Baylor Bears 2023 Early Signing Day Wrap: Who Makes an Early Impact on Offense?
The Baylor Bears signed more than 20 new players Wednesday and even with elite quarterback prospect Austin Novosad flipping to the Oregon Ducks, plenty of talent is headed to Waco to play for Dave Aranda next year.
The Bears have holes to fill and need to take a big step up offensively to improve on a 6-6 2022 record, so which of these newcomers will see the field next year?
1.) OL Campbell Barrington
The Bears have to replace the entirety of their starting offensive line and all-Big 12 performers like Connor Galvin and Jacob Gall. No matter how much talent they brought in from the high school ranks, the Bears were always going to need experience up front, which is what they are getting from BYU transfer Campbell Barrington.
Barrington was a Freshman All-American in 2021 and was putting together another stellar season in 2022 when thumb surgery cut his season short. Barrington is a big, physical tackle at 6'6" and 295 pounds and his Cougars team only allowed 12 sacks all season.
2.) WR Ketron Jackson
It seems obvious that a transfer with major college football experience would have a much better chance of starting or playing a role than true freshmen. The Baylor Bears are no different with Barrington and Arkansas transfer receiver Ketron Jackson.
Jackson has seen steady playing time and production in two seasons in Fayetteville, appearing in all of the Hogs' 13 games as a freshman in 2021 and had 16 receptions for 277 yards and three touchdowns in eight games this season. Before committing to Arkansas, Jackson was recruited heavily to Baylor and he slots in well to the outside receiver need the Bears have, especially with Seth Jones in the transfer portal. Don't be surprised if Jackson and Hal Presley are the starting outside receivers for quarterback Blake Shapen next year.
3.) TE Matthew Klopfenstein
Horizon (AZ) High School tight end Matthew Klopfenstein is probably the most college-ready skill position freshman the Bears signed Wednesday. At 6'6" and 226 pounds, Klopfenstein looks every bit of a college tight end already and produced like one on the field. On top of being a quick and physical run blocker, Klopfenstein hauled in 42 catches for 652 yards and six touchdowns and was named his team's MVP.
Baylor has a good duo of tight ends already with Kelsey Johnson and Drake Dabney, the latter of whom is coming off a broken fibula suffered in October. Klopfenstein will see plenty of first team reps in the spring and with the way the Bears sub in tight ends, Klopfenstein can see a good amount of playing time, especially considering his versatility as a blocker and pass-catcher.
4.) RB Bryson Washington
By no means will Washington be the plow horse Richard Reese was as a true freshman in 2022, but Washington will get some touches. The two-time state champion at Franklin (TX) has a ton of upside who is a physical runner with excellent open-field speed and will remind plenty of Baylor fans of his running mate Richard Reese.
Washington is physically ready for the college game at a shade under six feet tall and 200 pounds, but it's not the physicality that concerns me. Washington is ready to go on that front, but the adapting and the running back room might keep Washington on the sidelines. He ran exclusively out of the I formation in high school and will have to adjust to a single back set, without the benefit of two speedy blocking backs directly ahead of him. Also, the Bears will have a formidable attack with Reese, Taye McWilliams and likely Sqwirl Williams in the backfield. That said, no one had heard of Reese before the season and he was the starter by week three.
5.) OG Sean Thompkins
Covington (GA) product Sean Thompkins and Isaiah Robinson are absolute beasts and are the future of Baylor's offensive line. I think Robinson might be the best overall player the Bears signed Wednesday, but they might need Thompkins pretty much right away. With Micah Mazzccua hitting the transfer portal, the Bears are in need of a guard and they need one fast.
Thompkins chose Baylor over basically the entire SEC and at 6'4" and 331 pounds, he is a monster already. With that size and strength, his agility is pleasantly surprising, which allows him to play guard and tackle. With the versatility to play tackle down the line.
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