Baylor Preview: Two Key Players to Watch on the Bear Defense

Earlier this week I covered the players to watch on the Baylor offense as Oklahoma State gets set to face off with the Bears in Waco this weekend. Now it’s time to take a look at two key players on the BU defense.

James Lynch | DT | 6-4, 285 | So.

Lynch has probably been the best all around player on the Baylor defense this season. He’s been the most disruptive defensive lineman for the Bears as he leads the team in both tackles for loss with 7.5 and sacks with 4.0. In addition, he’s displayed his versatility recording two passes defended.

He will be the key component in slowing down the Cowboy rushing attack, and if he can cause havoc and allow BU to pressure Taylor Cornelius with only four rushers, this Poke offense will have a tough time on Saturday.

Lynch only recorded one tackle against OSU a year ago, but he didn’t yet play a big role on this Baylor defense. However, he’s been a major factor in pretty much every game this season, and was the lone bright spot on this BU defense in last week’s blow out loss to West Virginia. He had blocked a field goal and three total tackles, including this sack on Will Grier.

Clay Johnston | LB | 6-1, 226 | R-Jr.

The hard-hitting junior linebacker leads Baylor in tackles this season with 42. Jonhston has caused problems in the backfield for his opponents, recording 2.5 tackles for loss and one sack, which I’ve shown in the clip below.

The former three-star recruit has been fighting through injuries this season, but along with Lynch, he’s been one of the most reliable players on this Bear defense. He’s the leader of a fairly inexperienced linebacker group and when he’s fully healthy, he can cause a lot of problems for opposing offenses.

I think he will play a key role on the blitz this week as we saw Texas see some success with Fire Zone blitzes in the second half of last week’s game against the Cowboys.