Linwood to Baylor
Turns out, recruiting is a contact sport. When Linden-Kildare specialist Rashodrick Linwood, a then-TCU commit, visited Baylor last week, it was enough for him to know that he needed to be in Green and Gold instead of Purple and White.
Given the long history between these two old Southwest Conference schools, which will be reunited in the Big 12 starting this fall, expect these head-to-head battles to become even more intense than in previous years.
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Committed to the Horned Frogs since June, Linwood changed his verbal commit to the Bears. Verbal commitments are non-binding. The first day recruit can sign a national letter of intent is Feb. 1. Linwood is the 21st member of Baylor's highly-acclaimed class.
And it certainly was the momentum Art Briles' program enjoyed going into an important visitor weekend in Waco.
"It was the right decision for me overall,'' Linwood said. "I'm very happy.''
Baylor's recruiting class is probably looking to add about three more. Currently, the Linwood addition has the Bears ranked No. 32 in the nation. This group is still on pace to be arguably the best since recruiting services came into existence.
Linwood camped with Baylor in June and worked in a variety of positions between the secondary and the offense. He said he's looking at slot back or running back. But given his flexibility, don't discount the idea that defensive coordinator Phil Bennett could lure him away.
For Linden-Kildare, Linwood rushed for 2,107 yards and 25 touchdowns. That was enough for his teammates to call him "Shock". That's what Baylor is expecting when he arrives in June.
"I really like the coaches and how they treat their players,'' Linwood said. "I can't wait to graduate in May and get down there.''