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Baylor Football: Will Bears make another jump under Matt Rhule?

By Matt Workman

WACO, TX - OCTOBER 28: Head coach Matt Rhule of the Baylor Bears looks on as Baylor plays the Texas Longhorns in the first half at McLane Stadium on October 28, 2017 in Waco, Texas. Texas won 38-7. (Photo by Ron Jenkins/Getty Images)
WACO, TX - OCTOBER 28: Head coach Matt Rhule of the Baylor Bears looks on as Baylor plays the Texas Longhorns in the first half at McLane Stadium on October 28, 2017 in Waco, Texas. Texas won 38-7. (Photo by Ron Jenkins/Getty Images) /
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LUBBOCK, TX – NOVEMBER 24: Quarterback Charlie Brewer #12 of Baylor football scrambles with the ball during the first half of the game against the Texas Tech Red Raiders on November 24, 2018 at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by John Weast/Getty Images)
LUBBOCK, TX – NOVEMBER 24: Quarterback Charlie Brewer #12 of Baylor football scrambles with the ball during the first half of the game against the Texas Tech Red Raiders on November 24, 2018 at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by John Weast/Getty Images) /

Offense builds around Charlie Brewer

Any discussion of the Baylor offense must begin with Charlie Brewer. After being forced into playing as a freshmen due to injuries and sharing time with Jalen Mclendon in 2018, the junior goes into the 2019 season as the undisputed leader of the offense. Brewer threw for 3,019 yards and 19 touchdowns last year while splitting time under center.

The much-maligned offensive line will have to replace two starters from 2018. Even with those losses, the line is expected to be improved from last year. They came together towards the end of the season and was a much better unit than the one that started the season.

Expect to see starting center Sam Tecklenburg move to guard and Clemson-transfer Jake Fruhmorgen take over at center.

Running back and wide receiver have deep and talented groups returning a lot of production from 2018. In fact, Baylor returns their top three rushers from a year ago in John Lovett, JaMycal Hasty and Trestan Ebner. The trio combined for 1,420 yards and 11 touchdowns in 2018.

At receiver, Baylor will look to replace Jalen Hurd, their leading receiver in 2018. The leading candidate for this is senior Denzel Mims who led the team in 2017 with 1,087 yards and eight touchdowns before the arrival of Hurd. Other receivers to keep an eye on as contributors will be senior Marques Jones, freshman Tyquan Thornton and freshman Josh Fleeks.

Replacing Jalen Hurd

Hurd was the workhorse for the Baylor offense in 2018. Along with being the leading wide receiver, he was also the primary short yardage and goal line back. He was automatic going across the middle on slant or crossing patterns to gain valuable yards for the Bears last season.

This year, a name to watch to replace that production is Jared Atkinson. He’s a junior who is one of the few 2016 recruits who stuck with Baylor following the dismissal of Art Briles.

In short yardage and goal line situations, the Bears will look to sophomore Abram Smith. He is coming back from knee injury that kept him out all of 2018 but after an impressive spring the coaching staff is excited about what he can bring to offense.

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