Baylor Football Predicted to Land In-State 2027 Edge Rusher

Could the Bears see a new commitment in the near future?

Published on Mar. 5, 2026

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Baylor's 2027 recruiting class currently has four members, including four-star athlete Karece Hoyt and four-star defensive back Davontrae Kirkland. The Bears are now predicted to land three-star edge rusher Cael Thigpen from Houston, Texas, who has a 96.2% chance of committing to Baylor according to Rivals' Recruiting Prediction Machine.

Why it matters

Baylor is looking to build on its recent recruiting success and add more top talent to its 2027 class. Landing Thigpen, the No. 1060 player in the 2027 cycle, would be a big boost for the Bears as they aim to maintain a top-25 recruiting class.

The details

Thigpen, a 6'3", 220-pound edge rusher, has offers from several programs including Iowa State, San Diego State, SMU, and Wake Forest. He has scheduled an official visit to Baylor for June 12-14 and has said the Bears are recruiting him the hardest, calling it a "dream" to play for them. Baylor currently has a 96.2% chance of landing Thigpen, per Rivals' Recruiting Prediction Machine.

  • Thigpen has scheduled an official visit to Baylor for June 12-14, 2026.

The players

Cael Thigpen

A three-star edge rusher from Houston, Texas who is the No. 1060 player in the 2027 recruiting cycle and the No. 75 edge rusher in the country.

Dave Aranda

The head football coach at Baylor University.

Davontrae Kirkland

A four-star defensive back who is committed to Baylor's 2027 recruiting class.

Karece Hoyt

A four-star athlete who is committed to Baylor's 2027 recruiting class.

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What they’re saying

“Yessir. I have started trying to pull some recruits in. Some players I'm trying to get to come with me are Lathean Whisenton and Jerry Meyer.”

— Davontrae Kirkland, Baylor Commit (Baylor Bears on SI)

“Baylor was recruiting me the hardest and it would be a dream to play for the Bears.”

— Cael Thigpen (Rivals)

What’s next

Thigpen is scheduled to take an official visit to Baylor on June 12-14, 2026, which could lead to a commitment decision in the near future.

The takeaway

Baylor is making a strong push to land in-state edge rusher Cael Thigpen, who would be a valuable addition to the Bears' 2027 recruiting class. If Baylor can secure Thigpen's commitment, it would further bolster their top-25 ranked class and provide a boost to their defensive front seven for the future.