DONE DEAL; Baylor football completes multimillion dollar Deal with New Quarter Back

There’s a lot of new for Baylor Football in 2024: a new (but familiar) offensive system, a new starting quarterback, newly redesigned uniforms, and a sparkling new football development center for the Bears to call home. As the Bears look to climb after a challenging 2023 season, signs abound that much has changed since last year.

Let’s start with the offense: The spread is back. When looking for an offensive coordinator last December, head coach Dave Aranda sought someone who brought “excitement, creativity and explosiveness.” He found that in Jake Spavital, the former Texas State head coach who has led offenses at Cal, West Virginia and Texas A&M. At those stops, he built a reputation as a top offensive mind with an up-tempo spread attack that should look familiar to longtime Baylor fans.

Leading that offense will be one of the nation’s top QB transfers, Dequan Finn. Finn earned MVP honors in the Mid-American Conference (MAC) last year as he led Toledo to the MAC Championship Game. The Athletic listed Finn among the best available quarterbacks in the transfer portal, and he brings a dual-threat playmaking ability to the 2024 Bears. Alongside Finn will be a strong group of running backs in Richard Reese, Dawson Pendergrass, Dominic Richardson and Bryson Washington, as well as a veteran receiving corps led by Monaray Baldwin and Ketron Jackson.

On the defensive side of the ball, Aranda has taken a more active role that hearkens back to his days as one of the nation’s top defensive coordinators at LSU and Wisconsin. Second year defensive backs Caden Jenkins and Carl Williams, alongside veterans like linebacker Matt Jones and pass rusher Garmon Randolph, are part of an experienced defensive unit looking to build on last year.

All in all, there’s plenty for fans to watch for as they see how the offseason improvements are implemented by this year’s team. The first of six home games at McLane Stadium takes place Saturday night at 6 p.m. against Tarleton (on the 10th anniversary of McLane’s opening), other highlights include a Homecoming matchup against Oklahoma State on October 26 and the rivalry game with TCU on November 2. Tickets are on sale now!

Sic ’em, Baylor Football!