Offensive Coordinator Jake Spavital and the Baylor Bears suffered a hit on the recruiting trail today as 2027 4-star quarterback Malachi Ziegler of Benton High School in Benton, LA committed to Rhett Lashlee and the SMU Mustangs.
Ziegler gave his commitment to the Mustangs over Baylor and a host of other suitors, including Auburn, Florida State, Miami, Tennessee and Ole Miss.
Ziegler is part of a trio of gunslingers from Louisiana that are ranked in the top 15 quarterback prospects in the 2027 class, joining No. 1 quarterback Elijah Haven (Dunham School, Baton Rouge, LA) and No. 10 Peyton Houston (Evangel Christian, Shreveport, LA). Ziegler is ranked No. 11.
What Baylor could be missing
For the Benton Tigers in 2024, Ziegler gained 1,552 yards of total offense and accounted for 12 touchdowns in what was a winless season for the Tigers (0-9-1)…