Fansided
Fansided

College Football Preview: Baylor Bears

By Eric Robinson

Sep 26, 2015; Waco, TX, USA; Baylor Bears wide receiver KD Cannon (9) celebrates a touchdown against the Rice Owls during the game at McLane Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 26, 2015; Waco, TX, USA; Baylor Bears wide receiver KD Cannon (9) celebrates a touchdown against the Rice Owls during the game at McLane Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
2 of 7
Next
Oct 24, 2015; Waco, TX, USA; Baylor Bears running back Shock Linwood (32) after 6-yard touchdown catch against the Iowa State Cyclones during the first half at McLane Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Ray Carlin-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 24, 2015; Waco, TX, USA; Baylor Bears running back Shock Linwood (32) after 6-yard touchdown catch against the Iowa State Cyclones during the first half at McLane Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Ray Carlin-USA TODAY Sports /

2015 Season Recap

An offensive reputation was already established with the Bears but the 2016 season helped further entrench why Baylor is lethal on offense week in and week out. The season started with QB Seth Russell as the starter. Russell was well on his way to a fantastic season with 2,104 yards, 29 TDs, and only six interceptions in seven games until he suffered a nasty neck injury that ended his season. The team turned Jarrett Stidham who proceeded to toss for 1,265 yards and 12 touchdowns in just three starts. Unfortunately, he suffered an injury that put him out after three games and third-stringer Chris Johnson closed out the season.

The team also had two 1,000 yard rushers in RB Shock Linwood (1,329 yards, 10 TDs) and RB Johnny Jefferson (1,000, 8). The two ball carriers plus receiver KD Cannon (50 catches, 868 yards, six TDs) along with 2016 first round receiver Corey Coleman (74, 1,363, 20) helped mold the Baylor offense to first overall in the entire country in total offense, first in scoring offense, 24th in passing offense, and second in rushing offense.

The defense didn’t have a ton to hang their hat on but the unit as a whole did rank 21st in the nation in takeaways and the unit also had four defenders with at least 13.5 tackles for loss in defensive linemen Jamal Palmer, Andrew Billings, Shawn Oakman, and linebacker Taylor Young.

The team didn’t suffer their first loss until mid-November in a 10-point loss to Baker Mayfield and the Oklahoma Sooners. Back-to-back losses to instate rivals TCU and Texas eliminated any chances of a New Year’s Day bowl and the team “settled” for a spot in the Russell Athletic Bowl in which they defeated the North Carolina Tar Heels by a score of 49-38 to end the season 10-3.

Next: Coaching Staff

Home/College Football