Dynamic play has been a staple of the Bears offense, averaging at least 571 yards a game since 2011. While Baylor has certainly produced numerous talents over the years, no position has garnered more big names than the recent Baylor wide receivers.
The recent dynasty of Baylor wide outs has given rise to Baylor being referred to as WRU, an acronym for Wide Receiver University. This acronym has been used before to bring to light a program’s dominance at a certain position before
For Baylor, the title of WRU is something that can certainly apply. A modern dynasty of receivers has come through Waco, all bringing explosiveness and excitement to the field. The first receiver credited in the timeline would have to be Kendall Wright.
Wright is Baylor’s all-time leading receiver in terms of catches, yards, and touchdowns. Wright was dominant in his time at Waco, especially his last two seasons.
In the 2010 and 2011 seasons, Wright hauled in 186 balls for 2615 yards and 21 scores. His 108 catches for 1663 yards and 14 touchdowns garnered him unanimous first team All-Big 12 honors in 2011. He was also selected 20th overall in the NFL Draft by the Tennessee Titans.
Following in Wright’s footsteps came Terrance Williams. Williams had been the number 2 receiver behind Wright since 2010 but in 2012, it was his show.
Williams caught 97 balls for 1832 yards and 12 touchdowns. The 1832 yards also broke the Baylor single season record previously held by Wright. Williams secured unanimous first team All-American and All-Big 12 honors for his 2012 season. He was also drafted in the 3rd round by the Dallas Cowboys, leaving Baylor second in school history in catches, yards, and touchdowns.
In 2013, Antwan Goodley stepped up as Baylor’s go-to receiver. Goodley registered 71 catches for 1339 yards and 13 touchdowns in his junior season, receiving All-American honors. Goodley battled injuries his senior season in 2014, only catching 60 balls for 830 yards and 6 touchdowns. Goodley’s injury however gave rise to a pair of great Bears’ wide outs in Corey Coleman and KD Cannon.
Coleman exploded onto the scene as a sophomore last season, snagging 64 receptions for 1119 yards and 11 touchdowns. Coleman became the fourth consecutive Baylor receiver to secure a spot on an All-American team, as well as consensus All-Big 12 honors.
In 2015, Coleman has continued to dominant the outside. He has caught 11 passes for 360 yards and 5 touchdowns. Last game against the Lamar Cardinals, Coleman caught a school record 4 touchdown passes, breaking the previous record of 3 held by numerous Baylor receivers.
One of the receivers that had caught 3 touchdowns in a game was KD Cannon. Cannon accomplished the feat last year as a freshman, a season in which he compiled 58 catches for 1030 yards and 8 scores.
Cannon was a freshman All-American last season and coming into 2015, many predicted Baylor to have the best receiving core in the nation. So far, Cannon has 5 receptions for 121 yards and a touchdown.
While these receivers are definitely the standouts from an impressive line of Baylor receivers, many other secondary wide outs have produced for the Bears. Lanear Sampson (2009-12), Tevin Reese (2010-13), Levi Norwood (2011-14), and Jay Lee (2013-present) have all been solid, dependable third receivers in recent memory. For Lee, 2015 has been very solid, as he caught 3 touchdowns in the Bears’ opening game against SMU.
With the recent play of the Baylor receivers, the case can certainly be made for Baylor to be referred to as WRU. With standout All-Americans and Big 12 titles coming into Waco, look for many more talented wide outs to come through Baylor. Coleman and Cannon, and perhaps even Lee, will also surely carry out the recent tradition of a Baylor All-American receiver and many new recruits will look to explode onto the scene in the Bears’ high powered offense.
