Baylor Bears
2020 NFL Draft Prospects
Grayland Arnold, S
Career Snapshot: Two-year starter who earned Second Team All-Big 12 honors, finished second in the conference with six interceptions and made 46 tackles (2.5 for loss) with one sack and two pass breakups as a junior in 2019. Missed the first three games of his sophomore season in 2017 with a broken arm and made 35 tackles (three for loss) with one INT and seven PBUs. Played four games in 2018 before he suffered a season-ending ankle injury and took a redshirt season.
Positives: Athletic, explosive safety who comes off a tremendous season. Displays great range, quickly gets out to the flanks and bears down on the play with a burst of speed. Flashes on the scene and displays suddenness and incredible athleticism. Gets vertical and contorts to defend the throw and makes some terrific interceptions. Also a game-breaking return specialist.
Negatives: Hesitant. Inefficient and overruns the action on occasion. Must polish his ball skills. Performed poorly at the Combine.
Analysis: After a nondescript first two seasons with Baylor, Arnold broke out in 2019 and has huge upside. He’s fast and athletic, but he needs a lot of work on his game. Arnold’s ability to impact games as a return specialist could help him find a roster spot as a ninth defensive back this fall.
JaMycal Hasty, RB
Career Snapshot: Two-year starter who was named Honorable Mention All-Big 12, rushed 109 times for 627 yards and seven touchdowns and caught 25 passes for 184 yards as a senior in 2019. Rushed for 434 yards and four TDs on 82 carries and made 26 receptions for 170 yards and one score as a junior. Missed four of the first five games in 2017 due to a sprained knee and missed two games due to injury in 2018.
Positives: Small but explosive ball carrier with the ability to break long runs from the line of scrimmage. Patient, waits for blocks to develop and creates his own yardage. Multi-cut ballcarrier who easily changes direction and doesn’t lose momentum. Fires back against the grain, loses no balance and displays a burst through the hole.
Darts around defenders, makes them miss and beats opponents into the clearing. Runs with proper lean, effectively sets up his blocks and shows the speed to turn the corner. Effectively helps the quarterback sell ball fakes. Gives effort as a blocker.
Negatives: Small and doesn’t break tackles and pick up much yardage off initial contact. Easily brought down at the point of attack.
Analysis: Hasty has been a very productive running back at Baylor the past two years and a consistent pass catcher. He lacks the size to be a feature runner, but he has all the skills necessary to line up as a third-down specialist.
Clay Johnston, ILB
Career Snapshot: Three-year starter who earned Second Team All-Big 12 honors in each of his final two seasons at Baylor. Made 58 tackles (eight for loss) with 2.5 sacks, one interception and five pass breakups as a senior in 2019 before a knee injury ended his season after six games. Made 99 tackles (5.5 for loss) with one sack and two PBUs as a junior. Missed the final four games of the 2017 season due to a sprained foot.
Positives: Tough, hard-hitting linebacker who is best against the run. Shows great awareness, does not bite on play-action passes and anticipates plays. Instinctive, effectively quarterbacks the defense and gets teammates in proper position. Breaks down well, uses his hands to protect himself and quickly locates the ball. Displays the ability to defeat blocks and flows well laterally to the action. Hard hitter who brings opponents down at the point of attack. Fluidly changes direction, gets depth on pass drops and shows ability in zone.
Negatives: Lacks the flat-out speed in pursuit and cannot cut the corners off from running backs. Displays average quickness and was lost to for the season with an injury.
Analysis: Scouts graded Johnston as a potential-late round pick entering the season, but his knee injury and lack of overall speed will likely push him out of the seven rounds. He’s a potential backup inside or middle linebacker, and he’s a two-down defender with some special-teams potential.
Blake Lynch, S
Career Snapshot: Two-year starter who was named Honorable Mention All-Big 12 and made 68 tackles (9.5 for loss) with 4.5 sacks and two interceptions as a senior in 2019. Started 10 games as a junior, including one at safety, and made 47 tackles (four for loss) with 1.5 sacks and one interception. Started three games at wide receiver and two at cornerback in 2017, caught 17 passes for 269 yards and one TD and made 18 tackles with six pass breakups. Made two starts at wide receiver and one at running back as a redshirt freshman.
Positives: Nice-sized defensive back-seven prospect who plays with solid instincts. Remains disciplined, stays with assignments and covers a lot of area on the field. Keeps the action in front of him, fires up the field and gives effort against the run. Plays bigger than his listed size.
Negatives: Lacks next-level speed and comes with average ball skills. Possesses safety size but has linebacker speed.
Analysis: Lynch is a hard-hitting defender who did well at the college level, but he may not possess the physical skills necessary for the NFL. He constantly flies around the action and may have a place as a backup strong safety or even linebacker if he plays well on special teams.
James Lynch, DE
Career Snapshot: Two-year starter who was named Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year, led the conference with 13.5 sacks and made 41 tackles (19.5 for loss) with three forced fumbles and five pass breakups as a junior in 2019. Earned Second Team All-Big 12 honors and made 40 tackles (nine for loss) with 5.5 sacks as a sophomore.
Positives: Game-impacting pass rusher who displayed consistent progress during his career. Breaks down well, plays with terrific pad level and shows a variety of moves to get off blocks. Instinctive, quickly locates the action and slides down the line to make plays on the ball. Nicely redirects to the action and immediately alters his angle of attack. Keeps his feet moving, works his hands and consistently gets leverage on opponents. Can bend off the edge, displays a burst of closing speed and wraps up tackling.
