2021 Baylor Bears football team explained

Year:	2021
Team:	Baylor Bears
Sport:	football
Conference:	Big 12 Conference
Short Conf:	Big 12
Coachrank:	6
Aprank:	5
Record:	12–2
Conf Record:	7–2
Hc Year:	2nd
Oc Year:	1st
Dc Year:	2nd
Def Scheme:	Multiple
Champion:	Big 12 champion Sugar Bowl champion
Bowl Result:	W 21–7 vs. Ole Miss

The 2021 Baylor Bears football team represented Baylor University during the 2021 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Bears played their home games at McLane Stadium in Waco, Texas, and competed in the Big 12 Conference. The team was coached by second-year head coach Dave Aranda.

Offseason

Position key

Back	B		Center	C		Cornerback	CB		Defensive back	DB
Defensive end	DE		Defensive lineman	DL		Defensive tackle	DT		End	E
Fullback	FB		Guard	G		Halfback	HB		Kicker	K
Kickoff returner	KR		Offensive tackle	OT		Offensive lineman	OL		Linebacker	LB
Long snapper	LS		Punter	P		Punt returner	PR		Quarterback	QB
Running back	RB		Safety	S		Tight end	TE		Wide receiver	WR

Offseason departures

12 seniors from the 2020 team graduated. No players declared early for the NFL Draft.

+ class="nowrap"	Baylor offseason departures
Name	Number	Pos.	Height	Weight	Year	Hometown	Notes
	5	QB	6’1	210	Senior		Graduated – Transferred to Utah
John Lovett	7	RB	6’0	212	Senior		Graduated – Transferred to Penn State
Jared Atkinson	16	WR	6’3	210	Senior		Graduated
Skyler Wetzel	20	S	5’9	190	Senior		Graduated
Trystan Slinker	35	LB	5’11	222	Senior		Graduated
Gunnar Royer	40	LS	6’2	230	Senior		Graduated
Thor Rodoni	47	LS	6’2	225	Senior		Graduated
Blake Bedier	56	OL	6’5	310	Senior		Graduated
Micael McNair	58	LB	6’2	220	Senior		Graduated
Jake Burton	73	OL	6’6	312	Senior		Graduated
Jay Sedwick	89	K	5'11	211	Senior		Graduated
	99	LB	6’4	248	Senior		Graduated

Recruiting

2021 NFL Draft

NFL Combine

See main article: 2021 NFL draft.

Team players drafted into the NFL

7

240

Washington Commanders

Preseason

Big 12 media poll

Big 12 media poll^[1]
1	Oklahoma	365 (35)
2	Iowa State	351 (4)
3	Texas	273
4	Oklahoma State	266
5	TCU	255
6	West Virginia	185
7	Kansas State	163
8	Baylor	124
9	Texas Tech	103
10	Kansas	39

Spring game

The Bears held spring practices in March and April 2021. The Baylor football spring "Green and Gold game" took place in Waco, TX on April 24, 2021.

Schedule

Schedule Source:^[2]

Personnel

Coaching staff

Dave Aranda	Head Coach	2nd	LSU (DC)
Joey McGuire^‡	Assoc. HC/OLB	5th	Cedar Hill High School (HC)
Jeff Grimes	OC/TE	1st	BYU (OC)
Ron Roberts	DC/ILB	2nd	Louisiana (DC)
Caleb Collins^ƒ	OLB	2nd	LSU Tigers football (Quality Control Coach - Defense)
Shawn Bell	QB	5th	Cedar Ridge High School (HC)
Kevin Curtis	CB	1st	SMU (CB)
Dennis Johnson	DL	2nd	LSU (DL)
Justin Johnson	RB	2nd	Houston (RB)
Eric Mateos	OL	1st	BYU (OL)
Matt Powledge	S/ST	2nd	Louisiana (OLB/ST)
Chansi Stuckey	WR	1st	Clemson (offensive staff)

^‡ On November 8, 2021 and during the middle of the 2021 college football season, Joey McGuire was hired by Texas Tech University to replace the recently fired Matt Wells as the Red Raiders' next head football coach. As such, McGuire departed the Baylor Bears' 2021 football staff immediately and did not finish the season with the Bears.^[3]

^ƒ Collins was promoted in November 2021 to replace Joey McGuire as the Bears' OLB coach.^[4]

Game summaries

At Texas State

See also: 2021 Texas State Bobcats football team.

