National Signing Day 2010: Introducing Baylor's Newest Bears

As of 1:30 p.m. CST, head coach Art Briles’ Baylor Bears football team had 26 commitments for 2010, with one being ranked in the ESPNU 150.

Of the 26 recruits that have committed to Baylor, all but one have signed with the team (with the missing recruit making a verbal commitment to the Bears) 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 No. 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.”

Luke Burleson

Burleson, an offensive lineman out of Allen H.S. (Texas), joins a solid group of 2010 Baylor Bears and is ranked No. 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.”

Tuswani Copeland

Copeland, a defensive back out of MacArthur H.S. (Oklahoma), is ranked No. 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.”

Kedrick Dial

Dial, a defensive end out of Sulphur Springs H.S. (Texas), is ranked No. 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.”

Ahmad Dixon

Dixon, Baylor’s lone ESPNU 150 commit, is a safety out of Midway H.S. (Texas) and is ranked No. 3 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.”

Antwan Goodley

Goodley, a receiver out of Midland H.S. (Texas), is ranked No. 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.”

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.”

Sam Holl

Holl, a safety out of Katy H.S. (Texas), is ranked No. 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.”

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.”

Eddie Johnson

Johnson, a receiver out of Midlothian H.S. (Texas), is ranked No. 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.”

Dominique Jones

Jones, a defensive lineman out of Midwest City H.S. (Oklahoma), is ranked No. 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 imbedded in there.”

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.”

Clarence Lee

Lee, a defensive end out of Jefferson H.S. (Texas), is ranked No. 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.”

Bryce Petty

Petty, a quarterback out of Midlothian H.S. (Texas), has signed with the Bears according to ESPN.com.

Tevin Reese

Reese, a receiver out of Temple H.S. (Texas), has signed with the Bears according to ESPN.com.

Matt Ritchey

Ritchey, a linebacker out of Big Springs H.S. (Texas), is ranked No. 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.”

T.C. Robinson

Robinson, a cornerback out of Cooper H.S. (Texas), is ranked No. 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.”

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.”

Skyler Scott

Scott, a receiver out of Lancaster H.S. (Texas), has made a verbal commitment to play with the Bears in 2010 according to ESPN.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.”

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.”

Tyler Stephenson

Stephenson, a cornerback out of Lancaster H.S. (Texas), is ranked No. 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.”

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.”

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.

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.”

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.”

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