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Yesterday, Baylor held its first Junior Day of the 2016 cycle beginning in the early afternoon and extending through until about 4:00 PM CST. The recruits visited McLane Stadium, toured the practice and weightroom facilities, tried on a few jerseys and helmets, and generally enjoyed themselves meeting with players and coaches. From the look of things, Art Briles was a predictably popular picture subject, as was his son Kendal Briles (our newly-minted Offensive Coordinator).
2015 Recruiting:
Before I get into the 2016 visitors, we should note that Baylor hosted an official visitor this weekend in the form of Arp DE Tyrone Hunt, who publicly affirmed his commitment today and became our 19th (and probably final) commit of the 2015 class. I've posted his links and info in the January Recruiting Thread, but here it is again for good measure:
DE: Tyrone Hunt (HUDL)
This is Baylor's first (and almost certainly only) defensive line recruit in the 2015 class and one that I really like. He's got a great frame at 6-5, 240 and a first step that makes you dream on what could be down the road. It's going to take time for him to put on weight and steel himself for the rigors of the Big 12.
Before that visit even started on Friday, Baylor also got another big of great news with the commitment of Shreveport CB Henry Black. We'd been looking for another CB to add to the class for quite a while and finally landed one over Texas Tech. Here's his links:
CB: Henry Black (HUDL)
In all likelihood, Black and Hunt will mark the end of our 2015 class and all we have to handle now is poachers looking to fill their own classes.
2016 Recruiting:
Even though they fall in the closing days of the previous cycle, the first Junior Day marks, for all intents and purposes, the real beginning of the following one. Though offers have already gone out to many recruits and some have already visited unofficially, this is the first time that recruits from the class to come receive the full attention of the staff and meet en masse.
Attendees:
To say that Baylor brought in a star-studded group yesterday is to delight in understatement. I posted a pretty lengthy (but incomplete) list in the Primer/Open Thread Friday night, so I won't do it again. Some of the bigger names include 4* S Eric Monroe, the Duvernay brothers Devin and Donovan, Arkansas DE McTelvin Agim, in-state DEs Isaiah Chambers and Mark Jackson, behemoth DT Michael Williams, OT J.P. Urquidez, 2017 QB Chris Robison, WR Jeremy Smith, and all of our current commits (listed below).
As you can see from the tweets, they had a pretty incredible time.
New Commits:
For Baylor the biggest news of the day, obviously, was our first commit on the defensive line. Around 3:30, DE/DT Jordan Elliott of Westside HS in Houston, Texas made the call for the Bears with a rather memorable tweet:
Committed to Baylor ✊ pic.twitter.com/QkHwsRymkg
— Humble N Hungry⚡️ (@jw3st95) January 31, 2015
(Briles would shortly confirm with his customary #DreamBigDreamBaylor2016 tweet.) His profile links:
There's little doubt that Baylor will hit the trenches hard in this cycle considering we didn't in 2015, and that could mean as many as a half-dozen defensive linemen alone. Elliott is a huge first step in that direction as a current DE that will likely move to DT as he continues to grow.
New Offers:
Baylor put out or confirmed three new offers yesterday to 2016 and 2017 recruits:
CB/S Kenan Ivy
WR/DB Donovan Duvernay
RB Toneil Carter (2017)
To be honest, I'm surprised there weren't more given the talent Baylor had there, but that's likely due to the fact that most of the top guys already had offers. We might see a few more go out over the coming days and after the 2015 class is signed, sealed, and delivered on Wednesday.
Tweets:
Had a great time today at Baylor! #BU Sic"Em Bears... pic.twitter.com/A3vBHyH3I2
— #2 (@jaytoonch) January 31, 2015
BGOD #SicEm pic.twitter.com/b56oXIAtJ8
— Uncle Julio (@mike_williams52) January 31, 2015
Had a great day at Baylor! I love their coaching staff and everything they have to offer! #SicEmBears pic.twitter.com/qySFX5sKmI
— Greg Eisworth II (@G_Eisworth11) January 31, 2015
Baylor Junior Day was pic.twitter.com/BdxiTUx1Jn
— Q B S Z N (@OfficialChris_R) January 31, 2015
Really enjoyed Baylor's Junior Day. Had a great time. #SicEmBears pic.twitter.com/okdE4ZKsIc
— ThePowerHouse (@BraylonJones_52) January 31, 2015
Baylor was A1 with my dude @BGKofiBoateng ! pic.twitter.com/9yd1LcMSE4
— ⚡️Tope Imade⚡️#⃣6⃣7⃣ (@TopeImade) February 1, 2015
SIC'EM pic.twitter.com/yvRaLzvgmP
— McTelvin Agim (@So_Splash) January 31, 2015
The cars @1kendallwright & @TerranceWill2 pulled up in today caught my attention, they cool people too. #Foreigns
— McTelvin Agim (@So_Splash) January 31, 2015
#SicEmBears #1 pic.twitter.com/GpH9D2h5LH
— GrindtimeE (@IBallLikeMelo_) January 31, 2015
— GrindtimeE (@IBallLikeMelo_) February 1, 2015
Me and the 409 was live yesterday pic.twitter.com/Jr5b93kOmG
— Grayland Arnold Jr™ (@GRAYLAND_1) February 1, 2015
BU was great #SicEm pic.twitter.com/Vb2OSoABnN
— CB13 (@chrissoo_valid) February 1, 2015
Baylor showed mad love today . #SicEmBears pic.twitter.com/cSUGCBKJmF
— Toneil Carter (@CarterToneil) February 1, 2015
Really enjoyed my visit today!! Great experience & sparked a great bond with some very important people!! #SicEm pic.twitter.com/G2ZrB8g55B
— Dontavious Jackson5⃣ (@DCinco__5) January 31, 2015
BAYLOR IS THE BEST COLLEGE IVE SEEN ✅ pic.twitter.com/FNbiRSk9dk
— 7⃣6⃣ (@ShowtimeWoo) January 31, 2015
I could go on, but I think you get the point. Baylor made a huge impact yesterday in what could be the start of an incredible recruiting class. Here's where things stand now for the 2016 Class:
QB: Zach Smith (HUDL)
RB: Kameron Martin (HUDL)
WR: Tren'Davian Dickson (HUDL)
OL: Patrick Hudson (HUDL)
DT: Jordan Elliott (HUDL)
CB: Grayland Arnold (HUDL)