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When College Football Meets the Tour de France

By Glenn Adams

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - DECEMBER 02: Caleb Williams #13 of the USC Trojans stands in the pocket during the third quarter of the PAC-12 Championship football game against the Utah Utes at Allegiant Stadium on December 02, 2022 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Utah Utes won 47-24. (Photo by Alika Jenner/Getty Images)
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - DECEMBER 02: Caleb Williams #13 of the USC Trojans stands in the pocket during the third quarter of the PAC-12 Championship football game against the Utah Utes at Allegiant Stadium on December 02, 2022 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Utah Utes won 47-24. (Photo by Alika Jenner/Getty Images) /
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Green Jersey, Fastest Sprinter (Maillot Vert)

Finally, the Green Jersey is given to the “fastest” rider in the peloton. He is not there for the overall victory but to win stages and bunch sprints on flat days. Serendipitously, the fastest player in college football also wears green.

The nation’s reigning fastest man in college football is Baylor wideout, Monaray Baldwin. It is fitting that a player who dons green on Saturdays would be chosen as the college player to represent the green jersey of the Tour de France.

According to Reel Analytics, Monaray Baldwin hit a blazing 22.8 mph on the field last season.

The Sophomore speedster had 33 catches, 565 yards, four receiving, and one rushing touchdown in 2022. He also returned nine kickoffs for a 16.3-yard average.

There is nothing deceptive about his speed, however. Baldwin will not make too many ankle-breaking jukes worthy of football And-1 mixtapes. But he is so fast that he does not need to. He can simply outrun defenses in both the pass and run game while also effortlessly creating space when running routes.

https://twitter.com/espn/status/1477502767044304896

And as with all the leader jerseys on this list, sprinters need help from teammates, particularly from what is known as a lead-out man. Bladwin’s lead-out man is quarterback Blake Shapen. Hopefully, the two can get on the same page early and often and lead Baylor to team success.

Baldwin hopes to have a big junior year for the Bears. Better production with his speed will have NFL scouts’ radars up if he can improve upon his 2022 season.

Of course, speed and being the fastest person on the football field is something players pride themselves on. So, there will be competition for this title during the season. But for now, Baldwin is a deserving recipient of college football’s version of the Green jersey.

So how did we do? If you fall into the Venn Diagram of people who are cycling and college football fans, is there a player more fitting for one of the Tour de France’s leader jerseys? Let us know.

You can catch the Tour de France on NBC Sports, Peacock, and USA Network in the United States starting Saturday, July 1st.

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