Baylor Football: 3 instant impact signees from 2020 class

Baylor football has just the No. 54 class in the country coming in for 2020, but Dave Aranda can use some of that fresh talent to contribute right away.

Matt Rhule’s departure from Baylor was shocking but it also seemed like a long time coming. He had turned down previous NFL head coaching offers to remain with the program and he wanted to wait until he turned Baylor around to leave it in a good place. He did just that.

Taking over is Dave Aranda who was the national championship-winning defensive coordinator for LSU and had been a highly sought-after coordinator for years.

Despite taking over a team that went to a Sugar Bowl — and lost to Georgia — the Bears bring in only the No. 54 recruiting class in the country and ninth-best in the Big 12. He will have to squeeze some potential out of the class, but it’s there.

Which signees will have an immediate impact for Baylor in 2020?

Jahdae Barron is the second-highest rated signee in Baylor’s 2020 class and he the top non-early enrollee. He’s listed as the No. 346 overall prospect and 24th-best cornerback in the class, according to 247Sports, and you can bet Dave Aranda is excited to utilize new defensive talent.

Baylor was in the middle of the pack nationally in terms of passing yards allowed per game a season ago and it’s losing Grayland Arnold and Chris Miller from the two safety spots as well as Jameson Houston at cornerback. Barron could come in right away and fill a void even if he has less time to do so than if he was enrolled early.

The Austin-native is listed as a cornerback, but even 247Sports states that he has the flexibility to move to safety at the collegiate level with his size and speed. He stands 5-11 and weighs in at 175 pounds with plenty of room for growth.