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#1 JUCO Guard Branton Autry Commits to Baylor over Arkansas, Oklahoma, and Florida

Baylor filled a big position of need going into 2016 tonight when JUCO guard Branton Autry, the former Florida commit, committed to the Bears.

By Mark C. Moore
Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports

Because Baylor loses four of five starters after this season, with center Kyle Fuller the only holdover, possibly the biggest question mark on the entire team going into 2016 is the offensive line.  That whole situation got a little less dire tonight with the commitment of JUCO Branton Autry, the #1-rated guard in the country for the 2016 class according to 247Sports.  Briles broke the news in typical fashion:

With 6-5, 320-pound Autry, who was formerly committed to Florida until last month and holds offers from a myriad of schools including Oklahoma, Kansas State, Arkansas, Missouri, and Ole Miss, in the fold, Baylor now has 18 commits in the 2016 class.  Autry should compete for a starting position immediately with Blake Blackmar and/or Rami Hammad, and his commitment fills a tremendous need in this class for an impact JUCO lineman.

HUDL won't let me embed his highlight videos for whatever reason, so we'll have to make do with a link to their stuff that you can peruse at your leisure.  He looks like exactly the kind of road-grading mauler that Baylor loves to bring in at guard.  Believe me when I say this is one of the biggest possible commits-- and not just in size-- we could get at this point as Baylor looks to rebuild its offensive line going forward.

Here's our class as it stands right now at 18 commits:

Offense:

QB: Zach Smith
RB: Kameron Martin
WR: Jared Atkinson
WR: Devin Duvernay
WR: Tren'Davian Dickson
WR: Denzel Mims
OT: Patrick Hudson
OT: JP Urquidez
OL: Branton Autry (JUCO)

Defense:

DT: Bravvion Roy
DE: Micheal Johnson
LB: Deonte Williams
CB: Grayland Arnold
CB: Donovan Duvernay
CB: Raleigh Texada
CB: Rajah Preciado
S: Chris Miller
S: Kenan Ivy

I'm betting we have about 5-6 spots left in this class to fill with at least 1 HS DE, 1 JUCO DE (if we can get one), a HS/JUCO LB, another OL, and possibly another DT (again, if we can get one).  Maybe even both varieties of LB, now that I think about it.

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