Chafin among many visitors this weekend

He's probably known as the mystery recruit of the Baylor 2012 class. But Burkburnett running back Devin Chafin doesn't mind the label. In fact, he prefers it.

"Actually [the fact that not many people know who I am] is OK with me," Chafin said. "I'm kind of a shy person."

Chafin was scheduled to take his official visit the weekend of Jan. 13. However, the football team's banquet was in conflict. So Chafin re-scheduled for this weekend. That actually turns out to be a better situation for him and Baylor since just about all of the 2012 recruiting class will be in town.

Emerging from the shadows, Chafin followed up his more than 1,000-yard season in 2010 with a very solid 2011 campaign. He finished with 1,246 yards and 17 touchdowns on the ground and added 400 receiving yards and four touchdowns.

But since the time Baylor secured his commitment this past June, a lot of eyes in the community nestled near the Red River started watching Chafin with greater interest.

"It was a good season, but it definitely was different," Chafin said. "I'm such a small area so there was a lot of pressure and more people were interested in what I was doing."

Burkburnett's season ended on a down note when it was eliminated in the Class 3A bi-district playoff round by Abilene Wylie. Chafin left that game when he strained the meniscus in his left knee. However, he said he said he didn't have any procedures performed on it and rehabbed it by going through a rigorous stretching program.

"I really haven't had any problems cutting and moving laterally or anything like that," Chafin said.

Originally, Chafin said he was going to bypass the basketball season and focus on the offseason and prepare for the track and field season. However, the draw of helping return the program back to the state tournament was too much to ignore.

Burkburnett lost in the 2011 state final to Corpus Christi West Oso, 61-57. Chafin is a part-time starter. Burkburnett is in the middle of District 6-3A play.

From there, he will transition to the track season. Finishing sixth in the state meet in the 100 with a time of 10.82, Chafin said he plans on staying with the sprint event but will also add the 200 and be a member of the 4x100 relay team.

Once he committed to Baylor, other schools such as North Texas and Colorado State dropped off. Of course, it's well too early to say what Chafin's immediate future would be with the Bears. It's likely that he would be redshirted since he is moving from a small Texas high school program to a BCS Division I program. An intense strength and conditioning program is sure to be a part of 2012-13.

Chafin attended Baylor's home games against Oklahoma and Texas and just then started to get to know the other members of the signing class. That's why he's looking forward to the upcoming get together.

"I've looked up some of the other recruits, and I got to know Aiavion Edwards a little bit," Edwards said. "It's something that's going to be great with all of these great players."

Chafin said he is meeting all of the academic requirements.