By Tony Thomas
The Baylor Bears are two seasons removed from hoisting the Big XII Championship Trophy. However, the Bears have posted a 9-16 record since then. In 2024, Head Coach Dave Aranda will now call plays on defense, and new Offensive Coordinator Jake Spavital comes from Cal and will run his high-octane spread offense.
Baylor returns 66% of their production from last season, including their top three running backs, two receivers, two highly productive linebackers, a 2023 Freshman All-American in the secondary, and four members of the offensive line unit that have started games previously for Baylor. So, talent and experience will be present on both sides of the ball.
Coach Aranda went into the transfer portal and found some help to plug holes on the depth chart and find players who can contribute right away. Below are three transfers that will make an impact for the Bears this season.
QB Dequan Finn
Previous School: Toledo Rockets
6’2”, 205 lbs.
The 2023 Verne Smith Leadership Award winner as the Top Player in the MAC, Dequan Finn earned 1st Team All-MAC honors after totaling 3,220 total yards and 29 touchdowns accounted for. Finn completed 63% of his passes and threw nine INTs.
Dequan Finn is ON FIRE 🔥
7 total TDs for the Toledo star, including this BEAUTY to Jerjuan Newton 😤pic.twitter.com/xsyKNs3s8g
— The Transfer Portal CFB (@TPortalCFB) October 15, 2022
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In eight games last season, Finn threw multiple TD passes. He also rushed for a season-high 172 yards and a touchdown in a win over UMass. In a win over Eastern Michigan, Finn passed for a season-high 407 yards and three TDs, completing 85% of his passes.
In his collegiate career, Finn has 6,961 passing yards, 1,840 rushing yards, and 88 total touchdowns to his credit. Finn will battle Sawyer Robertson for the QB1 job, but look for Finn to eventually earn the starting job because of his experience and his dual-threat skills, which will serve him well in Spavital’s offensive scheme.
WR Ashtyn Hawkins
Previous School: Texas State Bobcats
5’10”, 170 lbs.
An Honorable Mention All-Sun Belt selection, Ashtyn Hawkins was 2nd on the Bobcats team with 55 catches for 874 yards and three TDs, averaging 15 yards per catch. Hawkins posted three games of 100 yards receiving, six games of five or more catches, and a season-high 165 yards (20-yard average) in a 77-31 loss to Arkansas State. In his career, Hawkins has 141 catches for 1,745 yards and 11 touchdowns.
A look at Ashtyn Hawkins’ TD. #SWT up 7-0 on #Troy with 7:56 left in the first quarter. pic.twitter.com/pEckd41QIA
— Keff Ciardello (@Keff_C) October 28, 2023
S Kendrick Simpkins
Previous School: Western Kentucky
6’0”, 196 lbs.
A 2nd-Team All-Conference USA selection a season ago, Kendrick Simpkins was third on Western Kentucky with 50 tackles. In addition, he added 10 tackles for loss, 6.5 sacks, eight quarterback pressures, and four forced fumbles. Against Troy, Simpkins recorded five tackles, two tackles for loss, one sack, three QB pressures, and one forced fumble. For his collegiate career, Simpkins has recorded 120 tackles, five forced fumbles, and seven pass breakups on his resume.
Former Western Kentucky safety Kendrick Simpkins has committed to Baylor after taking his official visit earlier this week.
Simpkins should be able to fill in at the STAR position and give another spark to Dave Aranda’s defense.
Pretty fun couple of days in Waco. https://t.co/BTKQg07WbB
— Foster Nicholas (@FosterNicholas_) January 9, 2024
Three of Baylor’s losses last season were by seven points or less. The Bears will have some experience at all levels, but will it be enough? I think with Aranda calling plays on defense, Spavital calling the offense, and Finn pulling the trigger on the field, Baylor can improve in the win column and just maybe get to six or seven wins and become bowl-eligible.
