By Cannon Fritz | Reporter
In college football today, loyalty is becoming increasingly rare.
Players transfer for more playing time, bigger opportunities and even greater NIL gains. Roster turnover can be significant year-after-year. For many players, it is not certain whether the uniform they currently wear will still fit next year.
Fifth-year defensive end Kyler Jordan has gone against the grain, remaining with Baylor for all five years of his collegiate career.
Jordan came to Baylor from Lubbock Cooper High School seeking development. Five years later, Jordan leaves the same program as a captain and seasoned leader and one of the most recognizable faces of Baylor football.
“This university meant more to me than whatever money I could make elsewhere,” Jordan said. “I wanted to get my undergrad and master’s from here because it means something.”
While Jordan was coming out of high school, the defensive lineman had to make his choice between Baylor University and Texas Tech. His choice got more difficult when Joey McGuire, who was leading his recruitment to Baylor, was hired as Texas Tech’s head coach.
“It was definitely a difficult decision,” Jordan said. “It involved a lot of prayer, a lot of speaking to all the wise people in my life.”
Jordan ultimately chose Baylor because he had a lot of belief in the fact that the team and the school could help him grow as a man
“I thought my growth as a person, my growth as a follower of Christ, and my growth as a player mattered more,” he said.
That mindset defined the next five years.
Jordan arrived as a scout team player who found himself fighting and competing for opportunities.
During Jordan’s first full offseason with Baylor, former Baylor outside linebacker coach Caleb Collins had strong regard for his work.
“I was watching his offseason, I’m like, ‘Ok, he may not be as strong as some of the other JACKs, but he’s able to make plays out there, because Kyler’s going to go home, he’s going to watch the tape, he’s going to study his playbook,'” Collins said.
There were Saturdays spent watching from the sidelines and long stretches without the spotlight, but Jordan embraced the process.
“I think you really do it by building trust,” he said. “You build trust with your coaches. You build trust with your teammates.”
Over time, that trust grew into playing time. Playing time turned into leadership, and leadership turned into a captaincy.
Jordan’s rise was never surprising for friend and Baylor alumnus Brett Jolley.
“When I first met Kyler, I could tell he was more than just a football player,” Jolley said. “Not only was he an example of what it means to be a follower of Christ, but he was a natural leader. He led with compassion and humility.”
In the early days of NIL in college football, Jordan saw his teammates and his opponents moving to different colleges around the country. When opportunities arose to explore other options, Jordan stayed. He wanted to remain invested in what head coach Dave Aranda was building.
“I wanted to do whatever I could to fight for him,” Jordan said. “For me, that was staying here and being one of the few guys to stay and fight. Not run from it.”
His decision ultimately made him one of the increasingly rare players who spent their entire collegiate journey at one school.
His decision to remain committed to Baylor stemmed from his character on and off the field.
“Kyler outside of football is a down-to-earth good guy,” Jolley said. “People see him on the podium for news clips or football highlights. Kyler is the kind of guy to spot you out in a crowd, even when he had an amazing victory.
Jordan’s career won’t be remembered as being associated with any transfer saga or bidding war. His career will instead be remembered because of something that is becoming more rare in college football: staying.
For Jolley, that legacy is what makes Jordan special.
“Kyler’s rise from freshman to senior year was a sight to see,” Jolley said. “It was a blessing that the Baylor community could see what we all see in him: a natural leader, a true Baylor Bear and a true follower of Christ.”
In a time marked by motion, Jordan earned his place by staying put where he began.
