Why Blake Shapen Is Baylor's Right Answer At QB
Blake Shapen has big shoes to fill come September 3 against Albany. In reality, Baylor's coach wouldn't have made the call this early if he didn't think the quarterback was ready.
Shapen will be the Bears' full-time starter in 2022. He's coming off an intense spring battle with Gerry Bohanon, who led Baylor to a 9-2 record and grabbed a monumental win over then-No. 14 Iowa State and later No. 19 BYU.
But Aranda made it clear from the first practice that Shapen wasn't going to be handed anything. He would have to beat out Bohanon to claim the title of QB1.
It took two weeks, but the challenge is complete for the sophomore gunslinger.
Blake Shapen
Blake Shapen
Blake Shapen
Call it a competition, call it a one-sided show, say whatever you will. The Bears have their starter and he won it fair and square.
The national media might be steering away from Baylor's chances of repeating as Big 12 champs due to what little is known of Shapen, but he's filled in as the part-time starter with ease. When Bohanon suffered a hamstring injury, Shapen kept the ship afloat.
He also kicked it into high gear, helping Baylor average 22 points per outing. Shapen shined against Texas Tech with a pair of touchdown passes to go along with 254 yards. He picked up where he left off a week later against Oklahoma State for the Bears' first Big 12 title since 2014.
Aranda would have kept the hot hand against No. 7 Ole Miss in the Sugar Bowl if not for a shoulder injury. Ah yes, the history of Baylor quarterback and lingering injuries, right?
There is another element to Shapen's game that was missing with Bohanon; consistency in the passing attack. Even in just five games, Shapen was more efficient with his throwing, completing 72.1 percent of his passes and posting a rating of 149.5.
Bohanon's mobility made him a threat on every drive, but there were limitations in his throws. He completed 62.7 percent of his passes for 2,194 yards, 18 touchdowns and seven interceptions in 12 games while adding 323 rushing yards and nine scores on the ground.
It worked for Jeff Grimes's offense because of a three-man rushing attack behind Bohanon. Abram Smith is now with the New Orleans Saints. Tristan Ebner is with the Chicago Bears. Taye McWilliams is set to return with 17 carries to his name,
Blake Shapen
Blake Shapen
Blake Shapen
Shapen offers the best chance for the passing attack to remain relevant this fall. This isn't to say that Bohanon couldn't get the job done, but if looking at consistency elements, Shapen took the cake in spring.
It's a new era in Baylor history. The Bears are a favorite to contend for the Big 12 title once more. Aranda elected to return to Waco after having lucrative offers from top programs this offseason. He also has his quarterback.
The constant turn of quarterbacks at Baylor comes to stop with Shapen. At least on paper, it should.
Want the latest in breaking and insider news for the Baylor Bears? Click Here
Follow Inside the Bears on Twitter
Follow Inside the Bears on Facebook
Cole Thompson is a sports writer and columnist covering the NFL and college sports for SI's Fan Nation. A 2016 graduate from The University of Alabama, follow him on Twitter @MrColeThompson