Kendal Briles’ recruiting track record, development impact

South Carolina has officially named Kendal Briles as its new offensive coordinator, adding a coach with a track record of developing productive offenses and high-level talent.

Briles’ career spans stops at Baylor, FAU, Houston, Florida State, Arkansas, and TCU, where he’s coached quarterbacks, running backs, and wide receivers to some of their best seasons in college. Several of his players have earned All-American honors and gone on to the NFL.

Let’s take a look at some key players developed under Briles (statistics, honors, draft selections sourced from Sports-Reference.com)

Baylor:

Bryce Petty (QB)

College Performance: 8,195 passing yards, 62 passing TDs, 10 INTs; 192 carries for 338 rushing yards and 21 rushing TDs.

Honors / Awards: Among Baylor career leaders in total offense and touchdowns responsible for.

NFL / Draft Info: Drafted 2015 — 4th Round, 103rd overall (New York Jets).

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Seth Russell (QB)

• College Performance: 5,461 passing yards, 60 passing TDs, 18 INTs; 199 carries for 1,240 rushing yards and 20 rushing TDs.
• Honors / Awards: Ranked among Baylor’s career leaders in efficiency, TDs responsible for, and dual-threat production.
• NFL / Draft Info: Injuries limited pro outlook; undrafted but had NFL tryouts.

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Kendall Wright (WR)

College Performance: Career totals — 302 receptions, 4,004 receiving yards, 30 receiving TDs. Senior season (2011): 108 receptions, 1,663 yards, 14 TDs. 

Honors / Awards: 1st‑Team All‑American (2011), All‑Big 12; previously All‑Big 12 honorable mention (2009), 2nd‑Team All‑Big 12 (2010) per school

NFL / Draft Info: Drafted in the 2012 NFL Draft — 1st Round, 20th overall.

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Corey Coleman (WR)

College Performance: Career at Baylor: 173 receptions, 3,009 yards, 33 TDs. His 2015 season: 74 catches, 1,363 yards, 20 TDs.

Honors / Awards: Winner of the 2015 Fred Biletnikoff Award (nation’s top receiver).

NFL / Draft Info: Drafted in the 2016 NFL Draft — 1st Round, 15th overall.

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Josh Gordon (WR)

• College Performance: Among Baylor’s historic receiving yardage leaders for his era.
• NFL / Draft Info: Entered NFL via Supplemental Draft
  2012: 2nd round
• NFL: Super Bowl champion (LIII) First-team All-Pro (2013) Pro Bowl (2013) NFL receiving yards leader (2013)

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Terrance Williams (WR)

College Performance: Career: 202 receptions, 3,334 yards, 27 TDs — among Baylor’s all-time receiving leaders. 

Peak Season: 2012 season — 1,832 receiving yards (single-season Baylor record) per school leaders list. 

NFL / Draft Info: Drafted in 2013 NFL Draft — 3rd Round, 74th overall.

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K.D. Cannon (WR)

College Performance: Career Baylor totals: 195 receptions, 3,113 yards, 27 TDs. 

Peak Season: 2016 — 1,215 receiving yards (per Baylor single-season yardage list). 

NFL / Draft Info: undrafted

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Tevin Reese (WR)

• College Performance: 187 receptions, 3,102 receiving yards, 24 TDs over his Baylor career. 
• NFL / Draft Info: 7th round, 240th overall pick

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Denzel Mims (WR one year)

NFL / Draft Info: 2nd round, 59th overall pick

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Other Baylor Contributors (WR / TE / depth)

David Gettis (WR), Jordan Najvar (TE)

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FAU (Briles tenure 2017)

Devin Singletary (RB)

• College Performance: 2017 — 301 rushes, 1,920 yards, 32 rushing TDs. FAU career rushing leader (4,287 yards, 66 total TDs).
• Honors / Awards: First AP All‑American in FAU history (3rd Team, 2017).
• NFL / Draft Info: Drafted 2019 — 3rd Round, 74th overall.

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Kerrith Whyte Jr. (RB)

• College Performance: 2017 — 55 carries, 347 yards, 2 TDs; rotational backfield role.
• NFL / Draft Info: Drafted 2019 — 7th Round, 222nd overall.

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John Franklin III (WR / ATH)

• College Performance: 2017 — used as a dual-threat (rushing and receiving), including a 55-yard TD run in high‑offense games.
• Role / Notes: Versatile athlete used in multiple roles — offense + special teams / returner.
• NFL / Pro Info: Undrafted; earned NFL opportunities as WR / KR.

