Baylor’s defense is almost unrecognizable after a major reset that brought in 15 new players across the unit, and the biggest question now is where the depth actually lives. The Bears need this revamped group to do more than just look different on paper. After a rough season, the hope is that the new pieces can help turn things around and make DJ Lagway and the offense’s job easier.
The deepest spot appears to be up front, where Baylor attacked one of its biggest problems head-on. The Bears finished the year allowing 206 rushing yards per game and nearly 35 points per game, so the line had to be fixed.
They brought in multiple linemen and edge rushers with the goal of making it harder for opponents to run the ball. Hosea Wheeler and Jamaal Whyce Jr. stand out as two of the biggest additions.
Wheeler brings experience, while Whyce Jr. gives Baylor a big, athletic body who can clog up blockers and create room for the edge rushers to work.
The secondary also looks loaded with transfer help, and at least three newcomers there have a real chance to start all season. Daniel Cobbs is one of the most important additions, arriving with his defensive coordinator from Kansas State and bringing versatility after playing both in the slot and at safety.
He should be a major source of production for the Bears. Baylor also added safety Colby McCalister, giving the back end another experienced option.
At corner, Devon Jordan gives Baylor another strong piece. He played in all 13 games last season at Oklahoma and finished as the sixth-best player on that team. He could either win a starting job for the Bears or serve as a dependable backup to LeVar Thornton Jr., who posted seven pass deflections and one interception last year.
That leaves linebacker as the weakest of the four position groups, not because it is a disaster, but because the other areas got so much more attention. Baylor returns four linebackers, with junior Kyland Reed and senior Travion Barnes expected to be the starters. The Bears also added Kedrick Walker from Georgia State, a player who has moved around from D1 to D2 and could carve out a bigger role if he starts fast early in the season.
In Other News...
Baylor Suddenly Has A Real Caden Powell Decision Looming
Caden Powells Baylor future just got a lot more interesting, and not just because of what he did on the floor last season. The forward stepped into a bigger role after Juslin Bodo Bodo went down with a forearm injury, and he made the most of the opportunity, giving the Bears steady production and a physical presence when they needed it.
Now Baylor has to fold Powell into a much bigger conversation about what the roster could look like in 2026-27. An NCAA eligibility change tied to age-based rules has opened the door for another season, which means the Bears have to think about scholarship math, roster spots and revenue-sharing plans with one more moving part than they expected. [Read more 🡒]
Why Isaiah Robinson Suddenly Matters So Much For Baylor In 2026
Isaiah Robinson has been in Baylors program long enough to stop feeling like a pure projection and start looking like a real answer. The offensive lineman spent two seasons developing behind the scenes after arriving as a highly regarded recruit, and even without playing in the 2025 season, he has remained one of the more intriguing pieces on the roster because of his size, talent and the way the depth chart is setting up around him.
That matters now because Baylor is heading into 2026 with very little proven continuity up front, and Robinson is expected to be in the mix for a starting tackle job. Protecting the quarterback is going to be one of the defining tasks for the Bears next season, and with so few returning starters on the line, Robinsons long wait could finally turn into a major role. [Read more 🡒]
Baylor Women's Golf Faces A New Road With Its 2026-27 Slate
Baylor womens golf has its 2026-27 slate set, and the itinerary looks built to keep the Bears moving. The schedule features 10 regular-season events across the country, opening in Charleston, South Carolina, and stretching from tournaments close to Waco to stops on both coasts, a mix that should give Jay Gobles team plenty of variety before championship season arrives.
Goble said he likes the balance of local and far-flung events because it will test the Bears in different climates and on different grasses, which is exactly the kind of preparation a program wants before the spring grind. The regular season will eventually give way to the NCAA Championships in Carlsbad, California, and along the way Baylor will have several chances to stay near home while still seeing enough of the national schedule to measure where it stands. [Read more 🡒]