Baylor’s 2026 outlook is being shaped by a roster overhaul, a new coordinator, and a few players who could swing the whole thing one way or the other.
After last season’s 5-7 finish, Dave Aranda has rebuilt the program with transfers spread across the field and a new coordinator in place to reshape the defense. The big question now is whether that mix can turn into real progress. These five players may be the ones who decide it.
The offense starts with Dawson, who enters 2026 as the leading candidate to handle the starting running back job. After a devastating injury last year, he is set up for what could be a huge senior season.
Baylor needs him to be dependable, especially if he can shoulder enough of the load to ease pressure on Lagway and the passing game. He showed solid production as a freshman, and now the Bears are counting on him to anchor the ground attack.
At quarterback, five-star transfer DJ Lagway is the biggest swing piece on the roster. For Jake Spavital’s system, he brings the kind of upside that can change the entire feel of an offense.
If Baylor can pair him with fast, quick-route concepts, mix in the right amount of play action, and keep turnovers down, Lagway becomes the kind of quarterback any coordinator wants. A strong season from him could do more than just help Baylor win games - it could also reshape the program’s reputation and make the Bears more attractive to top quarterback recruits.
On the defensive line, Wheeler gives Baylor the veteran presence it badly needed. The Bears lost four key linemen to the portal last year, so adding someone with experience up front matters.
Wheeler is a big body who should command double teams snap after snap. If he can clog running lanes and hold the line, it opens the door for linebackers to flow freely to the ball.
Freeman is the player who could alter the slot receiver picture. He already proved he can produce, piling up more than 480 yards on 53 catches.
With a larger role, he has the skill set to become one of the most productive receivers in the Big 12 this season. He arrived as one of the more overlooked portal additions, but he showed what he can do on an Oklahoma State team that struggled last year.
Then there is Kyland, one of Baylor’s best returning players. With the roster refreshed through the portal, he comes back with the same expectations he carried before and should be a major option for Klanderman’s defense. If he keeps closing off passing lanes, he could emerge as the clear leader of Joe Klanderman’s defense in 2026 and the front-runner in the linebacker room.
In Other News...
Baylor Receiver Depth Suddenly Looks Shaky Right Before Auburn
Dawson Pendergrass has worked his way back from a foot injury and is now expected to be ready when Baylor opens the season against Auburn, which gives the Bears at least one encouraging update as the countdown to kickoff continues. Getting a receiver back in the mix matters for a Baylor offense that wants to settle in early, especially with the season opener carrying a little extra attention against a Power Four opponent.
Taz Williams Jr. is the tougher subplot to sort through after he injured his collarbone in practice and is set for surgery, leaving his availability in question at a time when depth is already a concern. Coach Dave Aranda has said Williams Jr. could be back within a few weeks, but for now Baylor is left waiting on a more precise timeline and hoping the receiver room can absorb the hit until it gets clearer answers. [Read more 🡒]
Caden Knighten Could Be Baylor's Most Dangerous Backfield X-Factor
Caden Knighten arrived at Baylor with the kind of speed that always makes a backfield interesting, and he has already shown he can do more than just sprint past defenders. A former Oklahoma 2-A 100-meter state champion in 2023, Knighten carved out a role last season while sharing touches with Bryson Washington and Michael Turner, finishing with 104 carries for 469 yards and 11 catches for 134 yards, plus a rushing score and a receiving touchdown.
With Dawson Pendergrass healthy this season, Knighten is expected to stay in a reserve role, but that does not make him any less important to the Bears offensive picture. Baylors rushing outlook feels like it could hinge on how much explosiveness it gets from Knighten and the other backs around him, especially if the staff keeps finding ways to get him into space where his track speed can change a drive in a hurry. [Read more 🡒]
Baylor Just Strengthened A Recruiting Edge Fans Cant Ignore
Baylor is making another move to keep pace in the increasingly crowded NIL arms race, announcing a partnership with TheLinkU that will bring the companys revenue and NIL platform into the athletic department. The goal is straightforward enough: give Baylor student-athletes a more centralized system for managing opportunities, while also creating new ways for the program to grow revenue and deepen brand partnerships around the Bears.
The deal also adds some structure behind the scenes, with contract management and compliance workflows built into the platform, along with fan engagement experiences aimed at making the whole operation more visible and marketable. A new initiative called Link254 is part of the rollout, and the pitch to recruits is hard to miss, Baylor now has another tool to sell as it tries to stand out in a recruiting landscape where off-field opportunity matters almost as much as what happens on the field. [Read more 🡒]