Baylor Offers John Tyler Quarterback Bryson Smith

Bryson Smith recently reconfirmed his intent to sign with Houston in lieu of the Major Applewhite hiring, but that has not stopped another in-state school from making a late case.

Baylor entered the picture Thursday and hopes it can persuade the senior John Tyler quarterback to come to Waco. It's pitching brand new head coach Matt Rhule and the ability to play quarterback rather than receiver at the next level.

John Tyler football's official Twitter account, controlled by the school's coaching staff, reported the offer and the positional significance on behalf of Smith.

Smith (6-0, 175) completed 61.1 percent of his passes this past season for 3,277 yards and 32 touchdowns to nine interceptions. He also ran for a team-best 1,653 yards and 23 scores.

John Tyler reached the third round of the Class 6A Division II state playoffs and finished the season with an 11-2 record and a majority share of the District 11-6A championship.

Smith, who also started at quarterback as a junior and played some receiver as a sophomore, has been committed to Houston since late May. The program was controlled by Tom Herman at that point in time.

Herman took the Texas job last month and offered Smith a scholarship opportunity there as a receiver. Smith declined the offer, partially because Applewhite envisioned him as a quarterback while working under Herman as offensive coordinator.

Baylor, on the other hand, might have some flexibility as it pertains to quarterback. It only has one commitment on the heels of former coach Art Briles' termination and an interim coaching staff for the 2016 season.

Rhule joined the Bears program after four seasons as the head coach at Temple in Philadelphia. He inherited one of the worst performing programs in the country and left the school after two consecutive 10-win regular seasons.

Baylor is making an effort to bolster its connections to Texas with Rhule's relative lack of in-state recruiting experience. It has hired Cedar Hill High School head coach Joey McGuire and Round Rock Cedar Ridge High School head coach Shawn Bell to be positional coaches, and it hired San Antonio Regan High School head coach David Wetzel for an administrative position.

The Bears, who at least tied for first place in the Big 12 standings in 2013 and 2014 before a rebuilding year in 2015, posted a 6-6 regular season in their first campaign without Briles and will play Boise State in the Motel 6 Cactus Bowl.

Like all college football prospects currently in their senior year of high school, Smith will become eligible to sign with any school that offers him in February.

2017 East Texas Football Players With Division I FBS Offers

Tristan Allen, Atlanta, LB, 6-3, 206 — committed to Louisiana Tech; additional offer from UTEP (2)
Judah Bell, Tyler Bishop Gorman, WR, 6-3, 180 — committed to Navy; additional offers from Bowling Green, Coastal Carolina, Houston, Kansas, Memphis, New Mexico, North Texas, SMU, ULL, ULM, UTSA, Wyoming (13)
Noah Bush, Athens, LB, 6-1, 216 — offers from Air Force, Army (2)
Lagaryonn Carson, Liberty-Eylau, DE, 6-4, 261 — committed to Texas; additional offers from Alabama, Arkansas, Baylor, North Texas, Oklahoma, TCU, Tennessee, Texas A&M (9)
Terrell Cooper, Lindale, DE, 6-3, 240 — offers from Arkansas State, Memphis, North Texas, Texas State (4)
Trestan Ebner, Henderson, WR, 5-11, 180 — committed to TCU; additional offers from Arizona State, Arkansas, Arkansas State, Colorado State, Houston, Kansas, Illinois, Indiana, Mississippi State, Missouri, North Texas, Ole Miss, SMU, Syracuse, UTSA, Texas A&M, Tulsa (18)
Montrell Estell, Hooks, WR/DB, 6-2, 180 — committed to Texas; additional offers from Alabama, Arizona State, Arkansas, Baylor, Kansas, Notre Dame, SMU, Texas A&M, Texas State, Texas Tech, Tulane (12)
Octavius Evans, Center, WR, 6-2, 186 — offers from Indiana, Louisiana Tech, Mississippi State, Oklahoma State, Texas Tech, Texas State, ULL (7)
Ted Fuller, Harleton, RB, 5-11, 195 — offers from ULM, Wyoming (2)
Tre Gatlin, Carthage, DE, 6-6, 210 —offer from Wyoming (1)
Quan Hampton, Texas High, WR, 5-8, 165 — committed to Texas State; additional offer from Kansas (2)
Austin Hawley, Gladewater, DB, 6-1, 200 — committed to ULM (1)
Kollin Hurt, Gilmer, DB, 6-3, 175 — committed to Louisiana Tech; additional offers from ULM, UTSA (3)
Jordan Johnson, Hooks, ATH, 6-0, 195 — offer from Air Force, Army (2)
Kayce Medlock, Arp, ATH, 5-10, 186 — committed to SMU; additional offers from Army, Colorado, Navy, Tulane, ULL, UTSA (7)
Damion Miller, John Tyler, WR, 6-1, 189 — committed to Texas; additional offers from Baylor, Houston, Kansas, Missouri, North Texas, Oklahoma State, Ole Miss, SMU, Texas A&M, Texas Tech (11)
LaMarcus Morton, Gilmer, WR, 6-2, 175 — committed to Oklahoma State; additional offers from Arkansas State, Colorado State, Houston, Indiana, Louisiana Tech, Memphis, New Mexico State, Texas Tech, Tulsa, ULL, ULM, UTSA (13)
Javonta Mosley, John Tyler, CB, 6-1, 170 — committed to UTSA; additional offers from Arkansas State, Houston, Memphis, North Texas, SMU, Southern Miss, Texas State, ULL, ULM (10)
Cade Pearson, Texas High, QB, 6-3, 193 — committed to North Texas; additional offer from Wyoming (2)
Dhailon Phillips, Lufkin, WR, 6-3, 195 — committed to Texas State; additional offers from Air Force, Army (3)
Dez Robinson, Atlanta, LB, 6-3, 210 — offers from UTEP, Wyoming (2)
Kordell Rodgers, Lufkin, QB/ATH, 5-10, 165 — committed to Texas State; additional offers from Arkansas State, ULM (3)
Makyle Sanders, Tyler Lee, S, 6-1, 177 — committed to North Texas; additional offers from Air Force, Memphis, Navy (4)
Bryson Smith, John Tyler, QB/ATH, 6-0, 170 — committed to Houston; additional offers from Air Force, Arkansas State, Baylor, Bowling Green, Memphis, New Mexico, North Texas, Purdue, SMU, Southern Miss, Texas, Texas State, Tulane, Tulsa, ULL, ULM, UTSA (18)
D’Torian Smith, Tatum, DE/LB, 6-3, 225 — committed to Air Force; additional offers from ULM, UTEP (3)
Major Tennison, Bullard, TE, 6-6, 248 — committed to Alabama; additional offers from Arkansas, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, LSU, Michigan, Nebraska, Oklahoma State, Oregon, SMU, Texas, Texas Tech, UCLA (14)
Josh Thompson, Nacogdoches, CB, 6-0, 182 — committed to Texas; additional offers from Arizona State, Arkansas State, Colorado State, Fresno State, Houston, Indiana, Kansas, Kansas State, Louisiana Tech, Minnesota, Missouri, North Texas, Ohio, Oklahoma State, Ole Miss, Penn State, SMU, TCU, Texas State, Texas Tech, Tulane, UCLA, ULM, Utah, UTSA, Washington State, Wyoming (28)
Lakendrick VanZandt, Henderson, S, 6-1, 196 — committed to TCU; additional offers from Arkansas State, Houston, Memphis, Oklahoma State, SMU, TCU, Tulane, Tulsa (8)
Traveion Webster, Longview, S, 6-0, 197 — offer from ULM (1)