Texas Week 4 Opponent Preview: Baylor Defensive Players To Watch

A vetern feel and uptick of proven talent via the transfer portal could have Baylor returning to Arlington come December.

Dave Aranda spearheaded a defense in Baton Rouge that helped LSU win a national title. Two years later, his meticulous and play designs led Baylor to a Big 12 title and top 10 finish in the AP Polls.

Now, the Bears need a morale win to keep pace in the Big 12 for 2023.

Baylor's offense has struggled to find consistency. Defensively, play has been mixed. No. 11 Utah was held to a season-low 20 points, but did rack up 337 yards of offense. FCS Long Island managed to find the end zone once, but the Bears allowed over 140 rushing yards.

Texas will feature a more aggressive offense headlined by the duo of Quinn Ewers and Xavier Worthy. While the No. 3 Longhorns made headlines in Week 2 following a 34-24 win against Alabama, they struggled to find consistency in a 31-10 win over Wyoming.

Worthy's 44-yard touchdown grab broke the tie at the start of the fourth quarter, but 42 yards came after the catch. Ewers rushed in a 5-yard touchdown a drive later, but he also missed three throws over 20 yards downfield.

McLane Stadium has presented troubles for Texas in recent years. Since 2009, the Longhorns are 3-4 in Waco, being outscored 177-176. The Bears are currently riding a two-game win streak dating back to 2019 and are looking for a third and final strikeout.

Will it come at the hands of a defensive shutout?

Follow along with LonghornsCountry.com as we preview every aspect of Texas' matchup with the Bears throughout the week. Before diving in, here's a quick overview of the essential things to know before kickoff in Waco come Sept. 23.

Now, let's look at the key players to watch for on Baylor's defense.

© Scott Wachter, USA TODAY

Defensive Leaders

DL Gabe Hall

Leading big man Siaki Ika will now be lining up on Sundays for the Cleveland Browns. That doesn't mean Hall, a 6-6 hybrid defender who can line up all over the trenches, won't be a sufficient upgrade. He remains a stalwart defending the run, but has only recorded one sack through three games. Hall also has five tackles, three of which were behind the line of scrimmage.

EDGE Bryon Vaughns

Vaughns actually began his career at Texas before electing to enter the transfer portal. After two years and a handful of tackles at Utah State, Vaughns is back in the Big 12, this time playing on the opposing sidlines. He leads the Bears with sacks (2) and ranks second in tackles for loss (2.5)

LB Mike Smith

Smith, a transfer from Liberty, has continued to produce since joining the squad this offseason. Last year with the Flames, the 6-1 senior notched 85 tackles, 10 tackles for loss and a sack. He was limited against Long Island but did total at least five tackles — including a season-high of eight against Utah — in his first two contests.

CB Caden Jenkins

A true freshman from Lewisville, Jenkins already has carved out a role as the team's starting boundary cornerback. He's had his struggles, allowing two touchdowns in coverage against Texas State, but he does possess the most upside. Against Utah, Jenkins broke up a pass in the end zone intended for Thomas Yassmin, leading to a turnover on downs.