Baylor University's football team is witnessing an intriguing competition for the Star position as the 2026 season approaches. With the hiring of Joe Klanderman as the new defensive coordinator, several players from Kansas State have joined the Bears, including Coby McCalister, Ryan Davis, Jayden Rowe, and Daniel Cobbs, all expected to bolster the defense.
Bo Onu, a 6-foot, 210-pound safety, returns for his second season after playing 11 games as a true freshman last year, where he recorded nine tackles. Klanderman has noted Onu's significant improvement since last season, stating, "to see the leaps and bounds that he's going to make from year one to year two on the grass is really cool."
Daniel Cobbs, who has extensive experience under Klanderman with 415 snaps last season, is competing directly with Onu for the starting role at Star. The Star position serves as a hybrid role, allowing players to support both the run game and pass coverage. Klanderman emphasized that the competition between Onu and Cobbs is very close, with both players showing strong potential.
"That's a really good race right now," Klanderman remarked, indicating confidence in both players' abilities.
Despite the close competition, Klanderman plans to utilize both Onu and Cobbs throughout the season. He believes in maintaining player freshness by rotating them during games. "There's going to be a lot of battles like that, and I think that one's very close," he stated, underscoring that the number of snaps a player takes is just as valuable as being listed as a starter.
