Baylor’s 2027 class picked up a lift Tuesday night when unranked safety Noah Johnson announced his pledge to the Bears, bringing the program to 10 commitments in the cycle. Even with that momentum, Dave Aranda still has clear needs to fill, and the next wave of recruiting has to bring in more fresh talent.
The biggest pressure point sits up front. Baylor’s defensive line was a problem in 2025, when the Bears ranked among the worst run-stopping teams in the country.
The staff tried to patch the room with transfer additions, most notably Hosea Wheeler from Indiana, though he still has to clear eligibility concerns. Baylor also added Jae'lin Battle in the 2026 class, and he could be ready to contribute quickly.
But with only one edge rusher committed in 2027, the Bears need more bodies and more disruption.
One name worth watching is Thibodeaux, a 6-foot-2, 260-pound defensive lineman from Garland (TX) Garland Lakeview Centennial. He’s a three-star prospect and the No. 450 player in the nation, according to the 247Sports Composite.
The production is already there: 75 tackles, 20 tackles for loss, 11 sacks, and four forced fumbles a year ago. His recruitment has been quiet, but Rivals’ Recruiting Prediction Machine currently has Baylor sitting second behind SMU.
Another defensive line target Baylor should keep pushing for is Alexander Coey, an in-state edge from Conroe (TX). At 6-foot-4 and 235 pounds, he has the frame Baylor wants, and he has already taken official visits to Houston and Pitt.
There’s still time for the Bears to get back into the mix. Coey is a three-star recruit and the No. 770 player in the 2027 cycle, per 247Sports Composite.
Last season he posted 26 tackles and 1.5 sacks, and a bigger role in 2026 could help his stock climb.
Baylor also has room to keep building at receiver. With only one true wideout committed in the class, another playmaker makes sense.
Tre Brown fits that bill. The 5-foot-10, 170-pound receiver from Humble (TX) Summer Creek is a three-star prospect and the No. 250 wide receiver in the 2027 cycle, per Rivals Industrial Rankings.
Brown may not be a headline name, but the offer sheet says plenty: Arizona, Houston, Texas Tech, and TCU are all in the mix. He topped 1,000 all-purpose yards last season, catching 43 passes for 531 yards and two touchdowns.
In Other News...
Baylor Unveils Waco Rush Pass To Bring More Locals Into The Stands
Baylor Athletics is trying to make its home calendar feel a little more local with the launch of the Waco Rush Pass, a new ticket program aimed at City of Waco residents. Registration is open now, and the pass offers discounted access to select home events across several sports, giving people inside the city a more affordable way to take in games and meetups around campus.
The rollout also comes with a strong early push for football season, with a home opener promotion that could put free tickets in the hands of a set number of eligible registrants. For Baylor, the idea is bigger than one game or one crowd size. It is a bid to turn more Waco residents into regulars at McLane Stadium and beyond, even if the initial buzz will depend on how quickly locals take advantage of the limited offer. [Read more 🡒]
Former Baylor Experiment Just Took Another Unexpected Turn
James Nnaji has landed again, this time at George Mason, after a winding college path that never quite looked settled. The 21-year-old center brings three years of eligibility to the Atlantic 10, which at least gives him a fresh runway after a stint at Baylor that never turned into the kind of role the Bears hoped for.
For Baylor, Nnajis exit is another reminder of how unusual that experiment became. He arrived with a professional rsum from Europe and NBA draft baggage, then struggled to carve out consistent minutes in Waco before moving on, and now the focus shifts to what his next stop can offer after a college career that has been as turbulent as it has been brief. [Read more 🡒]
Baylor Just Made Another Move To Address A Growing Linebacker Need
Baylor keeps working to shore up the middle of its defense, and the latest addition comes from Alabama linebacker Trenton McCorvey, a 2027 prospect whose recruiting stock has steadily picked up across the Southeast. The three-star defender has drawn Power Four attention and arrives with the kind of profile schools chase when theyre trying to build depth before a need becomes an emergency.
McCorveys commitment also fits a bigger roster picture for the Bears, who have been trying to stabilize a position group that has taken some hits recently. With another linebacker now in the 2027 fold alongside Bryson Brown, Baylor has given itself a healthier early foundation at a spot where the numbers matter as much as the talent, and the next question is how much momentum the staff can keep building there. [Read more 🡒]