National Signing Day 2010: Introducing Baylor's Newest Bears (Slideshow)

It’s official; head coach Art Briles’ Baylor Bears football team has 23 commitments for 2010, with one being ranked in the ESPNU 150.

Of the 23 recruits that have committed to Baylor, all have signed with the team and three are junior college transfers (along with another Robert Griffin donning green and gold next season).

Check back tomorrow evening for a complete opinionated grading breakdown of Baylor’s 2010 Recruiting Class, but for now let’s go ahead and take a look at the newest Bears…

Troy Baker

Baker, an offensive lineman out of Connally H.S. (Texas), comes to the Bears in 2010 ranked number 35 at his position.

“Troy has a lot of passion for a player at a high level,” Briles told Baylor’s official athletic site. “He is certainly going to contribute to this program. It’s also a great bonus to add a local player; it’s good for Waco and it’s good for his family and the people who respect Troy.”

Photo Courtesy of Rivals.com

Luke Burleson

Burleson, an offensive lineman out of Allen H.S. (Texas), joins a solid group of 2010 Baylor Bears and is ranked number 74 at his position.

“Luke is a prototypical Big 12 offensive lineman,” Briles told Baylor’s official athletic site. “He is big, physical and comes from a great high school program. He is exactly what we are looking for from an offensive lineman.”

Photo Courtesy of Rivals.com

Tuswani Copeland

Copeland, a defensive back out of MacArthur H.S. (Oklahoma), is ranked number 127 at his position as he embarks upon a college journey with the Bears in 2010.

“Tuswani is a guy that we think is part of an outstanding portion of our recruiting this year, the defensive secondary,” Briles told Baylor’s official athletic site. “He is just athletic, he flips his hips quick and just understands the game.”

Photo Courtesy of Rivals.com

Kedrick Dial

Dial, a defensive end out of Sulphur Springs H.S. (Texas), is ranked number 104 at his position.

“Kedrick is tall, rangy and can run,” Briles told Baylor’s official athletic site. “He has a very engaging personality to go along with his outstanding athletic ability.”

Photo Courtesy of Rivals.com

Ahmad Dixon

Dixon, Baylor’s lone ESPNU-150 commit, is a safety out of Midway H.S. (Texas) and is ranked number three at his position.

“Ahmad is ‘from Waco with love’ -- that’s the way I look at it,” Briles told Baylor’s official athletic site. “He is physical, fast and strong. He brings exactly what you are looking for from a safety position. We’re proud that he stayed home.”

Photo Courtesy of Rivals.com

Antwan Goodley

Goodley, a receiver out of Midland H.S. (Texas), is ranked number 73 at his position.

“Antwan is what we are looking for at a skill position offensively because he is a multi-position guy,” Briles told Baylor’s official athletic site. “He is just a big, strong physical guy that can run, and he probably has a good chance to win the open 200 meters at the state track meet this spring.”

Photo Courtesy of Rivals.com

Bryce Hager

Hager is a linebacker out of Westlake H.S. (Texas).

“Bryce comes from an outstanding program and an outstanding bloodline,” Briles told Baylor’s official athletic site. “He is a good, solid linebacker that we think has a lot of great upside. I am very excited about him.”

Photo Courtesy of Rivals.com

Sam Holl

Holl, a safety out of Katy H.S. (Texas), is ranked number 111 at his position.

“Sam knows how to win, how to work and how to prepare to win,” Briles told Baylor’s official athletic site. “He is a physical, intelligent and unselfish football player that brings a tough-guy mentality to the table.”

Photo Courtesy of Rivals.com

Tyrell Jenkins

Jenkins is a quarterback out of Henderson H.S. (Texas).

“As a quarterback, we really think Tyrell has good upside to him,” Briles told Baylor’s official athletic site. “It’s going to be fun watching his journey, and being a part of his journey as a football player. He is just starting to scratch the surface on how dynamic he can be as a player.”

Photo Courtesy of Henderson Daily News

Eddie Johnson

Johnson, a receiver out of Midlothian H.S. (Texas), is ranked number 119 at his position.

“Eddie is a big, strong and physical receiver that has another world of great upside,” Briles told Baylor’s official athletic site. “He is going to be able to come in here and really develop as a player and as a person. We expect great things out of him.”

Photo Courtesy of Rivals.com

Dominique Jones

Jones, a defensive lineman out of Midwest City H.S. (Oklahoma), is ranked number 47 at his position.

“Dominique is a tough inside guy that really has a lot of ability,” Briles told Baylor’s official athletic site. “He has a quick twitch and good lateral movement with a little bit of a flair embedded in there.”

