Baylor’s first depth chart of the season gave us a pretty good look at where the Bears stand heading into Saturday’s matchup with Auburn, and it also left a few spots very much up for grabs.
Some of the biggest questions were answered cleanly. South Alabama transfer Asher Hale is officially the starter at right guard, and Matthew Klopfenstein is listed as the top tight end ahead of Tony Livingston. Elsewhere, though, Baylor used OR designations that suggest the Bears are still sorting out a few key roles before they take the field in Atlanta.
The most notable OR battle on offense comes at the third receiver spot, where Jadon Porter and Dre’lon Miller are both listed. Louis Brown and Gavin Freeman are the starters on the outside and in the slot, but the final spot is still unresolved on paper.
Miller missed time this fall because of an injury, yet he was one of the biggest additions to the offense for DJ Lagway and brought a track record of being used all over Colorado’s offense the last two seasons. Porter, meanwhile, has clearly forced his way into the conversation.
He caught nine passes for 85 yards and a touchdown last season, and the depth chart suggests that even if Miller gets the first crack, Porter has made himself a real part of the rotation.
Up front, the reshuffling ended up looking pretty close to what had been expected once Memphis transfer Yakiri Walker lost his battle with the NCAA. Koltin Sieracki has moved to center, and he’ll be joined by Logan Moore at left tackle, Nate Kibble at left guard, Asher Hale at right guard, and Kaden Sieracki at right tackle. Kaden, the only returning full-time starter, was always the safest bet to stay locked in, while the rest of the line was built through transfers trying to carve out roles.
Toledo transfer Cole Rhett had initially been viewed as a possible starter at left tackle, but earlier comments from OL coach Austin Woods that Rhett was moving around pointed to a different outcome. That now appears to have been the case, with Rhett likely in line as the sixth lineman.
On defense, the two spots that stand out most are nose tackle and strong safety. Indiana transfer Hosea Wheeler is in an OR battle with Marshall transfer Jamaal Whyce Jr. at nose tackle, while Redding is listed in an OR situation with Devin Turner at strong safety.
Even with those labels, both Wheeler and Redding look set to play major roles. Wheeler was brought in to help Baylor clog run lanes in 2026, and it would be a surprise not to see him on the field quickly against Auburn.
Redding, who was arguably the team’s best defensive player last season, also figures to be heavily involved regardless of how the listing shakes out.
At tight end, the decision leaned toward experience. Klopfenstein gets the start after catching eight passes for 73 yards and a score last season while backing up Michael Trigg.
Now entering his fourth year with the program, he steps into a bigger role. Livingston, who transferred in from Florida and already had familiarity with DJ Lagway, is still expected to contribute, but the early edge belongs to Klopfenstein.
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