Most years, the Baylor Football team has at least one recent graduate or early declarer invited to participate in the prestigious NFL Scouting Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis. The 2023 NFL Scouting Combine is a week-long event where (typically) the “best of the best” athletes in college football are invited to showcase their physical talents through physical and mental tests in front of NFL coaches, GMs, and scouts. 2021 was a shockingly incredible season for the Baylor Football team where they secured a program-high 12 wins, recorded their first-ever Big 12 Championship title game victory, had their first and only New Years 6 bowl win in the CFP era, and notched 5 wins over Top 25 opponents for their most top-25 wins in a season since at least 1974 and the number of Bears players invited to participate in the Combine reflected such success. In 2022, a team-record 7 former players received invites (CB Kalon Barnes, LB Terrel Bernard, RB Trestan Ebner, S Jalen Pitre, RB Abram Smith, S JT Woods, and WR Tyquan Thornton) and nearly all of them are enjoying NFL participation and success. This past season, the Bears had a rather difficult year with many games ending in one mishap that gave the win to the opposing team. Issues on offense, defense, and special teams caused head coach Dave Aranda to let go of his mentor in DC Ron Roberts and Safeties Coach/Special Teams Coordinator Ronnie Wheat. However, Baylor still notched 2 former players called up to participate in the 2023 NFL Scouting Combine in DL Siaki Ika and OL Connor Galvin. In two seasons with the Bears, Ika amassed 49 tackles with 8.5 for a loss of 40 yards, 4.5 sacks for a loss of 30 yards, and 3 passes deflected. Ika was named an All-Big 12 First Team pick with votes for Big 12 Defensive Lineman of the Year; Second Team selection by Dave Campbell’s Texas Football; Associated Press All-Big 12 First Team; Third Team All-American by Phil Steele; and First Team All-Big 12 pick by Steele. Galvin was an All-Big 12 First Team selection; Dave Campbell’s Texas Football First Team pick, Associated Press All-Big 12 First Team; and Phil Steele First Team All-Big 12. Baylor fans will be pleased to watch Ika and Galvin participate from February 28 through March 6!
