Junior cornerback Devon Jordan has landed on Baylor’s list of the 25 most important players for 2026, and the reason is pretty clear: he arrives in Waco with SEC and College Football Playoff experience already on his résumé.
Jordan comes in as one of the more surprising names on the list, but his background makes the case. The Tulsa native was a four-star recruit who drew notice for his speed after multiple state championship appearances in the 100m and 200m track and field events. He signed with Oklahoma and spent two seasons there as a defensive reserve and special teams contributor.
At Oklahoma, Jordan worked his way into a steady role. By his sophomore year, he had become the first cornerback off the bench and appeared in all 13 games, finishing with 16 tackles. He earned that spot by playing to his strengths: quick closing speed, efficient tackling, and enough burst to cover for being an inch under six feet tall.
That same profile is what makes him such a natural fit for Baylor’s defense.
New defensive coordinator Joe Klanderman has spent spring and summer practice reshaping the Bears’ identity on that side of the ball, with a heavy emphasis on getting to the ball quickly and tackling efficiently. That’s been Jordan’s calling card since high school, and it gives him a clean path into the rotation.
He may not open the 2026 season as a starter. Baylor made adding depth to the secondary a priority after multiple years of weakness in the defensive backfield, and the Bears now have a crowded group back there. Even so, Jordan should see plenty of snaps.
What Baylor is getting is a player with elite legs, proven experience, and the kind of speed that translates immediately. Any team that adds someone who has played in the SEC and taken meaningful reps in a College Football Playoff game is getting a real asset.
For Baylor, Jordan looks like the final piece on top of a secondary built to make life difficult for Big 12 offenses over the next four months.
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Allen has logged more than 100 hours of community work in Waco, from helping with school lunches and toy drives to reading to elementary students and supporting home-building efforts. He has also led Baylors chapter of Uplifting Athletes, helping raise more than $10,000 for rare disease research over the past four years, while maintaining a perfect 4.0 GPA in his MBA pursuit after posting a 3.96 undergraduate mark in finance and management. [Read more 🡒]