Photo Courtesy of Rivals.com

Prince Kent

Kent, a defensive back out of Hargrave Military Academy (Virginia), is a highly touted player (despite not being ranked) joining the Bears in 2010.

“We’re really proud that Prince is on campus and we’re ready for him to represent Baylor football,” Briles told Baylor’s official athletic site. “Prince will have the spring to improve his skills and help us add depth in the secondary.”

Photo Courtesy of Rivals.com

Clarence Lee

Lee, a defensive end out of Jefferson H.S. (Texas), is ranked number 80 at his position.

“Clarence can be a very physical and fast defensive end for us,” Briles told Baylor’s official athletic site. “He is just a good, quality young man.”

Photo Courtesy of Rivals.com

Matt Ritchey

Ritchey, a linebacker out of Big Springs H.S. (Texas), is ranked number 76 at his position.

“Matt played everything in high school from quarterback to kicker,” Briles told Baylor’s official athletic site. “He has done a bunch of it and has been real good all around. He comes from a football family, and we are really excited about him being a part of our family here.”

Photo Courtesy of Rivals.com

T.C. Robinson

Robinson, a cornerback out of Cooper H.S. (Texas), is ranked number 45 at his position.

“T.C. is part of our special defensive back class,” Briles told Baylor’s official athletic site. “He is a cornerback that possesses a lot of confidence and a lot of ability.”

Photo Courtesy of Rivals.com

Xavier Ruben

Ruben is a defensive lineman out of Robert E. Lee H.S. (Texas).

“Xavier is athletic, physical, quick and burns pretty hot,” Briles told Baylor’s official athletic site. “He is a guy that will lay it on the table and dare somebody to take it. We really like the physical aspects of his game.”

Photo Courtesy of Rivals.com

Robert Singletary

Singletary is a linebacker out of Kingwood H.S. (Texas).

“Robert is very long and very athletic,” Briles told Baylor’s official athletic site. “We think he has a lot of upside at linebacker being that he really hasn’t had the experience there yet, and he has already done really well.”

Photo Courtesy of Rivals.com

Tim Smith

Smith is an offensive lineman out of Robert E. Lee H.S. (Texas).

“Another prototypical offensive lineman—strong, physical, powerful and mean,” Briles told Baylor’s official athletic site. “Tim is a guy that fits exactly what we are looking for.”

Photo Courtesy of Rivals.com

Tyler Stephenson

Stephenson, a cornerback out of Lancaster H.S. (Texas), is ranked number 14 at his position.

“Tyler can run,” Briles told Baylor’s official athletic site. “He has the chance to win the state track meet in both hurdle events this spring. Tyler has a very engaging personality and is a great athlete that comes from a great family.”

Photo Courtesy of Rivals.com

Sean Watson

Watson is a defensive tackle out of Rutherford H.S. (Florida).

“Sean has great presence, great energy and is very disciplined and hungry with his attitude,” Briles told Baylor’s official athletic site. “Physically he has great upside, and we are anxious to see his development. We think he can be a physical player.”

Photo Courtesy of Rivals.com

Anthony Gonzales

Gonzales, one of three junior college transfers joining the Bears in 2010, is a defensive end out of Blinn College (Texas).

“Anthony is a big, strong and physical defensive end that can hopefully come in and provide immediate help,” Briles told Baylor’s official athletic site.

Photo Courtesy of Rivals.com

Robert Griffin

Griffin (no relation to Baylor’s star play-caller Robert Griffin III), is an offensive lineman out of Navarro College (Texas).

“Robert is a physical specimen,” Briles told Baylor’s official athletic site. “He has a great upside and will provide immediate help. We expect him to come in and play and to deliver.”

Photo Courtesy of Rivals.com

Isaac Williams

Williams is a running back out of El Camino College (California).

“Isaac is hungry, determined and focused,” Briles told Baylor’s official athletic site. “He’s someone that he feels he has something to prove, and I like that. He’s another mature guy that understands that the clock is ticking.”

Photo Courtesy of Rivals.com

Looking Ahead to the 2010 Season...

As the Baylor Bears prepare for another run in the highly competitive Big 12 Conference in 2010, head coach Art Briles has a fantastic group of recruits joining the team.

Will Briles’ Bears finally break through in the Big 12 next season and garner that bowl bid?

It’s only a matter of time before we find out, but one thing is certain: based on the newest recruits, Baylor will only be stronger in 2010 and beyond…

Photo Courtesy of DallasNews.com

Denton Ramsey may be reached via email at [e-mail]