Linebacker Options
With the Baylor coaching staff parting ways with Mesquite Horn's D.J. Green, it puts the staff back in the market for another linebacker.
Given that it's October, the coaching staff may want to infuse more immediate help from the JUCO ranks than go into the high schools. They did that last year with Eddie Lackey.
We reached out to Rivals JUCO expert Brad Hoiseth on who could be some possible names the staff could evaluate.
He gave us this list and I added some color:
* Samson Faifili, American River College (5-11, 240. 4.5): He's got a great motor and doesn't take plays off. A little short but the speed is impressive. Faifili has an interesting offer list including Oregon State. He's taking an official visit to Corvaillis this weekend.
*Auston Johnson, El Camino C.C. (6-1, 235, 4.7): The speed is a bit of a concern because you'd like it to be about 4.6. However, he does have a Texas A&M offer, which just came in last week. This is his second year at El Camino. His numbers in 2011 didn't impress at 19 total tackles. But there's something there if an SEC program is getting involved.
* Enriquel Florence, Contra Costa College (6-1, 240, 4.6): The size and speed grab your attention and with Arizona State already in the mix, there's no question he can help a BCS school. What you like about him is that he is in the offensive backfield making plays. In 2011, he had seven tackles for loss and a QB sack.
*Ian Seau, Grossmont C.C. (6-4, 240, 4.65): Yes, he is related to the late NFL great. He is Seau's nephew. Seau originally signed with Kansas State in 2011 but had to go the JUCO route. Hoiseth called him, "a freak". Here's why: He has 41 tackles and 13.5 sacks.
-- Kevin Lonnquist
Cajuste all but eliminates Baylor
It appears Baylor and Victor Valley (Calif.) CC DT Abens Cajuste are moving in different directions nearly two months after Cajuste said Baylor was in his top five.
"It's been two or three weeks since I've talked to (Baylor assistant coach Jim) Gush," Cajuste said Thursday night. "I'm still thinking about them."
He may be thinking about the Bears, but no visit is in the plans. That's not the case for a few other schools.
"I have a new offer from Illinois and I'm really liking them," he said. "But I'm still weighing my options. I've got three schools that will get a visit: Illinois, Kansas State and Western Kentucky."
Expect Baylor to continue to address the DT position. But don't expect Cajuste to be among the targeted players.
-- Jake Shaw
Baylor Blood Lines
Football is in the blood for Abilene, Texas defensive end Jake McMillon. Before him, his father played at Abilene Christian, his uncle at Baylor, and his grandfather at TCU. So it comes as no surprise that the 6-3, 225-pound defender is quickly attracting attention for his play on the gridiron.
His play on the gridiron and in camps has already piqued the interest of several college programs. This summer McMillon camped at Texas Tech, TCU, Texas A&M, and Baylor, and was scheduled to attend a Texas camp but a hamstring pull kept him out.
However the camp season was a success, and McMillon learned a lot from the experience.
"TCU was kind of like a combine and then we broke up into positions. Those coaches knew what they were talking about," McMillon said. "I liked that a lot. The Baylor camp was more about position work and I got a lot out of that camp. A&M, I learned a lot about A&M as well and did some combine stuff too."
This fall he is focused on his season, but he has been able to take a few unofficial visits.
"It's been pretty good. I've gone out to a Baylor game, TCU game, and an SMU game," McMillon said. I"t was really nice. I really enjoyed all of them. I liked the Baylor one a lot and the TCU one. TCU has that new stadium. It was pretty cool. I enjoyed that."
With so many ties to so many programs, he did not really grow up with a favorite, but one school may have a bit of an ace up their sleeve.
"I have not had a favorite school, but my sister goes to Baylor so she's kind of pushing them a little bit," McMillon said.
While he did not have a favorite growing up or one now, staying in Texas is something he would like to do. He also has a few more qualities he is looking for in a future college program.
"I guess I'm looking for facilities and to have a good relationship with the coaches," McMillon said. "Academically, I'm not quite sure what I want to do but that's going to be key as well."
McMillon has been a varsity starter for the Eagles since his freshman season, and was a first-team all-district selection as a sophomore. He is once again off to a fast start as a junior helping Abilene High to a 5-0 start in 2012.
-- Jason Howell
Big 12 Weekend
A look at the upcoming weekend action involving the Big 12 along with their TV listings. All times are central.
Kansas (1-3, 0-1) at No. 7/8 Kansas State (4-0, 1-0)
11:00 a.m. Saturday, Bill Snyder Family Stadium, Manhattan, KS. (FX)
The Skinny: The Wildcats return from their bye week from and should be ready to roll over their outmanned intrastate rival. Kansas also had a bye week. The Jayhawks are trying to get all elements in better condition.
Iowa State (3-1, 0-1) at No. 13/15 TCU (4-0, 1-0)
2:30 p.m. Saturday, Amon Carter Stadium, Fort Worth, Texas (Fox Sports Net)
The Skinny: On Thursday, TCU's gameplan completely changed when quarterback Casey Pachall was indefinitely suspended for his DWI arrest on Wednesday. That means redshirt freshman Trevone Boykin takes over and runs the offense. Per Patterson, Pachall is expected to be on the sidelines for the game, but there might be the concern his presence could become a distraction. Meanwhile, Iowa State quarterback Steele Jantz could be playing for his job. He struggled against Texas Tech last week throwing for 73 yards and three interceptions. TCU has won all three lifetime meetings with the Cyclones.
No. 14/17 Oklahoma (2-1, 0-1) at No. 24 Texas Tech (4-0, 1-0)
2:30 p.m. Saturday, AT&T Jones Stadium, Lubbock (ABC/ESPN/ESPN 2)
The Skinny: Perhaps the first quarter will demonstrate where the Sooners are mentally. They haven't won in Lubbock since 2003. But Texas Tech is 1-6 at home in Big 12 play under Tommy Tuberville. QB Landry Jones is battling a confidence problem. Texas Tech's defense is No. 1 in the nation at 167.5 yards per game, but faces its best opponent of the season.
No. 7/8 West Virginia (4-0, 1-0) at No. 9/11 Texas (4-0, 1-0)
6:00 p.m. Saturday, Darrell K. Royal Texas Memorial Stadium, Austin (FOX)
The Skinny: Texas will try to use its physical running game to slow the tempo but will have to do it without RB Malcolm Brown (ankle). Still, the defense has yielded its share of big plays. That might be ideal for West Virginia and Heisman Trophy leader Geno Smith who has been dynamic through this part of the season. The Longhorns have got to hit him and make him uncomfortable or else they are in trouble.
Baylor and Oklahoma State have the week off.
-- Kevin Lonnquist
Emptying the Notebook
*Livingston athlete Chevoski Collins will be announcing his commitment decision at 10:00 a.m. Monday in the media room of the Livingston Fieldhouse. Rivals regional analyst Jason Howell speculates that Texas has the lead for Collins but as recently as last week, Collins has included Baylor among his finalists.
* 2014 Mount Pleasant wide receiver KD Cannon will be traveling to Austin this weekend for the Texas-West Virginia game. However, his father, Keith said that interest in Baylor remains high. There was also some speculation that Cannon could be announcing his decision around this time. However, that is not the case, his father said. There is the strong possibility that Cannon will be in Waco for the TCU game on Oct. 13. He already visited for the SMU game on Aug. 31.
-- Kevin Lonnquist
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