Baylor misses out on key 2026 prospect to rival Big 12 team
Baylor took a tough loss on the recruiting trail on Tuesday when four-star Chase Campbell picked Texas Tech over Baylor. The Wolfforth (TX) Frenship playmaker kept his cards close to the vest, but the Red Raiders came out on top in the end.
According to 247Sports, Campbell ranked 156th nationally, 20th-best WR in Texas. It's a position of need for the Bears, as they will lose a few key playmakers after this season.
BREAKING: Four-Star WR Chase Campbell has Committed to Texas Tech, he tells me for @rivals
— Hayes Fawcett (@Hayesfawcett3) July 22, 2025
The 6’2 190 WR from Wolfforth, TX chose the Red Raiders over Baylor & Kansas State
He’s ranked as a Top 60 Recruit in the ‘26 Class (No. 8 WR) per Rivalshttps://t.co/34Ts89aMWl pic.twitter.com/lpr2yojBEl
Baylor Bears' On SI writer Josh Crawford broke down what Baylor is missing out on after Texas Tech landed Campbell over the Bears.
Analysis: Dynamic field stretcher. A glider in the open field that easily separates vertically, but also with releases, route stems, and in-breaking routes. Elite athletic pedigree, with his father being a 3-year starter and standout safety at Baylor who also started for the Bears’ 1996 basketball squad. Meanwhile his mother is one of the program’s most decorated female athletes, the 1999 NCAA triple jump champion who’s now the associate head coach for Baylor’s track and field program. Smith himself plays DB along with receiver, and crossed the 1,000 point threshold in basketball in January for his high school team. Natural hands catcher that can secure balls away from his frame and pull in errant throws despite average length and build. Shows toughness and willingness to work in the middle of the field, take big hits, and still move the chains. Need to see more crispness and intentionality with his route-running, often winning at the high school level with his agility and speed. Does appear to be able to identify zone coverage, being able to sit in windows and find holes in different zones.
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Josh began covering Baylor athletics in July 2025. Before this, he previously wrote for Syracuse men's basketball and football at SI from 2022-24. As a former Division I defensive lineman at Prairie View, Josh is passionate about storytelling from a former athlete's perspective. When he's not covering Baylor, he enjoys traveling, listening to podcasts and music, and loves cooking a good meal.