Top 25 Most Important Baylor Players In 2026: Colby McCalister Leads As Conference Veteran
NCAAF College Football News, Photos, Stats, Scores, Schedule & Videos...
Transfer safety Colby McCalister was one of the highest rated additions to Baylor Football over the past offseason.
The redshirt senior made waves in the portal as he followed defensive coordinator Joe Klandermanout ofKansas State toWaco with a clean slate. As both a veteranofthe Big 12 andof Klanderman's defense, the pressure looms on McCalister to stand out as a leader in the secondary for the Bears.
McCalister lands at No. 21 in our top-25 most important Baylor players for 2026.
McCalister's time at Kansas State
McCalister's biggest what-if ahead of his debut season at Baylor is the question of whathe'llbring to the table having not played competitive footballinnearlytwoyears.
The Houston native sat out the entirety of the 2025 season witha knee injury. The injury happenedagainst Cincinnatiin the final home game of his 2024 breakoutyearwith the Wildcats.McCalister has since been rehabbing his knee looking toget100 percent healthy, where he now sits eager to produce defensively againahead ofthe start of Baylor's season.
In 2024, McCalister burst onto the scene for the Wildcats. Heplayed in12 games for Kansas State and started his final three against Colorado, Arizona State, and Cincinnati prior to his injury.
Across his tenure in Manhattan, Kan. the safetytotaled 61 tacklesand seven pass breakups split between two seasons. McCalister also served as a regular face on special teams, becoming aprominentleaderonthe kickoffteam.
What McCalister will bring to the Bears
McCalister is bringing to Baylor a haul of experience that is bound to benefitthe Bears in more ways than one. What stands out the most coming from the redshirt senior is a sense of football maturity as well as a deep familiarity with Klanderman's style of coaching that will be leading the defensive side of the ball this season.
Already bringing to Waco an awareness ofBig 12 football as well as experience facing other conference opponents, McCalisterhascementedhimself asa key player on Baylor's defense.
While questions exist concerning how McCalister will look in a Baylor uniform due to not seeing a football field in so long, the sky istruly the limit for the redshirt senior. With over18 monthsof recovery under his belt, the 5'10 safetyhas high hopesfor his final season of college football.
It has been a while since McCalister has seen thefield, so a lot of uncertainties surround what the player is bringing to the Bears.Thesafety'sspeed and raw athleticism, combined with his experience in the conference and the new defensive scheme, is enough to cement McCalister as one of the most impactful players to watch ahead ofthe new season.
See our full top 25 players:
Today's best reads
- Where Baylor Lands in ESPN's Latest Football Power Index Rankings
- 4 Players Baylor Football Will Regret Losing in the Transfer Portal
- Top 25 Most Important Baylor Players: Safety Daniel Cobbs is Ready to Wreak Havoc
- Ranking Every Big 12 Football Helmet – Where Does Baylor Land?
- 3 Takeaways From Baylor HC Dave Aranda's Big 12 Media Days Podium Session
This article was originally published on www.si.com/college/baylor as Top 25 Most Important Baylor Players In 2026: Colby McCalister Leads As Conference Veteran.
More at NCAAF College Football News, Photos, Stats, Scores, Schedule & Videos