Baylor has lost half of its 2016 signing class

[bodi]

https://www.yahoo.com/sports/news/baylor-has-lost-half-of-its-2016-signing-class-164432710.html

As first reported Thursday by SicEmSports.com, Baylor confirmed to the Waco Tribune that it has released Brandon Bowen from his National Letter of Intent. Bowen, a four-star defensive end from Trophy Club, Texas, is the 11th signee from Baylor’s formerly 22-man signing class to leave the program.

Bowen, the No. 63 overall prospect in the country, committed to Baylor in January and signed with the program on national signing day. However, like many others, Bowen asked for his release after Art Briles was fired as head coach. The decision to move on from Briles came after an investigation into the school’s handling of sexual assault accusations, including several involving BU players.

Baylor spokesperson Heath Nielsen confirmed to the Tribune that Bowen has been granted a full release, meaning he is free to re-enter the recruiting process and sign with any other program.

Baylor announced last week that it released five players from their NLIs. Three of those players – defensive back Donovan Duvernay, and offensive linemen Patrick Hudson and J.P. Urquidez – have signed with Texas. Running back Kameron Martin signed a financial aid agreement with Auburn while Cobb has yet to choose a school.

Another former Bears signee, Devin Duvernay (the brother of Donovan), also signed with Texas. He was allowed to re-enter the recruiting process earlier than the others because Baylor did not properly submit his NLI after signing day in February.

Elsewhere, receiver Tren’Davian Dickson – an early enrollee – announced his plans to transfer to Houston. Two other early enrollees – junior college transfers B.J. Autry and Jeremy Faulk – are also no longer students at Baylor. Faulk was reportedly asked to leave Baylor because of his alleged involvement in an April sexual assault accusation. Autry may have been involved, per ESPN’s Outside the Lines.

 

[Reality]

This is not surprising at all. When a popular and/or successful college coach leaves or is fired from a university, a lot of players no longer want to go there. For many players, their future potential is highly dependent on their college team's success as well as the schemes it runs. I think most people would do the same. It's one thing to stay if you know your post-college career is in the business world and not the NFL, but for those who have aspirations of reaching the NFL, you don't want to be playing on a team with a lot of unknowns for the next 3-4 years.

 

[Silver Surfer]

Not to mention the tarnished image of the school.... Why walk into a situation like that when you have other options?

 

[jimmy40]

thanks Baylor, gonna need a new picture though
https://encrypted-tbn0.***NOT-ALLOWED***/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcTd-uQI-A0IUy4b8IiZu5j3Jqhn4IJ2XhoXMH6ARNAX_6G5Kx6S_w

 

[jterrell]

This is not surprising at all. When a popular and/or successful college coach leaves or is fired from a university, a lot of players no longer want to go there. For many players, their future potential is highly dependent on their college team's success as well as the schemes it runs. I think most people would do the same. It's one thing to stay if you know your post-college career is in the business world and not the NFL, but for those who have aspirations of reaching the NFL, you don't want to be playing on a team with a lot of unknowns for the next 3-4 years.

It is surprising. Baylor handled this about as poorly as anyone has ever done.
This is essentially the death penalty in how they'd handled it and brought it upon themselves.

They should have moved quickly with a big name hire before the firing.
Work to keep those players before they even announce the firing.

Baylor just lost a decade worth of building in 1 month.

You lose a big-time coach , you can survive. You lose the talent that's winning plus the coach and you lose it all.

Wonder if Briles kid, Kendal ends up on staff at UT or Tech. He's a heckuva recruiter.