The Athletic names Baylor football's most important transfer portal addition for 2025
The Athletic recently named the most important transfer portal addition for every Power Four team. When it came to the Baylor Bears, there was one name that stood out among the rest. That's FIU transfer LB Travion Barnes.
The 6-foot, 243-pound linebacker was one of the top defenders in the country in 2024. Playing for FIU, Barnes finished fifth in the country recording 129 tackles. Earning 2024 Conference USA Defensive Player of the Year, Barnes averaged over 11 tackles per game.
Now with the Bears, Barnes will form a powerful duo with LB Keaton Thomas. In 2024, Thomas led Baylor's defense, racking up 114 tackles, seven TFLs, and 2.5 sacks. Thomas was one of the top defenders in the Big 12 last season, and now Baylor could have arguably the top duo in the conference.
Head coach Dave Aranda knows his offense could be on the best in the Big 12, but he will need his defense to step up and play well against some of the best scoring threats in college football. Adding a guy like Barnes will help stop some of the better running backs in the conference, and Barnes also has the ability to drop back in coverage to help the secondary.
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Trent is the Publisher of Baylor Bears on SI and also serves as the Managing Editor for Michigan Wolverines on SI. His work has additionally been featured on Maryland on SI, Wisconsin on SI, and across the USA TODAY Sports network. Trent’s love of sports and being able to tell stories to fans is what made him get into writing.