Baylor football: Top 3 Bears prospects for 2022 NFL Draft
By John Scimeca
2. Jalen Pitre, S
As a safety, Jalen Pitre became the first Baylor player in school history to return two interceptions for touchdowns in one season.
The Stafford, Tex. native was the Bears’ only representative among first-team All-Big 12 honorees from 2020 after leading the team with 60 tackles for the season. His 13 tackles for loss also led the Bears last year.
Pitre has seen playing time at linebacker as well as safety. The redshirt senior has been named to the Academic All-Big 12 teams for each year he’s been in Waco, as well.
NFL teams like guys who can defend wideouts in pass coverage and come up to stop the run, both things that Pitre does for the Bears.
Baylor’s defense, too, faces some of the most high-powered offenses in the nation by competing in the Big 12. Head coach Dave Aranda has entrusted Pitre with the “star” position, a hybrid linebacker-safety role in a defense that looks to continue improving in 2021.
The 6-foot, 197-pound safety will hope to repeat his 2020 All-Big 12 performance this fall for the Bears.