Uniform Combination
Helmet	Jersey	Pants

Statistics	BU	TXST
First downs	22	20
Total yards	386	235
Rushes/yards	45/238	27/79
Passing yards	148	156
Passing: Comp–Att–Int	15–24–0	20–40–3
Time of possession	34:48	25:12

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Baylor	Passing		15–24, 148 yards
Rushing		20 carries, 120 yards
Receiving	R.J. Sneed	6 receptions, 92 yards
Texas State	Passing	Brady McBride	20–40, 156 yards, 1 TD, 3 INT
Rushing	Jahmyl Jeter	8 carries, 45 yards, 1 TD
Receiving	Marcell Barbee	4 receptions, 56 yards, 1 TD

Vs. Texas Southern

See also: 2021 Texas Southern Tigers football team.

Uniform Combination
Helmet	Jersey	Pants

Statistics	TXSO	BU
First downs	16	33
Total yards	281	714
Rushes/yards	40/161	43/419
Passing yards	120	295
Passing: Comp–Att–Int	12–22–0	19–26–0
Time of possession	27:56	32:04

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Texas Southern	Passing	Jalen Brown	7–12, 96 yards
Rushing	Jacorey Howard	11 carries, 68 yards
Receiving	Ke'Lenn Davis	2 receptions, 45 yards
Baylor	Passing	Gerry Bohanon	17–23, 247 yards, 3 TD
Rushing		12 carries, 126 yards, 2 TD
Receiving		5 receptions, 103 yards, 2 TD

At Kansas

See also: 2021 Kansas Jayhawks football team.

Uniform Combination
Helmet	Jersey	Pants

Statistics	BU	KAN
First downs	29	8
Total yards	576	166
Rushes/yards	45/307	33/109
Passing yards	269	57
Passing: Comp–Att–Int	19–24–0	8–18–0
Time of possession	33:22	26:38

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Baylor	Passing	Gerry Bohanon	19–23, 269 yards, 2 TD
Rushing	Abram Smith	16 carries, 122 yards, 1 TD
Receiving	RJ Sneed	6 receptions, 128 yards, 1 TD
Kansas	Passing		8–17, 57 yards, 1 TD
Rushing	Jason Bean	12 carries, 62 yards
Receiving		2 receptions, 25 yards

Vs. No. 14 Iowa State

See also: 2021 Iowa State Cyclones football team.

Uniform Combination
Helmet	Jersey	Pants

Statistics	ISU	BU
First downs	27	15
Total yards	479	282
Rushes/yards	40/216	33/123
Passing yards	263	159
Passing: Comp–Att–Int	22–33–1	14–19–0
Time of possession	35:39	24:21

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Iowa State	Passing		22–33, 263 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT
Rushing		27 carries, 190 yards, 2 TD
Receiving		7 receptions, 98 yards
Baylor	Passing	Gerry Bohanon	14–19, 164 yards, 2 TD
Rushing	Abram Smith	10 carries, 47 yards
Receiving	R.J. Sneed	4 receptions, 57 yards

At No. 19 Oklahoma State

See also: 2021 Oklahoma State Cowboys football team.

Uniform Combination
Helmet	Jersey	Pants

Statistics	BU	OKST
First downs	10	24
Total yards	280	401
Rushes/yards	29/107	59/219
Passing yards	173	182
Passing: Comp–Att–Int	13–27–0	13–23–3
Time of possession	25:33	34:27

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Baylor	Passing	Gerry Bohanon	13–27, 173 yards
Rushing	Abram Smith	10 carries, 97 yards, 1 TD
Receiving	Drew Estrada	6 receptions, 88 yards
Oklahoma State	Passing		13–23, 182 yards, 1 TD, 3 INT
Rushing		36 carries, 125 yards, 2 TD
Receiving		6 receptions, 110 yards

Vs. West Virginia

See also: 2021 West Virginia Mountaineers football team.