Negatives: Lacks great first-step quickness off the snap. Must improve his strength, as he gets tied up in blocks or out positioned by bigger opponents.
Analysis: Lynch is a developing lineman who has displayed natural pass-rushing skill the past three seasons. He needs to physically mature andadd strength to his game, but Lynch could ultimately be a solid defensive end in a three-man line or even kick inside and be used as a three-technique tackle.
Chris Miller, S
Career Snapshot: Two-year starter who earned Second Team All-Big 12 honors and made 76 tackles (2.5 for loss) with two forced fumbles as a senior in 2019. Named Honorable Mention All-Big 12 and made 67 tackles with one sack as a junior.
Positives: Underrated safety prospect with an outstanding head for the position. Instinctive, quickly recognizes assignments and stays with responsibilities. Rarely makes mental mistakes or gets caught out of position, plays with a tough, aggressive attitude and takes proper angles to the action. Displays the ability to burst to the ball out of his plant and shows solid closing speed. Fires up the field and gives effort against the run.
Negatives: Possesses poor size and speed. Does not display great range in centerfield. Best when the action is in front of him.
Analysis: Despite being graded as a priority free agent entering the season, Miller still does not get the credit he deserves. He’s displayed consistent improvement, has a good head for the safety position and is a tough run defender who can be used in a zone system as well as lineup on special teams.
Denzel Mims, WR
Career Snapshot: Three-year starter who earned First Team All-Big 12 honors and made 66 catches for 1,020 yards and 12 touchdowns as a senior in 2019. Caught 55 passes for 794 yards and eight TDs as a junior. Earned Second Team All-Big 12 honors and made 61 receptions for 1,087 yards and eight scores as a sophomore.
Positives: Large, strong receiver who plays big football. Quickly releases off the line of scrimmage, displays exceptional hand use to separate from defenders and immediately comes free from the snap of the ball more often than not. Plays with balance and body control, displays both focus and concentration and makes the difficult reception with defenders draped on him.
Comes back to the ball out of breaks, extends his hands and offers the quarterback a target. Uses his large frame to shield away defenders. Gets vertical, adjusts and pulls the fastball from the air. Gives effort as a downfield blocker and gets results.
Negatives: Displays limited quickness into breaks. Really does not show a second gear on the field.
Analysis: Mims was a consistent threat for the Baylor offense and had an exceptional week of practices at theSenior Bowl then followed it up with a great Combine workout. He’s a big-bodied receiver on the rise who can be an effective third-down or red-zone target and possesses all the skills necessary to develop into a third wideout.
Chris Platt, WR
Career Snapshot: Three-year starter who caught 24 passes for 353 yards and one touchdown as a senior in 2019. Made a career-high 36 receptions for 511 yards and one TD as a junior. Made 35 catches and set career highs with 567 receiving yards and four scores as a sophomore in 2016. Suffered a season-ending left knee injury four games into the 2017 season and redshirted.
Positives: Slightly undersized receiver who makes a lot of difficult receptions. Agile and nimble and nicely adjusts to the errant throw to make the reception in stride. Comes back to the ball, uses his frame to shield away defenders and exposes himself to the big hit in order to make the catch. Dangerous in the open field, flashes a burst of speed and shows the ability to create yardage.
Negatives: Doesn’t display strong hands and drops some catchable throws. Not a sturdy receiver.
Analysis: Platt is a slot receiver whose main responsibilities at the next level will be as a punt and kick returner.
Bravvion Roy, DT
Career Snapshot: Two-year starter who earned First Team All-Big 12 honors and made 61 tackles (13 for loss) with 5.5 sacks as a senior in 2019. Posted 34 tackles (three for loss) and 1.5 sacks in 2018. Started four games as a sophomore and made 31 tackles (three for loss). Missed four games due to a dislocated elbow in 2016.
Positives: Large space-eating defensive tackle who plays with agility and quickness. Fires off the snap with a quick first step and displays power in his lower body and the ability to bullrush opponents up the field. Attracts double-team blocks and is impossible to move off the point of attack. Stays on his feet and works his hands. Effective when he plays with proper pad level. Displays a solid closing burst and is a force who can be tough to stop.
Negatives: More of a gap occupier than a true playmaker. Too often gets tall in his stance, which neutralizes his size and power.
Analysis: Roy is a big-bodied nose tackle who displayed flashes of dominance all week during Shrine Bowl practices and throughout his Baylor career. He has upside, but he must learn to consistently play with proper fundamentals and, most importantly, play with leverage on each and every snap.
Sam Tecklenburg, G
Career Snapshot: Three-year starter at center who earned Second Team All-Big 12 honors as a senior in 2019. Made two starts at left guard in 2017 before he moved to center full-time. Started two games at tight end as a redshirt freshman and made three receptions for 40 yards and one touchdown.
Positives: Strong, wide-bodied lineman who displays outstanding ability as a position blocker. Bends his knees, blocks with leverage and gets his hands into opponents. Stays square, keeps his feet moving and possesses outstanding vision. Strong enough to turn defenders from the action. Experienced at both guard and center.
Negatives: Minimally effective in motion and when asked to pull across the line of scrimmage. Heavy-footed. Stiff and struggles to adjust.
Analysis: Tecklenburg possesses next-level size and strength, but he’s an average athlete with limited upside.
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