certain directions. Some spots look settled. Others are wide open, and the Bears have a handful of players making strong cases to be in the first wave on the field when the Tigers arrive.
One of the biggest names to watch is Kaleb Burns. Baylor’s defense badly needed a reset after the 2025 unit turned in what Coach Jamar Chaney called a “pitiful performance,” and the linebacker group has a new tone with returning veterans Kyland Reed and Travion Barnes leading the way. Burns, though, has pushed himself into the conversation as a real difference-maker.
“I mean the sky is the limit for Kaleb,” said Coach Jamar Chaney. “Expect him to go out there and have a big year.
I mean, athletic-wise, he's one of the most athletic linebackers I probably have been around. So, just finding ways that we can get him on the field and do it.”
Up front, Baylor’s offensive line remains one of the team’s biggest concerns. DJ Lagway is going to need the unit to stabilize quickly, especially with only one returning starter back from the group.
That’s why the battle involving UAB transfer Moore matters so much. Moore appears to be taking reps from Cole Rhett, who had been expected by some to handle the job.
Rhett has the size and plenty of experience at right tackle, but the edge right now seems to belong to the senior transfer.
There’s also movement in the secondary, where Oklahoma transfer Jordan is making a push. Last season, Jordan worked as a primary nickelback and the Sooners’ No. 3 corner, appearing in 13 games.
His main competition is Jayden Rowe, whose career has been interrupted by injuries and who has limited experience as a true cornerback. Jordan brings speed and College Football Playoff experience to Baylor’s backfield, though he still has to prove himself in what looks like one of the deeper units on the roster.
On the defensive front, Washington is another newcomer who has put himself in position to start. He comes to Baylor after two years at Texas State and a season at Sam Houston.
In 2025, he played in all 13 games for the Bobcats and, over his two-year span, recorded 23 tackles, 10 tackles for loss and two sacks. The competition is Jamaal Whyce Jr., who has one fewer year of real experience but comes off a solid 2025 at Marshall with 34 tackles.
Both should play plenty, but Washington looks like the favorite to get the nod against Auburn.
Then there’s Smith, who may not open the season in the starting lineup but could force his way there before long. He has been called a “top target” for Lagway in fall camp and should give Baylor another live option in a receiver group that includes Gavin Freeman and Louis Brown IV. The Waco native is a true freshman, and with the preseason injury to Taz Williams Jr., there’s a chance he ends up seeing more action than originally expected.
In Other News...
Former Baylor Assistant's Exit Now Carries A Troubling NCAA Twist
Jared Nuness resignation from Baylor mens basketball had already been framed as a personal and health-related decision, closing the book on a longtime assistants run in Waco. Now, the exit carries a much sharper edge, as the NCAA has sanctioned Nuness for impermissible sports betting activities tied to his account during his time in the profession.
The governing body said Nuness placed about 3,400 bets totaling $38,000 on professional competitions and accepted responsibility for every wager associated with his account. The result is a two-year show cause penalty, a significant sanction that adds an uncomfortable postscript to a departure that initially appeared to be about private concerns rather than enforcement trouble. [Read more 🡒]
Baylor Is Chasing A Huge Recruiting Win With One Key Edge
Baylor has landed squarely in the mix for one of the most coveted wings in the 2025 class, with five-star small forward Moussa Kamissoko setting up a busy round of official visits that includes a stop in Waco on Oct. 16. The Glen Head, N.Y., prospect has built his reputation on size, versatility and steady production on the Nike EYBL circuit, traits that have made him a priority for a long list of major programs.
What gives the Bears a real opening is the timing. Baylor is the final scheduled visit on Kamissokos list, and the staff already has an established relationship with his high school program, which could matter as he gets deeper into the process. For a team always looking to add top-end talent on the wing, this is the kind of recruitment that can quietly shape a class if the last impression lands well. [Read more 🡒]
Baylor Defense Already Showing Something Last Years Team Never Had
Baylors defense is still early in its reshaping, but Micah Gifford says the vibe around the group already feels different. In a recent press scrum with Dave Aranda and several teammates, the safety pointed to a strong sense of brotherhood and positivity, a notable shift for a unit that has spent the offseason getting to know a lot of new faces and voices.
There has been plenty of turnover to sort through, with roughly 28 to 32 players from last season no longer on the roster, and that kind of change usually takes time to settle. The Bears also know the defense has a standard to chase after struggling against the run in Big 12 play a year ago, even if the pass defense held up better, so the real test now is whether that new energy can translate once the games start counting. [Read more 🡒]