Baylor keeps Billings home in Waco
Baylor was one of the first programs to offer Waco High DT Andrew Billings, doing so on a Junior Day in early March of 2012. Nearly a calendar year later -- and dozens more offers for Billings -- Baylor landed the verbal commitment from the local product, less than 24 hours before National Signing Day.
Suffice it to say it was worth the wait for Baylor, which hosted Billings on his final official visit. But it was a long, strenuous process for Billings, who only found relief once he made his announcement live on ESPN 1660 AM in Waco.
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"My last visit, they kind of showed me what they had to offer, in academics, and the team there," Billings said on air. "I fit very well there, and the coaches, I'm really comfortable with."
TCU and Texas also made it into the top three for Billings, the 12th-ranked defensive tackle in the country and ranked 168th in the the Rivals250. Some schools, including the Longhorns, recruited Billings as an offensive lineman, but he told the radio station his home will be on defense.
"I'm going to be on the defensive side of the ball at Baylor," Billings said.
The addition of Baylor pushed Baylor's recruiting class to 26th overall in the team rankings, though that of course is subject to change as the final pieces come together before National Signing Day tomorrow.
Interestingly enough, Billings said he originally planned to leave his hometown of Waco and play college football elsewhere. But as his relationship grew with Baylor, his preferences began to change.
"As I got to know more about Baylor," he said, "they kinda showed me the options I had there, and I saw myself (playing) there very well, better than the rest of the colleges. The factor of staying in Waco was biting me, but once I got over that, I kinda realized that Baylor was the place for me."
Defensive tackle had been an area that past Baylor recruiting classes just hadn't adequately addressed. Landing a top 250 player changes that. And doing so by holding off in-state competition from rivals makes this commitment an even greater recruiting victory for Baylor.