With Mike Locksley out at Maryland, the first big question is what comes next for the Terrapins’ roster. Nothing has actually started moving yet - no Maryland player has announced for the transfer portal - but that could change once a new permanent head coach is in place. At that point, current players will have a 15-day window to enter the portal, and Baylor is a school worth watching if any of the right names decide to leave.
The obvious headline target is quarterback Malik Washington. A former top 15 high school national prospect, the sophomore arrived in college with plenty of buzz, and even in a Maryland offense that struggled this season, his talent still stands out. Washington’s physical tools and upside have him viewed as the most attractive potential Terrapin transfer if he does choose to move on.
That kind of profile fits what Dave Aranda and offensive coordinator Jake Spavital have already shown they like. Baylor recruited DJ Lagway, a sign they’re drawn to quarterbacks with real ceiling, and Washington’s raw ability could make him a strong match for Spavital’s quarterback-friendly system. If Baylor ends up needing help at the position, Washington could give the Bears a multi-year option under center.
The quarterback picture in Waco could get crowded or it could open up, depending on what happens with Lagway and Nate Bennett. If either one leaves after this season, Washington would immediately become even more intriguing as a younger piece for the Bears’ quarterback room next year.
On the defensive side, Zion Elee is the kind of player who changes the conversation fast. Listed at 6'4" and 233 pounds, the freshman edge rusher has already put up 7 solo tackles, 3.5 sacks, and 3 forced fumbles this season. That kind of production, paired with his pass-rushing ability, would make him one of the most coveted defensive players in the country if he chooses to enter the portal.
Baylor’s defensive setup could make that a natural fit. Aranda’s schemes, along with defensive play-caller Joe Klanderman, lean on pressure coming off the edge, and Elee’s disruption skills would slot right into that approach. Add him to that front, and Baylor would get a lot closer to having one of the Big 12’s most dangerous pass rushes.
Then there’s Darrell Carey, a freshman defensive back who could be a sneaky important name in this whole picture. At 6'2", Carey brings size, range, and a physical style that should play well in the Big 12, where depth and talent in the secondary matter against pass-heavy offenses.
He has already been tested in the Big Ten, and that experience could make him ready for a bigger role right away. If Carey winds up in Waco, he has the look of a potential multi-year starter and a player who could become a real problem for opposing passing attacks.
In Other News...
TCU Faces A Major Offensive Question Heading Into West Virginia
TCU heads into its matchup with West Virginia with more than the usual Friday-night uncertainty, as the availability report leaves a handful of important names in limbo. Jeremy Payne, Kari Ashley and Zach Chapman are all listed as questionable, while Landon Walker carries a doubtful tag, adding another layer of concern for a roster trying to sort out who will be ready when the Horned Frogs take the field.
The timing matters because the report comes with several other players from both teams marked out, doubtful, questionable or probable, turning the pregame picture into one of the more fluid ones on the schedule. For TCU, the offensive puzzle is especially notable, since the Horned Frogs may have to make adjustments in the middle of a conference stretch against a West Virginia team dealing with its own list of availability questions. [Read more 🡒]
TCUs Baylor Momentum Faces A Real Test Against A Familiar Threat
The Horned Frogs get a quick turn from a gritty 17-6 win over Baylor to a tougher stylistic test at Amon G. Carter Stadium, where West Virginia arrives with an offense built to stress defenses in a different way. TCUs passing game gave the team a needed lift last week, but the challenge now is keeping that rhythm while preparing for an opponent that wants to play fast, spread the field and force mistakes in space.
West Virginias attack also comes with a familiar face in former TCU running back Cam Cook, now paired with quarterback Michael Hawkins Jr. in a system that can punish any hesitation on defense. For TCU, the concern is not just scheme fit but depth, with several players already carrying injury questions into the matchup as the Horned Frogs try to build on the Baylor momentum without letting one win turn into a letdown. [Read more 🡒]
TCU Got The Baylor Reset It Desperately Needed Now Comes The Test
A trip to Waco gave TCU the kind of reset it had been chasing after a rough 2-3 start, and it came in a rivalry game that still carried some extra weight. The Horned Frogs beat Baylor 17-6 to get back to .500, grab their first Big 12 win of the season and keep the Bluebonnet Battle trophy in Fort Worth, with Jordan Dwyer piling up 150 receiving yards and Jaden Craig throwing for 294 yards and two touchdowns.
What made the result feel bigger than a simple bounce-back was how cleanly TCU handled the games critical moments on both sides of the ball. The defense took control by making Baylor one-dimensional and taking away the Bears usual edge, while the offense did enough through the air to separate after a slow start to the season. Now comes the harder part for the Horned Frogs, because one rivalry win can steady a team, but it does not answer whether this is the start of a real turnaround. [Read more 🡒]