Baylor Football Report Card: Three Positions Earn 'A' Grade From Win vs. Iowa State
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After a slow start, the Bears found a way to take over against Iowa State, winning 42-31 on Homecoming. While some position groups struggled, others stepped up and helped Baylor secure the win.
Quarterback: A
DJ Lagway finished the game with 229 passing yards, going 16-for-28 with two touchdowns. He also added 119 rushing yards and a touchdown on the ground.
With Lagway fully healthy, Baylor's offense has a different dimension, as his ability to make plays with his legs makes him a major threat for opposing defenses.
Wide Receivers: B+
The wide receivers came up with a few explosive plays, including a 62-yard touchdown reception from Taz Williams. Gavin Freeman led the group with six catches for 60 yards, while Dre'lon Miller added one reception for 32 yards. Louis Brown IV finished with two catches for 17 yards, and Jadon Porter hauled in one pass for six yards.
Running Backs: B
Ryelan Morris led the running backs with 50 yards on nine carries and found the end zone twice. Caden Knighten added 26 yards on seven carries, while Michael Turner finished with 11 yards on just two attempts. It wasn't a very productive day for this group outside of Morris' two touchdowns, but they were still able to contribute to Baylor's offensive success.
Tight End: A
Tony Livingston made an impressive one-handed grab in the end zone and finished the game with three receptions for 49 yards and a touchdown. Livingston has been a productive piece of Baylor's offense over the past two games, and his recent performances have made him a reliable target in the passing game.
Offensive Line: B
The offensive line did its job and helped create some big plays for the Bears. While the running game was never dominant, the blocking on designed runs for Lagway was solid and helped open up opportunities for him to make plays with his legs.
Defensive Line: C+
The defensive line was able to create some good pressure at times, but struggled to slow down Iowa State's rushing attack. The Cyclones finished with 216 rushing yards. Running back Aiden Flora picked up 182 of them. While the Bears had some success getting into the backfield, they struggled to consistently stop Flora and the Iowa State ground game.
The Bears' defense finished with three sacks and nine tackles for loss, showing it could create pressure and disrupt Iowa State's offense. However, the Cyclones' rushing attack caused problems throughout the game.
Linebackers: C
Travion Barnes led the linebackers with eight total tackles, a sack, and a tackle for loss. With the Cyclones picking up 216 yards on the ground, the linebackers aren't receiving a good grade for their performance.
Secondary: C+
Iowa State was able to pick up 256 passing yards and two touchdowns through the air. There were some positives, but it wasn't a great performance for this group.
Special Teams: A
No field goals were attempted by Rhett Armstrong, but he went 6-for-6 on extra points. Palmer Williams had six punts, averaging 43.7 yards per punt, and pinned the Cyclones inside their own 20-yard line twice.
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Grant is a writer for Baylor Bears on SI with a focus on Baylor football and basketball. He is a Texas A&M Sport Management graduate and longtime Baylor fan who has followed the Bears closely for more than a decade. His passion for sports drives him to find the stories, stats, and perspectives that matter most to Baylor fans
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