Baylor’s coaching change puts more than the sideline in flux. As Joe Klanderman takes over the push toward bowl eligibility, the Bears also have to think about what their roster looks like beyond this season - because in the transfer portal era, a coaching transition can peel away key pieces fast.
That makes retention a major issue, especially with a group of players who could matter in 2027. Baylor has several names the next head coach will want to keep in place, starting with the two quarterbacks.
DJ Lagway is the most obvious priority. He came to Waco from Florida with a huge reputation as one of the country’s top transfer quarterbacks, and a high-ankle sprain in the opener interrupted his first year with the Bears. Even with the inconsistency, the former five-star has shown he can flip a game.
In five appearances, Lagway has completed 113 of 217 passes for 1,352 yards, nine touchdowns and four interceptions. His best outing came against Arizona State, when he threw for 306 yards and four scores in Baylor’s 55-19 win. The raw talent and upside are clear enough that keeping him around for his senior season has to be near the top of the list.
Behind him, Sawyer Robertson’s primary backup has turned into a real option of his own. Sawyer Bennett, a three-star prospect out of California who was ranked by 247Sports as the nation’s No. 101 quarterback in the 2024 class, took advantage of his chance after Lagway was hurt.
Bennett has gone 47 of 62 for 581 yards, six touchdowns and two interceptions in three appearances this season, good for a 75.8% completion rate. His best showing came against Louisiana Tech, when he hit 21 of 24 throws for 253 yards and three touchdowns. He may not have Lagway’s profile, but his growth has put him squarely in the mix to compete for the job next season.
Baylor also has a freshman runner who looks like he could become a bigger piece almost immediately. Ryelan Morris has flashed the kind of burst the Bears will want to preserve.
In six appearances, Morris has rushed for 213 yards and one touchdown on 34 carries, averaging 6.3 yards per attempt, and he has added five catches for 26 yards. His standout game came against Arizona State, when he ran for 84 yards and a touchdown on nine carries, including a 63-yard scoring burst. He has split work with Dawson Pendergrass, Caden Knighten and Michael Turner, but Pendergrass is listed as a senior, which could open the door for Morris to see a larger role.
On defense, junior cornerback Devon Jordan has already become one of the Bears’ most valuable transfers. He arrived from Oklahoma and has been a steady presence in Baylor’s secondary.
Jordan has posted 30 tackles, three interceptions, three pass breakups and one tackle for loss through seven games. His picks have produced 48 return yards, including a touchdown.
He had seven tackles, a tackle for loss and a pass breakup against Colorado, then followed that with a career-high 11 tackles against Arizona State. His biggest splash came against Kansas, when he brought back an interception 42 yards for a touchdown.
Micah Gifford has also become a major piece of the defense, and his path has been unusual. The senior safety started his college career as a wide receiver before moving into the secondary.
Through seven games, Gifford has recorded 36 tackles, three interceptions, three tackles for loss and two forced fumbles. After spending much of his first two seasons on special teams, he moved to safety and put together 22 tackles, a sack and an interception in 2025. The 6-foot-3 defensive back has taken another step this season, and there is still a chance he could have another year of eligibility under the NCAA’s recently adopted age-based model.
Another defender the next staff should want back is linebacker Kaleb Burns. The sophomore was a four-star recruit ranked No. 86 nationally by On3, and he has steadily grown into a bigger role.
Burns played in all 12 games as a freshman in 2025, finishing with 18 tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss and an interception. This season, he has 21 tackles, three tackles for loss, one sack and two pass breakups through seven games, which puts his career totals at 39 tackles and 4.5 tackles for loss. His athleticism, versatility and remaining eligibility give him a chance to become a long-term fixture in Baylor’s linebacker group.
The last major name on the retention list is receiver Jadon Porter, who could step into a much larger role next season if Baylor loses its top two pass catchers. Gavin Freeman and Louis Brown IV are expected to exhaust their eligibility after this year, and Porter looks like the next candidate to lead the room.
Porter has 12 catches for 199 yards and two touchdowns this season despite missing two games, averaging 16.6 yards per reception. That’s a clear jump from his first two years, when he totaled 11 receptions for 108 yards and one score.
Over three college seasons, he has 23 catches for 307 yards and three touchdowns. If Baylor wants a proven target for its next quarterback and offensive staff, he fits the bill.
In Other News...
Baylors UCF Prep Just Got More Complicated Than It Looked
UCFs latest availability report adds another layer to Baylors preparation for Saturday, with quarterback Keyone Jenkins cleared to start after going through concussion protocol. For a Bears defense already trying to get ready for a different look on the other side, that matters. It means Baylor has to account for a healthy starting quarterback while also tracking a roster that is still being shuffled around elsewhere.
The Knights will be without starting safety Demari Henderson and cornerback DJ Bell, and that leaves some uncertainty on the back end even as the offense gets a potential boost. Up front, Jacob Maiava and Owen Spell could be back, while Tyler Gibson is out, and other names including Duane Thomas Jr. and Caleb Rollerson are still sitting in the probable-or-questionable range. For Baylor, the picture is clear enough to know this wont be a clean opponent-prep week, but not clear enough to know exactly what UCF will look like when the game kicks off. [Read more 🡒]
Joe Klanderman Sends Baylor A Clear Message After Sudden Coaching Change
Baylors newest coach stepped into his first media availability with a lot to unpack, and Joe Klanderman leaned straight into the reality of the moment. He talked through why he decided to join the program, how the players handled the sudden coaching change, and why his first job is to bring both energy and stability to a group that has had to absorb a major jolt.
Klanderman also made clear he understands the challenge ahead, both on the field and around the program. He stressed being accessible, staying engaged with the community and helping the Bears settle in after an abrupt departure that left its mark, a reminder that this season now carries as much about adjustment as it does about results. [Read more 🡒]
Baylor Suddenly Enters The Lincoln Riley Coaching Carousel Talk
Lincoln Rileys name has quickly slipped into the discussion around Baylors opening as the coaching carousel starts to spin again, with USCs recent loss and uneven play putting fresh attention on his long-term future in Los Angeles. The chatter has also widened beyond Waco, with TCU mentioned as another possible Big 12 landing spot if Riley ever decides a change is needed, a reminder of how fast speculation can build when a high-profile program stumbles.
For Baylor, the connection is mostly about the kind of coach the program could dream about if the right opportunity ever opened up. Riley has long been viewed as one of the sports most recognizable offensive minds, and insiders have pointed to previous interest as part of the reason his name keeps surfacing in Big 12 conversations. The immediate answer may come from USCs side, where the upcoming Ohio State game looms large and could shape how secure Riley feels in his current job. [Read more 🡒]