It's hard to win in college football without upper-classmen leadership. Unlike the NFL, you don't just plug in a few guys and the team is instantly better. In college, players must be developed. Very few 18 year olds just walk on campus and contribute (Robert Griffin a notable exception).Today let's look back at Baylor's 2005/2006 classes to see what might have been and also to trace some potential struggles back to this time.
2005
The Bears were coming off a 3 win season, the most notable was the overtime upset of the aggies in Waco. That win was the game Coach Morris was going to see to recruits as a sign Baylor was on the rise.
The Hits:
Joe Pawelek, Antonio Jones, Jordan Lake, Jason Lamb, Jordan Hearvy, Trey Bryant
These were the guys who came in and are now contributing heavily. These guys have all started significant amounts of games. Pawelek and Lake have both garnered All-Conference honors of some kind.
The Misses:
Carl Sims, Shon Brown, Lequantum McDonald, Queito Teasley
The first three on this list absolutely destroyed what could have been a decent class. Sims got playing time as a true freshman but left the program early. Shon Brown never made it to campus due to grades and McDonald played one series before a questionable chop block ended his season and left the program. All three of these guys were Waco High products and was a sign that Morriss was finally tapping the local talent pool (a huge criticism of Steele was that he couldn't do this). In the long run, the loss of Sims and Brown were partially offset by depth at the WR and LB positions but McDonald leaving left Baylor with depth issues at an already weak position.
Also Noted:
Blake Szymanski, Mikail Baker, Jeremy Williams, Justin Akers
Blake obviously started almost every game in 2007 and holds several Baylor passing records (throwing up in my mouth). He was considered a "steal" in this class. He's turned out to be a failed starter but in Briles' system has looked better and can be a decent back-up. The other three played heavily this year and should be contributing a ton next season.
There were other players in the class that either didn't make it to campus or didn't contribute or last long if they did. Now let's take a look at the 2006 class..
2006
This was Morriss' most successful season. Baylor had just won 5 games and more than one conference games since the inception of the Big 12. During the season the Bears had lost two heart breakers in overtime to aggie and Oklahoma both on the road. This was the kind of tangible success Morriss was selling going into the recruiting season.
As it turned out, this class turned out to be his worst due to kids not making it to campus or showing up and then leaving due to injury or disciplinary reasons.
The Hits
Jay Finley, Antareis Bryan, Ernest Smith
Yup, that's the list. Finley showed this year that he's going to be a force the next two seasons and Bryan started some games as a true freshman and played well this year before getting hampered with injuries. Smith emerged as a really good receiver and better than more heralded David Gettis.
The Misses
Greg Carlson, Dylan Hagans, Adrian Johnson, Jeremy Michel, Reid Prince, Ben Randle
Notice that this list includes 3 OL that are not on campus right now. Hagans and Prince left due to career ending injuries and Michel transferred before this season. Adrian Johnson went the junior college rout and will be suiting up in College Station next season. He is a DT, so his never being here really hurt this past season and will hurt on the D-Line next season. Carlson made it to campus and found a way to get kicked off the team before August practice begun. Randle stayed two season before leaving Waco.
Also noted:
Tim Atchison, Justin Fenty, Brad Taylor, Jeremy Sanders, David Gettis
I'm putting Gettis in this group because of his clearinghouse issues. He's on track to be one of the most disappointing recruits in Baylor history. He's got all the physical tools you could want but just hasn't been the monster down the field we hoped he'd be. Fenty and Taylor both have contributed and provide depth at the receiver position. Sanders signed and then went to junior college. He returned this season and saw limited action as a running back. Atchison got stuck behind Lake and before him, Dwain Crawford. He showed some things this year as a CB when depth was an issue.
The real problem was guys not getting to campus or then leaving before they could make an impact. Names like Roman James, James "Garfield" Hicks, and Tyler Beatty come to mind. These to classes led ultimately to the demise of Morriss. He couldn't keep players around long enough to help. He had particularly bad luck with offensive linemen, having two quit due to injury.
At the end of the day, Briles is having to build depth due to the 2005/2006 classes being decimated. Let's all hope he does a better job of keeping and developing his guys.
