Baylor defensive lineman Kyler Jordan is heading into his last college season with a different kind of urgency. The veteran has lived through plenty of the highs and lows that come with a college career, but he says the focus now is on leading the Bears into what comes next.
That starts with a new defensive setup under coordinator Joe Klanderman, whose approach Jordan says is built around speed and instinct.
"I think the biggest thing with Coach is he's going to put us in a position to play fast," Jordan said. "He's letting us up front cut it loose and cause havoc."
For Jordan, the change also means getting back to a spot that feels more natural. After bouncing around multiple positions during his career, he expects to spend more time with his hand in the dirt this season.
"I'm excited that I'll be able to have my hand in the dirt a little bit more this year," he said.
There’s been another shift around the program, too. Head coach Dave Aranda has stepped back from calling the defense and is spending more time running the whole operation, something Jordan says has helped the culture around the team.
"As far as I know, he's pretty much full-blown head coach right now," Jordan said. "It's been great because he's been able to build relationships with us and with the coaches."
Inside the locker room, Jordan has become one of the voices others lean on, and Klanderman made that clear after spring practice. Jordan said the message was simple: speak up when needed.
"One thing he told me was to be a voice," Jordan said. "If guys are confused or don't understand something, he trusts me to bring that to him. My job is to lead those guys."
That responsibility didn’t arrive overnight. Jordan said it grew out of Baylor’s difficult 3-9 season, when the team needed someone to step forward.
"Guys are looking around for somebody to follow," he said. "I decided I was going to take that and run with it."
Even with the transfer portal changing the way rosters are built, Jordan never seriously thought about leaving Baylor, including after the program went through multiple disappointing seasons.
"My parents never taught us to quit," he said. "If I was going to transfer, it would have been because I was running, and that's not who I am."
He did acknowledge that the portal makes chemistry harder to build, especially with new players arriving each January. Still, he believes the newcomers have fit in.
"It's harder to build those relationships because you're bringing in new guys every January," he said. "But we've got some really good guys who came here wanting to win."
As his career winds down, Jordan said the reality of it all has started to hit him more and more.
"Those thoughts creep in every day," he said. "It just makes me want to make this season a good one and go out with a bang."
He also looked back on Baylor’s up-and-down stretch since he arrived after the Bears’ Big 12 championship season, and he stood by Aranda through the outside noise.
"That's why I've been with Coach Aranda the whole time," Jordan said. "He's been so good to me. The best thing I can do is give everything I've got for this team."
Now, with one final run left, Jordan wants Baylor’s defense to carve out a new identity built on aggression, speed and disruption.
"I love Coach Klanderman's defense," Jordan said. "It feels like we really get to play free, and we're going to cause havoc."
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