By Jeffrey Cohen | Sports Editor
Fifth-year defensive lineman Devonte Tezino is the perfect image of working up the ranks in college football.
After redshirting his freshman year, Tezino played four games as a rotational defensive lineman as a redshirt freshman as well as 23 games across the previous two years.
He worked in the shadows of guys like Jackie Marshall, TJ Franklin and Treven Ma’ae but never let up while he wasn’t starting.
“Me and Tez came in together in 2022,” senior safety Michael Allen said. “Talk about a guy who has just been through a lot and has stayed the course and has just worked his butt off.”
Tezino was named as the starting defensive tackle for Baylor ahead of its opener against Auburn, finally giving him the opportunity he worked four years to see.
He tore up the Tigers’ backfield, recording four tackles and two sacks in front of a national audience.
He expected to build off his strong performance in the Bears’ home opener against Prairie View A&M. He went down with an injury on the fourth play from scrimmage and got carted off with a brace around his left ankle. Head coach Dave Aranda confirmed after the game that Tezino will miss the rest of the season with a broken ankle.
“Tez, after Week 1, was probably our best interior defensive lineman, graded out the best,” Aranda said. “I just feel horrible for him in terms of all the work he put into it to get to a certain spot.”
Tezino is one of the most recent in a series of notable injuries that have plagued Baylor (1-1) through the first two weeks of the season, forcing multiple position groups to pick up the slack.
“We would very much like to be as healthy as possible,” Aranda said. “There’s been some depth, but we’re challenging it.”
While Tezino worked alongside senior Kamren Washington at defensive tackle, fifth-years Traevon Mitchell and Braylen Jackson have the chance to get more action in the trenches.
“We’re certainly going to miss him,” Aranda said. “We’ve got guys like [Mitchell] that we’re hoping, he’s got a big court date here coming up … Braylen Jackson is another one that really showed up and was able to make some plays.”
Mitchell was granted a temporary injunction from McLennan County Judge Alan Bennett on Tuesday, giving him the chance to play for the Bears for the rest of the season.
The safety room has also faced its fair share of injuries. Senior Jacob Redding tore his ACL the week leading up to the Auburn game. Fifth-year Devin Turner, who was named the starting strong safety with Redding’s absence, played only one snap against Prairie View A&M after tweaking his hamstring.
“We’ve been hit there with injuries, too,” Aranda said. “We’re really without the two guys that were slotted as starters at the beginning of the year … At this point, we’re having guys step up, and it’s been a positive thing.”
Senior safety Micah Gifford has made a statement in the secondary through two games. He picked off Brown in Week 1 and is tied for fourth on the team with seven tackles.
Fifth-year safety Colby McCalister has recorded four tackles in his first year wearing green and gold.
“They’ve answered the call,” Allen said. “Jacob was a big loss for us, and we miss him. But guys like Colby McCalister, Micah Gifford have done a great job of really stepping up.”
The center of the offense has taken early hits as well. Junior quarterback DJ Lagway did not suit up in Week 2 with a high ankle sprain, thrusting junior Nate Bennett into his first start.
The unit protecting the quarterbacks has also dealt with rotating its pieces. Junior offensive lineman Koltin Sieracki did not play against the Panthers, forcing sophomore Harrison Cluff to command the offensive line in his first start for the Bears.
“Having him not there wasn’t ideal,” fifth-year offensive lineman Kaden Sieracki said. “But Cluff did a really great job of coming in and communicating with the offensive line.”
Koltin has the “green light” to go on Saturday against Louisiana Tech, according to Aranda.
His brother Kaden has been working with an injured right ankle, which he suffered against Auburn but returned in the same game. Hampering his right ankle has led him to remaining at left tackle despite playing on the right side all of last year.
“At left tackle, it doesn’t,” Sieracki said. “If I was at right tackle, I feel like it probably would … Whenever a bull rush is coming, it’s mainly going to be on my right ankle.”
Baylor hopes to see the return of multiple key players as it takes on Louisiana Tech at 3 p.m. Saturday at McLane Stadium.
