Strong quarterback play has been a constant throughout Baylor senior offensive tackle Spencer Drango’s collegiate career, whether it was Bryce Petty under center from 2012 to 2014 to Seth Russell’s breakout season this year. But with Russell’s season prematurely ending and talented yet inexperienced freshman Jarrett Stidham now running the Bears’ offense, Drango will face a new challenge – and a new opportunity to showcase his talent and leadership and prove why he is one of the top offensive line prospects in the nation.
By: Cory Burrell
Drango showed promising football skills all the way back during his high school career. Drango attended Cedar Park (Texas) High School, where he helped his school reach the state quarterfinals hi senior year. Drango cracked numerous top recruit lists, including being considered the 15th-best offensive linemen of his class by ESPN.com. He fielded offers from a number of top collegiate programs, including LSU and Arkansas, before eventually deciding on Baylor.
Drango spent the 2011 season redshirted, but it was far from a wasted year. A bond quickly formed between Drango and Cyril Richardson, Baylor’s starting left tackle that season and eventually NFL draftee. Drango is quick to point to Richardson’s mentoring as key to his development early on.
“He [Richardson] was a big help; he showed me how to play and what it takes to be a drafted NFL guy,” Drango said in an interview with Baylor’s athletics department. “He showed me how to play — the intensity that you need to have when you play.”
The next season, Drango found his place with the Bears as Baylor’s new starting left tackle, a position he would not relinquish. Richardson moved to the guard slot and lined up next to Drango all season long. Drango, Richardson, and the rest of Baylor’s line protected starting quarterback Nick Florence and helped him cruise to an outstanding season. The Bears ranked as the fifth-best offense in the nation while Florence, who later went undrafted by NFL teams, broke Robert Griffin III’s single season record for passing yards.
While Baylor’s offense flourished, Drango learned as much as he could from Richardson – not just in terms of Drango’s own individual development but in the leadership Richardson displayed.
“Any time you can help a younger guy out, it’s a big thing,” Drango said. “Pass on some wisdom, some little tricks here and there, whether it’s where you put your hands, how to block a certain type of rush, or something like that…it just makes the whole team better.”
When the 2013 season rolled along, Drango, only a sophomore, was already becoming a leader of Baylor’s offensive line alongside Richardson. Bryce Petty took charge as the new starting quarterback for Baylor and, with the help of Drango’s line, took Baylor to another successful season. While Petty could not quite match Florence’s previous season in terms of raw yards, his year for the Bears was nothing short of impressive. He threw 32 touchdowns against only three interceptions and helped the Bears rank as the highest-scoring offense in the nation. Baylor’s record also improved, going 9-0 to start the season and looking very much like the best team in the nation.
In that ninth game against , however, Baylor suffered a setback that would show just how valuable Drango had been performing for the team. Drango ruptured a disk in his back late in the season, sidelining him for the remaining four game of Baylor’s season.
In those final games, Baylor seemed to lose a step. The Bears went 2-2 to end the year, including an upset loss to Central Florida in the Fiesta Bowl. Almost every offensive category dropped off drastically in those last games; their points per game and rushing yards per game dropped by nearly half and their total yards per game fell by more than 200 yards – a loss of nearly a third of their previous production.
Thankfully for Drango and the Bears, Drango underwent successful surgery on his back and returned for another successful season in 2014. It was the first year Drango had played without Richardson in the lineup, and injuries plagued the offensive line; Troy Baker and Desmine Hilliard were just two starters who had season-ending injuries. Drango quickly learned to be a leader not just by example, as he had done previous years, but vocally too.
“…I was always more by example, or by effort or whatever you want to call it,” Drango said to the Baylor Lariat. “I spoke, but [Baker] had the “senior leadership” position. I suppose that’s fallen on to me now. I have to step up and be more vocal here and there, but definitely bring other guys with me. It’s a lot easier when everyone’s on board.”
In spite of the injuries, the Bears produced at a similar rate as the prior season in Petty’s final season, again leading the nation as the top offense and again going 11-2 on the season. Drango was named a unanimous All-American following the season.
Already owning a strong body of work from his career at Baylor, Drango considered leaving for the NFL following his successful junior year. But the NFL advisory committee for the draft recommended Drango stay for his senior year.
Staying with Baylor for this final year gave Drango a new experience in his play. Seth Russell, perhaps one of the most explosive quarterbacks Baylor has ever seen, has a much more mobile style of play than previous quarterbacks Drango has protected.
“With Bryce, we kinda knew where he was gonna be most of the time — in the pocket,” Drango said. “But with Seth, you have to be ready to extend blocks. You can’t have that time clock in your head like with a guy who likes to sit back in the pocket, because with Seth, he could take a second and go, and then you have to run down field and try to keep making blocks.”
Nevertheless, Drango succeeded in keeping his new, more mobile quarterback protected. The Bears jumped out to an undefeated start while Russell ranked at or near the nation’s top of virtually every quarterback category.
When Russell suffered a devastating season-ending injury at the end of a win over Iowa State, Baylor’s season seemed to be in doubt. But to Drango, it is just another challenge for the Bears to overcome.
According to Optimum Scouting’s prospect rankings, Drango already projects as the sixth-best offensive tackle and a third-round talent in the 2016 NFL Draft. If Drango can keep their new quarterback Stidham upright and the Bears in playoff contention, he may see his stock rise even further.
“…That would be unbelievable,” Drango said in an interview with Baylor on the prospects of continuing Baylor’s tradition of producing quality NFL players “I think it’s a testimony to our coaches here, their recruiting style and how they can get guys and how they can develop good players and make them great.”
But first things first: Drango must continue to show his skills and help Baylor continue its road to a possible playoff spot. The road for Drango and the Bears continue tonight against Kansas State, the first game the Bears will play this season with Stidham starting at quarterback. Odds are good Drango will have the offensive line ready to take on the challenge.
Add The Sports Daily to your Google News Feed!
