Jalen Pitre Comments on Remaining Committed to Baylor Despite Art Briles' Firing

Baylor is in the process of trying to rebuild its image in the midst of a sexual assault scandal involving numerous allegations against former football players, which has led to substantial changes behind the scenes. 

The biggest change for the football program was head coach Art Briles parting ways with the program after the two sides reached a contract settlement. His departure has had a profound effect on future recruits with the exception of 2017 defensive back Jalen Pitre.   

As Andy Hutchins and Bud Elliott of SB Nation noted in June, seven recruits for next year have decommitted from the program and reopened their recruiting. 

Pitre is the lone commit right now for 2017. He is a 3-star recruit and the 58th-ranked safety in the 2017 recruiting class, per 247Sports. 

In an interview with Max Olson of ESPN.com, Pitre explained that his decision to remain committed to Baylor was partly because the school did not pull its scholarship offer to him after he tore his ACL last October. 

In the time since Briles has been fired, Pitre did note that he has not yet spoken with new acting head coach Jim Grobe:

"

I haven’t talked to Coach (Grobe), but I’ve talked to Coach [Cris] Dishman recently. He just told me to keep working, keep getting my knee stronger and he wants me to make the best decision for my family. I’m trying to head up to one of their practices and want to build up a good relationship with Coach Grobe.

"

Pitre did say that being the only 2017 commit to the school is "lonely at times" because he doesn't "have any other commits to talk to," but he remains grateful for "the big picture of college and trying to go get an education for free."

As far as the information that has come out about Baylor over the last two months, Pitre said "it’s not really good" before stating that one reason he remains committed to the program is he doesn't "believe some of the stuff that’s been coming out."

Grobe is Baylor's head football coach on an acting basis. Pitre admitted that if the school decides to bring in all new coaches that it "would have a big effect," though he did say he thinks he would still stay.

Pitre concluded by saying that he hopes to be enrolled in school early in an effort to help recruit for the 2017 class. 

Baylor is still dealing with the serious allegations that have come out against the football program and university. It is doing all it can to move forward, including giving Brenda Tracy, who says she survived a 1998 gang rape that involved two Oregon State football players, an opportunity to speak with the football players.