Seven Baylor football recruits ask to play elsewhere

Baylor’s best ever recruiting class is now potentially in shambles.

Things can change in a hurry in college football for reasons that don’t have anything to do with what’s happening on the field. And Baylor is currently Exhibit A of that concept.

ESPN reports that seven incoming 2016 Baylor recruits have been released from their letters of intent. In addition, Devin Duvernay, the crown jewel of a top 20 class, is expected to follow suit any day.

Once a student-athlete signs a letter of intent, they are bound to that commitment in all but a few instances. However, Baylor can choose to release recruits within 30 days of their official request for release, and some schools do just that when there is an unexpected coaching switch.

That’s certainly the case at Baylor, where Art Briles was shown the door last month. But the big issue here is why Briles was fired: for not doing enough to respond to what appears to be a widespread pattern of sexual assault among Bears players.

Thus, interim coach Jim Grobe has his work cut out for him even more than usual trying to convince the recruits to stay. At the same time, Baylor faces another layer to what can already be politely described as a public relations crisis if it decides to block the releases.

If the players are allowed to go elsewhere, it’s safe to say that it will decimate Baylor’s program in the short term. From potential national title contender to the murkiest of futures, the Bears’ fortunes have changed just like that.

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