Tag: Blake Shapen

After a quarterback battle, Blake Shapen to be named starter for Baylor Bears

For the third straight year, it looks as if the Oklahoma vs. Baylor matchup will feature a different pair of starting quarterbacks in 2022.

The most intriguing quarterback battle in the Big 12 this offseason could be found down in Waco, Texas. Gerry Bohanon and Blake Shapen were locked in a tight one throughout the spring, a battle that reportedly has come to a close.

Now that Baylor’s wrapped up their spring ball, it looks like Blake Shapen will be named the starting quarterback for Dave Aranda’s Baylor Bears. SicEm365 first reported the news late Tuesday night, which has been confirmed by The Athletic as well.

SicEm365 has learned through multiple sources that sophomore Blake Shapen is expected to be named Baylor’s starting quarterback. The news began to surface on Tuesday evening after a round of meetings with each of Baylor’s quarterbacks following the end of Baylor’s spring practice on Saturday. – SicEm365 Staff

After redshirting in 2020, Shapen appeared in five games in the 2021 season. He took over for Gerry Bohanon when the former starter went down with an injury against the Kansas State Wildcats. Shapen made a relief appearance and went 16 of 21 for 137 yards and no touchdowns in that win over the Wildcats. He’d start the season finale against Texas Tech, going 20 of 34 for 254 yards and two touchdowns, surviving a late surge from the Red Raiders to win 27-24.

With Bohanon’s injury persisting, Shapen would get the start in the Big 12 championship. Aided by some costly turnovers from Spencer Sanders and the Oklahoma State Cowboys, Shapen helped stake the Bears to a 21-6 halftime lead. The redshirt freshman quarterback set a Big 12 championship record for consecutive completions at 17.

When the Baylor Bears and the Oklahoma Sooners meet in Norman, it will be the third straight season each side will have a different quarterback. In 2020, it was [autotag]Spencer Rattler[/autotag] and Charlie Brewer. 2021 featured [autotag]Caleb Williams[/autotag] and Gerry Bohanon. If things hold up as they are now, [autotag]Dillon Gabriel[/autotag] and Blake Shapen will carry the next chapter in the matchup.

Like in 2021, their matchup on November 5 will have Big 12 championship game implications. The Sooners will be looking for redemption for one of their two losses from the 2021 season.

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The Big 12’s top returning quarterbacks ranked by production

The Big 12 will see quite a bit of turnover at quarterback this fall, but who are the top returning quarterbacks based on 2021 production.

The Big 12 conference will experience a ton of turnover at the quarterback position heading into 2022. Oklahoma, Iowa State, Kansas State, Texas, and West Virginia will all have new faces at quarterback. Baylor and Oklahoma State have solidified starters in place with Gerry Bohanon and Spencer Sanders. Texas Tech, Kansas, and TCU have options from 2021 returning for quarterback battles.

With Caleb Williams, Spencer Rattler, Brock Purdy, Skylar Thompson, and Jarret Doege gone, there isn’t a ton of returning production from the 2021 season in the Big 12. However, Dillon Gabriel, Quinn Ewers, and Adrian Martinez bring some name value to the position despite playing elsewhere in 2021.

Let’s take a look at the top 10 returning quarterbacks based on 2021 production.

How social media reacted to Baylor’s win over Oklahoma State in the Big 12 Championship

It was a tight ball game that came within inches of a different outcome, but Baylor held on to beat Oklahoma State to win the Big 12 title.

Coming off of an impressive win over the Oklahoma Sooners in Bedlam, the Oklahoma State Cowboys figured to be in line to win their first Big 12 title. Blake Shapen and the Baylor Bears had other plans as they jumped out to a 21-3 lead in the first half off of the true freshman quarterback’s impressive performance.

Coming into this contest, the Oklahoma State Cowboys had allowed just nine passing touchdowns on the season, but Shapen threw three in the first half to give the Bears their big lead.

For the second straight week, the Cowboys’ defense held the opposing offense scoreless, but the Bears’ defense was able to hold on in the second half despite a serious comeback effort from Spencer Sanders and the Cowboys.

Sanders, who threw four interceptions in this game, was great in the final three minutes, leading the Cowboys to first and goal inside the five-yard line against Baylor. Baylor’s defense, as they had all game long, held strong at the goal line to preserve the win.

Though it’s not a Sooners win, Oklahoma fans were tuned into this contest, and here are some of the best social media reactions from the Baylor Bears 23-16 Big 12 championship win over Oklahoma State.