Uniform Combination
Helmet	Jersey	Pants

Statistics	WVU	BU
First downs	24	21
Total yards	362	525
Rushes/yards	38/90	32/171
Passing yards	272	354
Passing: Comp–Att–Int	24–37–1	20–31–0
Time of possession	34:21	25:39

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
West Virginia	Passing		20–31, 237 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT
Rushing		10 carries, 55 yards, 1 TD
Receiving	Winston Wright Jr.	6 receptions, 86 yards
Baylor	Passing	Gerry Bohanon	18–29, 336 yards, 4 TD
Rushing	Abram Smith	11 carries, 87 yards, 1 TD
Receiving	Tyquan Thornton	8 receptions, 187 yards, 2 TD

Vs. No. 19 BYU

See also: 2021 BYU Cougars football team.

Uniform Combination
Helmet	Jersey	Pants

Statistics	BYU	BU
First downs	15	22
Total yards	409	534
Rushes/yards	24/67	47/303
Passing yards	342	231
Passing: Comp–Att–Int	22–31–0	18–28–1
Time of possession	24:24	35:36

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
BYU	Passing		22–31, 342 yards, 1 TD
Rushing		15 carries, 33 yards, 1 TD
Receiving		5 receptions, 168 yards, 1 TD
Baylor	Passing	Gerry Bohanon	18–28, 231 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT
Rushing	Abram Smith	27 carries, 188 yards, 3 TD
Receiving	Tyquan Thornton	5 receptions, 84 yards

Vs. Texas

See also: 2021 Texas Longhorns football team.

Uniform Combination
Helmet	Jersey	Pants

Statistics	TEX	BU
First downs	18	23
Total yards	382	427
Rushes/yards	29/102	42/199
Passing yards	280	228
Passing: Comp–Att–Int	23–38–1	19–32–2
Time of possession	27:06	32:54

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Texas	Passing		23–38, 280 yards, 2 TD, 1 INT
Rushing		17 carries, 43 yards, 1 TD
Receiving		4 receptions, 115 yards, 1 TD
Baylor	Passing	Gerry Bohanon	18–31, 222 yards, 2 INT
Rushing	Abram Smith	20 carries, 113 yards, 1 TD
Receiving	RJ Sneed	8 receptions, 94 yards, 1 TD

At TCU

See also: 2021 TCU Horned Frogs football team.

Uniform Combination
Helmet	Jersey	Pants

Statistics	BU	TCU
First downs	17	27
Total yards	393	562
Rushes/yards	36/179	35/94
Passing yards	214	468
Passing: Comp–Att–Int	14–20–2	30–42–0
Time of possession	29:36	30:24

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Baylor	Passing	Gerry Bohanon	14–20, 214 yards, 3 TD, 2 INT
Rushing	Abram Smith	18 carries, 125 yards
Receiving	Tyquan Thornton	5 receptions, 121 yards, 2 TD
TCU	Passing		29–41, 461 yards, 2 TD
Rushing	Chandler Morris	11 carries, 70 yards, 1 TD
Receiving		5 receptions, 142 yards, 1 TD

Vs. No. 8 Oklahoma

See also: 2021 Oklahoma Sooners football team.

Uniform Combination
Helmet	Jersey	Pants

Statistics	OKLA	BU
First downs	17	24
Total yards	260	414
Rushes/yards	28/78	27/297
Passing yards	182	117
Passing: Comp–Att–Int	14–25–2	12–21–1
Time of possession	24:41	35:19

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Oklahoma	Passing		10–19, 146 yards, 2 INT
Rushing		13 carries, 51 yards, 1 TD
Receiving		4 receptions, 53 yards
Baylor	Passing	Gerry Bohanon	12–21, 117 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT
Rushing	Abram Smith	20 carries, 148 yards
Receiving	Tyquan Thornton	4 receptions, 41 yards, 1 TD

At Kansas State

See also: 2021 Kansas State Wildcats football team.

