Six Players Baylor Bears Should Target in NCAA Transfer Portal
More than 3,000 players entered the transfer portal in 2021-22 cycle and after less than a single day in this year's cycle, the number of players testing the waters projects to be just as high as last year. The Baylor Bears haven't been portal vultures under Dave Aranda, but it could be a weapon for them this offseason.
Before I get into the players who we could see in green and gold next year, I should preface this by saying a lot of who Baylor attracts from the portal will become more clear when they hire a defensive coordinator. The Bears need a lot of help and experience on defense, specifically on the defensive line, and that will hinge a lot on the style the new coordinator implements and he could attract some of his own players if he is coming from a power five program.
With that out of the way, let's take a very early look at who the Baylor Bears should be targeting on day one of 45 of the transfer portal season.
Cam Kelly - Defensive Back (North Carolina)
With safety Devin Neal's surprise entry into the transfer portal over the weekend, Baylor suddenly needs to replace a starter in the defensive backfield. With Christian Morgan and Mark Milton graduating and Al Walcott weighing his option to use up his last year of COVID eligibility, the Bears need a slot corner, a safety, a STAR and some physicality on the back end. North Carolina's Cam Kelly can check all those boxes.
Kelly has played corner and safety for Mack Brown and probably projects better at safety at the next level. Kelly was third-team All-ACC in 2021 and had four interceptions in a dazzling season. Kelly is also a really physical player whose size (6'2", 210 lbs) and speed make him a great fit at the STAR position or as a blitzing defensive back like at safety or slot corner. He enters the portal with four years of experience and plenty of success, but the caveat is he could still enter the NFL Draft.
Demon Clowney - Defensive End (Ole Miss)
Demon Clowney hasn't had a glistening career at Ole Miss through his first two years in Oxford, but has so much potential. Clowney, whose cousin is former All-American and No. 1 overall NFL draft pick Jadeveon Clowney, was an absolute stud in high school in Baltimore. In 2019, he was one of the top defensive line recruits in the nation and drew the attention of every major SEC program.
Before committing to Ole Miss, Clowney was committed to LSU for six months, hoping to play for Tigers defensive coordinator Dave Aranda. Baylor's pass rush was a mess in 2022 and replaces much of the defensive line. The Bears certainly need more help at defensive tackle rather than defensive end, but the edge rushers are the ones hitting the portal so far. With Clowney already having an existing relationship with Aranda and with knowing Baylor's coach has a plan for Clowney, this could be the fit both sides need.
Also on the edge, look out for Andre Carter at Western Michigan. He doesn't have the ties Clowney does, but he has had an ultra-productive career with the Broncos, much like Jaxon Player had at Tulsa, for what that's worth.
Justin Wright - Linebacker (Tulsa)
Dillon Doyle's graduation leaves a huge hole for Baylor in the middle of the field not only for his hard hitting, but also for his experience and leadership on the defensive side. If the Bears look to the Tulsa Golden Hurricane for the second straight year, they could fill some of the voids with grad transfer linebacker Justin Wright.
Wright has had a great career at Tulsa, gobbling up 101 tackles this season and collecting 27.5 tackles for loss the last two seasons. Wright was overlooked coming out of Abilene Cooper and is already getting serious interest from other big-time programs, most notably from the Oklahoma State Cowboys.
LaDarius Henderson - Offensive Guard (Arizona State)
Last offseason, Baylor fans were ecstatic when the entire offensive line returned to Waco after a stellar season. This is the downside of it because one year later, the Bears have A TON to replace. Waxahachie product LaDarius Henderson did not get a lot of power five looks out of high school because he only started playing football as a junior, but proved himself as a true freshman when he started for the Sun Devils in 2019.
Henderson is a three-year starter at Arizona State and enters the portal with one year of eligibility left. Originally intending to enter the NFL Draft, a hand injury that knocked him out of the second half of this season may force him to play another year in college. There is still the threat he gets drafted, but Baylor could use a strong, experienced guard for its power-rushing attack.
Jeremiah Byers - Offensive Tackle (UTEP)
More obvious than the need for a guard, the Bears will be searching for a stud at tackle to replace Connor Galvin's terrific career. UTEP's Jeremiah Byers played mostly at right tackle but looks to have the skill and the size to bully rushers on either side.
Byers is an Austin native and is a monster at 6'6" and 331 pounds and was an honorable mention for all-Conference USA in 2021 before turning it up a notch in 2022. Byers played all 12 games for the Miners this year and UTEP garnered more than 2,000 rushing yards on the season and had one of the most stout lines in the conference. In an intriguing public interest note, according to UTEP's website, Byers' father is Shadow Creek (TX) High School head coach Kevin Drones, meaning his half brother is Kyron Drones, Baylor's backup quarterback who is also in the transfer portal.
Eli Stowers - Quarterback (Texas A&M)
Ok, this one might be a little far-fetched, but I am going to give it a shot. Baylor needs another quarterback and they really need one for depth reasons. With Drones in the portal and uncertain to return, the Bears will likely have only two scholarship quarterbacks to start 2023, Blake Shapen and true freshman Austin Novosad. While the coaching staff will likely be in search of a more experienced, possibly graduate transfer quarterback, Stowers is a tasty proposition.
In terms of experience in the quarterback room, Shapen will have already played a full season as the starter. While Stowers hasn't played at A&M, he has been practicing for an SEC program and learning under the guidance of a once-renowned quarterback mind in Jimbo Fisher. Stowers was an elite recruit out of Denton Guyer in 2021 and the 19-year-old is still only a redshirt freshman. Stowers had the major programs flocking to him in high school and, while it was under a different regime, the Baylor Bears were the first school to offer him all the way back in 2018.
There is a familiarity there, a stability in the coaching staff he didn't have at A&M and the prototype of an athletic, sure-handed quarterback that fits Aranda's and Jeff Grimes' style. Plus, Stowers sees a power five program that can compete for a conference championship and that he could potentially win a quarterback battle this spring. It's so crazy, it might just work.
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