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Harrison Bryant (TE)

• College Performance: 2017 — 32 catches, 408 yards, 5 TDs; progressed into FAU’s top TE by career end (148 rec, 2,137 yards, 16 TDs).
• Honors / Awards: Won the John Mackey Award (nation’s best TE), Consensus All‑American, First‑Team All‑Conference (post‑Briles, but from same FAU pipeline).
• NFL / Draft Info: Drafted 2020 — 4th Round, 115th overall.

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Houston  (Briles tenure 2018) — QB / WR Group Highlights

D’Eriq King (QB / Dual-Threat)

• College Performance: 7,040 passing yards, 66 passing TDs, 19 INTs; 1,525 rushing yards, 29 rushing TDs over his Houston career. Peak production under Briles’ system.
• Honors / Awards: AAC All-Conference recognition; nationally ranked for total offense among dual-threat QBs.
• NFL / Draft Info: Undrafted; signed as free agent, had brief NFL stints

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Clayton Tune (QB)

• College Performance: In his first year at Houston in 2018, Tune appeared in five games and made two starts as a backup to D’Eriq King. He started the final two games of the year in place of an injured King. For the season, he completed 59 of 117 passes for 795 yards with eight touchdowns and two interceptions under Briles’ OC system
• Honors / Awards: First-Team All-AAC; set AAC single-season record with 40 passing TDs.
• NFL / Draft Info: 5th round, 139th overall pick.

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Marquez Stevenson (WR)

• College Performance: 128 receptions, 2,157 yards, 21 TDs; best season under Briles’ OC scheme.
• Honors / Awards: AAC All-Conference recognition; key deep-threat target.
• NFL / Draft Info: Drafted 2020 — 7th Round, 224th overall (Philadelphia Eagles).

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Florida State — Peak Year Players Under Briles

Cam Akers (RB)

• Peak Year: 2019 — 1,144 rushing yards, 14 rushing TDs; 26 receptions, 242 receiving yards, 2 receiving TDs.
• Honors / Awards: First-Team All-ACC 2019.
• NFL / Draft Info: Drafted 2020 — 2nd Round, 52nd overall (Los Angeles Rams)

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James Blackman (QB)

• Peak Year: 2019 — 1,638 passing yards, 13 passing TDs; 161 rushing yards, 4 rushing TDs.
• NFL / Draft Info: Undrafted; signed as free agent.

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Tamorrion Terry (WR)

• Peak Year: 2019 — 45 receptions,1188 yards, 9 TDs.
• Honors / Awards: ACC recognition for receiving yards per game.
• NFL / Draft Info: Undrafted
  

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Tre’ McKitty (TE)

• Peak Year: 2019 — 28 receptions, 386 yards, 2 TDs.
• NFL / Draft Info: Drafted 2022 — 4th Round, 133rd overall (Los Angeles Chargers).

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Gabe Nabers (TE)

• Peak Year: 2019 — 18 receptions, 213 yards, 2 TDs.
• NFL / Draft Info: 2020: undrafted

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Arkansas — Peak Year Players Under Briles

K.J. Jefferson (QB)

• Peak Year: 2022 — 2,648 passing yards, 24 passing TDs, 5 INTs; 640 rushing yards, 9 rushing TDs; completed 68.3% of passes and served as Arkansas’ primary dual‑threat signal‑caller.
• Honors / Awards: Liberty Bowl MVP; ranked among Arkansas’ all‑time leaders in total offense and career passing stats. 
• NFL / Draft Info: Undrafted; pro prospect with strong college résumé.

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Treylon Burks (WR)

• Peak Year: 2021 — 66 receptions, 1,104 receiving yards, 11 TDs; also added 112 rushing yards and 1 rushing TD, emerging as a complete offensive threat. 
• Honors / Awards: First‑Team All‑SEC (2021); Named to Biletnikoff and Maxwell Award watch lists; one of only four Razorbacks in school history to hit 1,000+ receiving yards in a season. 
• NFL / Draft Info: Drafted 2022 — 1st Round, 18th overall (Tennessee Titans); currently active in NFL rosters. 

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Raheim Sanders (RB)

• Peak Year: 2022 — 1,443 rushing yards, 10 rushing TDs; 28 receptions, 271 receiving yards, 2 receiving TDs, combining for 1,714 yards from scrimmage. 
• Honors / Awards: Ranked second in the SEC in rushing yards and one of just 20 FBS rushers with 100+ yards per game. 
• NFL / Draft Info: Entered 2023 NFL Draft cycle — notable pro prospect at RB. 