Uniform Combination
Helmet	Jersey	Pants

Statistics	BU	KSU
First downs	22	12
Total yards	387	263
Rushes/yards	48/174	21/105
Passing yards	213	158
Passing: Comp–Att–Int	25–35–0	15–30–1
Time of possession	35:54	24:06

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Baylor	Passing		16–21, 137 yards
Rushing	Trestan Ebner	12 carries, 68 yards, 1 TD
Receiving	Tyquan Thornton	5 receptions, 75 yards
Kansas State	Passing		15–29, 158 yards
Rushing		11 carries, 128 yards, 1 TD
Receiving		1 reception, 48 yards

Vs. Texas Tech

See also: 2021 Texas Tech Red Raiders football team.

Uniform Combination
Helmet	Jersey	Pants

Statistics	TTU	BU
First downs	16	25
Total yards	386	434
Rushes/yards	28/124	50/180
Passing yards	262	254
Passing: Comp–Att–Int	15–24–0	20–34–0
Time of possession	22:34	37:26

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Texas Tech	Passing		15–23, 262 yards, 2 TD
Rushing		14 carries, 40 yards, 1 TD
Receiving	Travis Koontz	5 receptions, 117 yards, 1 TD
Baylor	Passing	Blake Shapen	20–34, 254 yards, 2 TD
Rushing	Abram Smith	30 carries, 117 yards, 1 TD
Receiving	Trestan Ebner	4 receptions, 118 yards, 1 TD

Vs. Oklahoma State (Big 12 Championship)

See also: 2021 Big 12 Championship Game and 2021 Oklahoma State Cowboys football team.

Uniform Combination
Helmet	Jersey	Pants

Statistics	BU	OKST
First downs	15	26
Total yards	242	333
Rushes/yards	33/62	40/70
Passing yards	180	263
Passing: Comp–Att–Int	23–28–0	32–47–4
Time of possession	28:37	31:23

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Baylor	Passing	Blake Shapen	23–28, 180 yards, 3 TD
Rushing	Abram Smith	17 carries, 63 yards
Receiving	Tyquan Thornton	6 receptions, 71 yards, 1 TD
Oklahoma State	Passing	Spencer Sanders	31–46, 257 yards, 4 INT
Rushing	Spencer Sanders	13 carries, 33 yards
Receiving	Tay Martin	9 receptions, 88 yards

Vs. Ole Miss (Sugar Bowl)

See also: 2022 Sugar Bowl (January) and 2021 Ole Miss Rebels football team.

Uniform Combination
Helmet	Jersey	Pants

Statistics	BU	MISS
First downs	12	20
Total yards	319	322
Rushes/yards	279	138
Passing yards	40	184
Passing: Comp–Att–Int	7-17-1	17-34-3
Time of possession	28:24	31:36

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Baylor	Passing	Gerry Bohanon	7–17, 40 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT
Rushing	Abram Smith	25 carries, 172 yards
Receiving	Drew Estrada	2 receptions, 14 yards
Ole Miss	Passing		15–28, 174 yards, 1 TD, 2 INT
Rushing		12 carries, 65 yards
Receiving		9 receptions, 104 yards

Notes and References

1. Web site: Oklahoma Tops Big 12 Football Media Preseason Poll . big12sports.com.
2. Web site: 2021 Baylor Bears Football Schedule. FBSchedule. February 9, 2021.
3. Web site: What we know about Joey McGuire, the Baylor assistant becoming Texas Tech's new head coach. 7 January 2022. November 8, 2021. Lubbock Avalanche-Journal. en.
4. Web site: Baylor FB promotes Collins to outside linebackers coach. 7 January 2022. November 27, 2021. Baylor-Department-of-Athletics. en.