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Because of the NCAA's rules regarding immediate eligibility for graduated seniors transferring in their last year, the news that former Michigan WR Darryl Stonum will be allowed to play for Baylor this season is not a huge surprised. The fact that it was sorted out relatively quickly-- only a few days into fall camp-- is still welcome news. Stonum will get plenty of practice time to learn Baylor's offense, which uses no playbook as most appreciate the concept, and establish a rapport with starting QB Nick Florence. I would also expect him to become the immediate starter at KR and the first true impact player we've had there since Willie Andrews roamed the turf of FCS.
Stonum's biggest impact, I think, will be in bolstering what is now probably one of the deepest individual units in the country. Baylor now has the following players with significant experience vying for playing time at WR (last collegiate season stats in parenthesis):
Terrence Williams -- SR -- 59 receptions, 957 yards, 11 TDs.
Lanear Sampson -- SR -- 42 receptions, 572 yards, 3 TDs
Tevin Reese -- JR -- 51 receptions, 877 yards, 7 TDs
Darryl Stonum -- SR -- 49 receptions, 633 yards, 4 TDs
That's 3000 yards and 25 TDs from 4 guys in their last years. All will get significant time in Baylor's offense this year with, I think, Williams and Stonum starting on the outside and Reese and Sampson locking down the interior.
Behind those guys wait Jay Lee (6-3, 205, RSFR), Antwan Goodley (5-10, 220, SO), Levi Norwood (6-1, 190, SO), and Corey Coleman (5-10, 180, FR). And this is just receivers, I'm not even including TEs Jordan Navjar (6-6, 260, JR) and Jerod Monk (6-5, 275, SR) or RB Lache Seastrunk (5-10, 205, SO), who I expect to see brought out of the backfield quite a bit to take advantage of his incredible speed.
With all due respect to the 2010 Bears receiver corps that included future high draft picks in Kendall Wright, Josh Gordon, and Terrence Williams, I think this might be the most talent Baylor has ever put on the field at receiver in its history. This is a special group.
Oh, and before anyone asks, no, Baylor hasn't heard anything about Shawn Oakman's eligibility yet. His is a much more difficult argument to make than Stonum's, but Baylor is apparently hopeful. We'll see.