Baylor Football: 3 position battles to watch during spring ball

Consistent protection of the backfield

Baylor has had one of the worst offensive lines over the past few years. The Bears ranked 117th in the country last year, giving up 31 sacks on the season.

They also haven’t had a member of an All-Big 12 team come from the offensive line, since Kyle Fuller in 2016.

The veteran: LG Xavier Newman-Johnson

Newman-Johnson was a part of the first Matt Rhule recruiting class and was the highest-rated recruit of the class, according to 247.

Regardless of inconsistencies, Newman-Johnson has been a starter all four years and is using his COVID-19 year to return and start for a fifth consecutive year.

Newman-Johnson showed a ton of potential, being the starting center and left guard as a freshman, getting the experience, while being undersized.

However, his injuries have hampered him and he is hoping to have consistent play and health, in order to have the potential of an NFL draft pick.

The X-Factor: RT Grant Miller

In a much-needed boost, the Bears were able to snag Vanderbilt OL Grant Miller out of the transfer portal. Getting immediate starters from the portal is not an anomaly with the position as UCLA OL Jake Burton transferred to Baylor last summer and started for the Bears.

The Vanderbilt standout had offers from Florida State, Texas Tech BYU, Arizona State among others, before making his pledge to the Bears.

Miller started 29 games for the Commodores, including 11 as a sophomore and 10 as a junior.

Miller becomes an instant starter and garners experience to help a unit that needs to be consistent, in order to move the ball on offense.

Breakout Star: LT Connor Galvin

Although being a junior, Galvin has been thrown into the fire and has been one of the few consistent players in the unit.

Galvin has 23 starts over the previous three seasons, where he has been at left tackle for all 23.

The tackle positions look to be intact, with Miller and Galvin having combined for 52 starts. Xavier Newman-Johnson is in his fifth year with the program and has 23, but has struggled with injuries.

The C and RG positions are massive wildcards, with players like seniors JohnCarlo Valentin, Mose Jeffrey, and Khalil Keith all jockeying for the spots.