Saturday Blitz
Fansided

Baylor football: 3 second-year players who’ll become stars in 2023

By Connor Muldowney

Sep 3, 2022; Waco, Texas, USA; Baylor Bears head coach Dave Aranda cheers for this team during the first quarter against the Albany Great Danes at McLane Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 3, 2022; Waco, Texas, USA; Baylor Bears head coach Dave Aranda cheers for this team during the first quarter against the Albany Great Danes at McLane Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
2 of 3
Next
NORMAN, OK – NOVEMBER 5: Running back Craig Williams #0, tight end Kelsey Johnson #87, and running back Richard Reese #29 of the Baylor Bears take the field for a game against the Oklahoma Sooners at Gaylord Family Oklahoma Memorial Stadium on November 5, 2022 in Norman, Oklahoma. Baylor won 38-35. (Photo by Brian Bahr/Getty Images)
NORMAN, OK – NOVEMBER 5: Running back Craig Williams #0, tight end Kelsey Johnson #87, and running back Richard Reese #29 of the Baylor Bears take the field for a game against the Oklahoma Sooners at Gaylord Family Oklahoma Memorial Stadium on November 5, 2022 in Norman, Oklahoma. Baylor won 38-35. (Photo by Brian Bahr/Getty Images) /

Baylor did add North Texas tight end transfer Jake Roberts this offseason but the Bears are losing Ben Sims and Drake Dabney is coming off an injury so his status for the start of the season is uncertain. He may not be quite 100 percent which would open the door for Kelsey Johnson.

Johnson was third on the depth chart last season as a true freshman and could see a rise this spring with Dabney on the mend and Roberts learning the offense.

Although Johnson isn’t the biggest tight end at 6-foot-2 and about 220 pounds, his athletic potential is intriguing. He was a track star in high school and ran relays so he has plenty of speed and could create mismatches for the defense. Imagine a linebacker trying to guard a speedy tight end like Johnson.

The former three-star from Texas was the No. 545 overall recruit and 29th-best tight end in the 2022 class, according to the composite.

He’s facing a big opportunity this spring to rise on the depth chart and I think he’ll do just that.

Home/Baylor Bears