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AJ Green (RB)

• Peak Year: 2022 — 87 rushing yards, 3 rushing TDs; also contributed in pass game, showcasing versatility in Briles’ offense. 
• NFL / Draft Info: Undrafted; free agent potential.

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Jadon Haselwood (WR)

• Peak Year: 2022 — 30 receptions, 520 yards, 6 TDs; reliable outside threat.
• NFL / Draft Info: Undrafted

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Trey Knox (TE)

• Peak Year: 2022 — 22 receptions, 308 yards, 2 TDs; contributed as a key seam/possession target in Briles’ scheme.
• NFL / Draft Info: Undrafted

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Beaux Limmer (OL)

• Peak Year: 2022 — Anchored offensive line as a run‑ and pass‑block stalwart for a top‑tier Arkansas rushing and balanced offense.
• NFL / Draft Info: 6th round, 217th overall pick

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Ricky Stromberg (OL)

• Peak Year: 2022 — Starting offensive lineman, vital in pass protection and Briles’ diverse offensive fronts. 
• NFL / Draft Info: 3rd round, 97th overall pick

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Feleipe Franks (QB)

• Peak Year: 2021 — Led Arkansas with ~2,963 passing yards and 21 passing TDs, adding value with his arm and legs in Briles’ system.
• NFL / Draft Info: Drafted 2022 — 7th Round

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TCU — Recent Key Players (Under Briles / Most Recent Seasons)

Josh Hoover (QB)

• Peak Year (2024): 3,949 passiFrogs O’ War+1
• Season Summary: Threw 29 TDs, 13 INTs; added 2 rushing TDs. 

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Jack Bech (WR)

• Peak Year (2024): 1,034 receiving yards — breakout season in Briles’ system. ESPN.com+1
• Season Summary: Earned All‑Big 12 Second Team honors; semifinalist for the Biletnikoff Award (nation’s top WR). Frogs O’ War+1
• Notes: Emerged as TCU’s top receiving option; big jump in production over previous seasons under the current staff. Frogs O’ War+1

Savion Williams (WR / Multi‑Role: WR + Wildcat / Run Option)

• Peak Year (2024): 60 receptions, 611 receiving yards, 6 receiving TDs — plus 322 rushing yards and 6 rushing TDs from wildcat/dual‑threat packages. Frogs O’ War+1
• Season Summary / Notes: Williams became TCU’s most versatile weapon — capable as both receiver and runner — even acting as the lead running back in certain packages. Frogs O’ War+1
• Honors: All‑Big 12 Honorable Mention for 2024. Frogs O’ War

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Jared Wiley (TE)

• Peak Year (2023): Logged a breakout season for a tight end at TCU, earning All‑Big 12 First Team honors. TCU Athletics
• Season Summary: Posted team‑leading receptions among TEs; 47 catches (per All‑Big 12 note), showing reliability in the red zone and intermediate passing game. TCU Athletics+1
• Notes: His production renewed attention on TCU’s tight‑end usage and provided a safety valve in the offense under Briles’ play‑calling. TCU Athletics+1

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Kendal Briles Top Recruits of All Time:

• K.D. Cannon (WR) — Five-star

• Jarrett Stidham (QB) — Five-star, No. 1 QB in class

Other Top Recruits Under Briles:

• Davion Hall (DB) — Four-star

• Adam Schobel (QB) — Four-star

• Malik Hornsby (QB) — Four-star

• Hauss Hejny (QB) — Four-star

• Malachi Singleton (QB) — Four-star

• Bravvion Roy (DL) — Four-star

• Quincey McAdoo (WR) — Four-star

• Ishmael Zamora (WR) — Four-star

• Pooh Stricklin (WR) — Four-star

• Jared Atkinson (WR) — Four-star

• J.W. Ketchum III (DB) — Four-star

• Mo Porter (OT, No. 3 at position) — Four-star

• Kyle Fulks (WR) — Four-star

• DeAndre McNeal (WR) — Four-star

Three-star / Developmental Recruits

• Zach Smith (QB) — Three-star

• Jack Daulton (QB) — Three-star

• De’Andre Johnson (QB) — Three-star / lower tier

• Lucas Coley (QB) — Three-star

• Chris Platt (WR) — Three-star

• Mason Peterson (TE) — Three-star

• Jordan Tolbert (CB) — Three-star

• Jerry Meyer III (QB) — Three-star

• Carter Boatwright (TE) — Three-star

• Devon Manuel (OT) — Three-star

• Landon Rogers (QB) — Three-star

• Logan Peterson (TE) — Three-star

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