Baylor Football: Can Bears maintain momentum under new coach in 2020?

Defense will be facing huge test with nine starters to replace

Most fans and analysts like to mock the Big 12 for not playing any defense and while that does have merit, Baylor had the best defense in the conference last season and one of the more underrated units in the country.

The Bears will have to answer a lot of questions on this side of the ball however, because nine starters are no longer in Waco and defensive coordinator Phil Snow left with Matt Rhule for the Panthers. As I have said perviously, don’t expect a huge drop-off because Dave Aranda is one of the best in the business defensively.

Baylor will have to replace the leading pass rusher James Lynch who was also Big 12 defensive player of the year who had 13.5 sacks last season. Baylor will also have to replace the rest of the defensive line.

Sophomores TJ Franklin and Gabe Hall are two of the projected starters for the Bears up front and this season will be the first time that either of them has faced significant playing time. Chidi Ogbonnaya will be a name to watch up front. Another significant point to make is that Baylor will be transitioning from a 4-3 defense under Snow to a 3-3-5 alignment under Aranda.

The leader of the defense will be linebacker Terrel Bernard, who was an All-Big 12 selection last year after he finished with 112 tackles and 4.5 sacks. He was an excellent player for the Bears last season and should be in for another all-conference type season.

One name to keep an eye on will be Arkansas State transfer William Bradley-King, who had 8.5 sacks and 13.5 tackles for loss last season. This is the most talented unit on the Baylor defense and the one that should see the least amount of drop-off.

The secondary will be missing last years interception leader Grayland Arnold, who is now in the NFL, and they will be looking to senior cornerback Raleigh Texada to lead the group. Junior Kalon Barnes and junior JT Woods will be counted on to make major strides with so much production in the secondary gone.