Report: Texas Southern defensive tackle transfer Elinus Noel commits to Baylor
Texas Southern defensive tackle Elinus Noel is a massive, massive human being. He tips the scales at 6-foot-1, 320 pounds. Noel was one of the more highly coveted prospects in the transfer portal this offseason, as you might imagine. With that kind of size, it’s easy to see why.
And while he visited Arkansas and had interest from many other schools across the SEC, he’s decided to commit to the Baylor Bears, according to a report from Matt Zenitz.
He also announced the news on his Twitter page on Sunday evening, making it official. The announcement comes shortly after the defensive tackle took his official visit to Waco to visit Baylor. Noel will slide into nose tackle and will help provide some reinforcements at the position, after the Bears lost two players to medical retirements (Tre Emory and Jerrell Boykins).
Last year, he racked up 52 tackles, 7.5 tackles for loss, and 3.5 sacks for the Texas Southern Tigers. Noel graded out at 78.4 according to PFF, which ranked him 71st in America, according to Pro Football Focus. They ranked him at a run defense grade of 87.5, putting him at 14th in the country.
Noel had an impressive list of offers in the portal: NC State, Kentucky, Kansas State, Arkansas, and the Maryland Terrapins. The 320-pounder will have one year of eligibility left with the Baylor Bears. The big man attended John Curtis High School (New Orleans, Louisiana).
He wasn’t the only portal commitment on Sunday for Baylor. Their coaching staff reeled in two more defensive prospects, linebacker JaQues Evans and defensive back Lorando Johnson.
In his lone season at Arkansas, Johnson had his most productive year yet, racking up 29 tackles, 4.0 tackles for a loss, a sack, an interception with a defensive touchdown, as well as six pass breakups.
In his four-year career he has now totaled 49 tackles, 6.0 tackles for a loss, 1.5 sacks, a forced fumble, an interception with a defensive touchdown and 11 pass breakups.
Prior to enrolling at Baylor and later transferring to Arkansas and then back to Baylor again, Lorando “Snaxx” Johnson was a four-star prospect and the No. 361 overall recruit in the 2020 recruiting class, according to the On3 Industry Rankings.
He also checked in as the No. 33 cornerback and the No. 51 overall player in the state of Texas, hailing from Lancaster (TX) Lancaster.
On3’s Thomas Goldkamp also contributed to this article.