Louis Brown IV came away from Baylor’s Sept. 1 media availability sounding like a player who knows exactly where he fits - and why the Bears are leaning on him.
After redshirting last season, Brown enters this year with more experience and, by the sound of it, a clearer picture of how he can help a Baylor receiver room that already has plenty of options. Sawyer Robertson had no shortage of targets a year ago while guiding the Bears to the 4th most prolific passing offense not just in the Big XII, but in the entire country. Michael Trigg, Kole Wilson, Kobe Prentice, and Josh Cameron were all part of that mix, and Brown’s added maturity now gives Baylor another piece to work with.
Brown carried himself with a calm, steady confidence during his presser. That didn’t come off as detachment. It felt more like a player who has spent a year preparing for his moment and is ready to show that the redshirt decision served a purpose.
When a reporter asked, "what about your game do you think will surprise folks?" Brown answered in a way that covered the usual receiver traits first, then added one detail that stood out. Brown said, "I can play outside, inside; like I've said before, I can stretch the field," before finishing with, "I can block, anything my guys need, I can do it."
That versatility matters because Brown is expected to have a noticeable role this season, whether he’s the primary target or the piece that helps open things up for someone else. With recent transfers Dre'lon Miller and Gavin Freeman expected to be the immediate threats at receiver, Brown could be moving around the formation to give Baylor the best shot at creating mismatches.
Brown had plenty of praise for both newcomers. He compared Dre'lon to a "Deebo Samuel-type," and added, "I don't feel like he can get tackled one-on-one," while also saying that "[Miller] can help us tremendously."
Freeman drew similar approval, with Brown calling him "Mr. Dependable"
Brown also pointed to the value of Josh Cameron’s help last season, especially on the mental and detail-heavy side of playing receiver. For Brown, the lesson was bigger than route running or catching passes. He stressed the need to study the playbook, learn the plays, and stay sharp in every part of the mental game.
Taken together, Brown’s comments paint the picture of a receiver who has learned from the players around him and is ready to put that knowledge to use for Baylor.
In Other News...
DJ Lagway Faces An Early Baylor Test With Plenty Riding On It
The first weekend of the 2026 college football season already has a little extra bite for Baylor, with the Big 12 slate offering a handful of early measuring sticks and DJ Lagway landing in one of the spotlight games against Auburn. In a league that feels unusually open, the Bears are part of a larger group trying to establish an identity right away, and Lagways performance will be one of the first things people around the conference use to start sorting contenders from the pack.
Around the Big 12, the opening weekend also brings a familiar-coach setup for Houstons Makhi Hughes, a fresh offensive weapon in Arizona States Omarion Miller, Texas Tech leaning on Adam Trick to steady the defense and BYU counting on Faletau Satuala to set the tone on that side of the ball. For Baylor, though, the focus stays squarely on Lagway and how he handles an early test that carries more weight than a typical nonconference game, especially with so much riding on how the conference race begins to take shape. [Read more 🡒]
Baylor Faces An Early Test That Could Define Its Opener With Auburn
Baylor opens against Auburn with a matchup that already feels like more than a season opener. The Bears are trying to steady a defense that had real trouble a year ago, and the focus has shifted toward making that side of the ball more reliable right away. New defensive coordinator Joe Klanderman has been brought in to help drive that reset, while the offense will also be leaning on familiar pieces to set the tone in a game that should be tight from the start.
Dawson Pendergrass is part of that equation too, giving Baylor another name to watch as it tries to answer an early challenge from a physical Auburn team. The setup points to a game that could swing on a handful of plays rather than broad separation, which is exactly why this opener carries so much weight for the Bears. If Baylor can show real progress on defense and hold up in a close finish, it would say plenty about where this team is headed. [Read more 🡒]
Baylor Volleyball Gets Its First Real Test Against A Top 20 Opponent
Baylors early-season run gets a bigger spotlight Friday night when No. 17 Florida comes to the Ferrell Center for the Gold Rush Match, a nonconference test that should tell plenty about where the Bears stand. Baylor is 4-0 and looking for a fifth straight win, with the matchup set to be streamed on ESPN+ and offering another chance for the Bears balanced attack to keep building momentum.
Ksenia Rakhmanchik, Morgan Madison, Victoria Davis and Isabela Haggard have all been part of the start that has Baylor in position to measure itself against a ranked opponent this soon. Home court adds some energy to the setting, but this is the kind of night that can quickly reveal how ready a team is for the stretch ahead. [Read more 🡒]