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The NFL and Big 12 Conference are teaming up to put on the first conference-wide Pro Day March 27-31, 2024. The Conference Pro Day will replace each school hosting its own Pro Day. The Baylor Bears and coach Dave Aranda will send six players to the Big 12 Pro Day. More than 130 Big 12 prospects will participate in the event.
Player workouts are open to the public from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. on March 28 and March 30 if you can make the trip to the Ford Center in Frisco, Texas. The Pro Day will be many of the players' last chance to show what they're made of for NFL scouts. Below is a highlight of the six Baylor players and where they stand on the draft boards.
offensive line
Clark Barrington is the only player on the offensive side of the ball who will attend Pro Days from the Bears. Barrington played in 12 games and a total of 877 snaps in 2023 allowing just 11 QB hurries, two QB hits and four sacks. Scouts noted some of his strengths, in the run game he can explode off the line and consistently does damage to the second level. He constantly keeps his feet sliding while maintaining power often sending speed rushers well past the pocket however they did note that he may struggle with elite quickness at the next level. He is currently projected to sign as an undrafted free agent.
DEFENSIVE LINE
TJ Franklin- Franklin recorded 31 total tackles, 19 of which were solo and 3.5 sacks, he also had one pass defended. If he can impress in front of the scouts that may just launch him into some draft boards.
Gabriel Hall- Gabe had 18 total tackles with eight of them being tackles for a loss and two sacks, he also had one pass defended. This was a step back from the previous year where all of his stats were just about doubled. Currently, he's projected to be a seventh-round pick and hoping to raise his stock at the Pro Days.
Justin Sambu- in 2022 Sambu played for the Maine Black Bears where he got 30 tackles, 5.5 sacks and one forced fumble. After transferring to Baylor, he fell back with only two tackles, one of which was a solo tackle. He is not currently on any draft boards but if he can get back to how he played at Maine he just might get an opportunity at the next level.
Linebacker
Byron Vaughns- Vaughns spent the 2021 and 2022 seasons with Utah State where he had some impressive stats, totaling 100 tackles with 43 solo, 6.5 sacks and two forced fumbles over his two years with the Aggies. With Baylor, he had 30 tackles, one pass defended and one forced fumble while splitting his time between DL and LB. As it sits now, he is not on any draft boards but could do enough in Frisco to change that.
Mike Smith Jr- Before transferring to Baylor for the 2023 season Smith had a great season with the Liberty Flames totaling 85 tackles, three forced fumbles and one interception. Since joining the Bears Smith has recorded 24 tackles, one pass defended and one sack. Smith has not been mentioned on many draft boards, but he is hoping to change that at Pro Days.
Baylor Bears Pro Day Outlook
Going to Frisco represents a huge opportunity for many of these players to show their skills, in almost the same way if they had been invited to the NFL combine. Draft stocks could rise or fall considering what happens in the next few days, but one thing is for certain, these players will be going all in!
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