Fifth-ranked Baylor has lost starting defensive end Jamal Palmer, perhaps best known as “the Baylor defensive end that isn’t Shawn Oakman,” for the season to a torn ACL suffered during the Bears’ 28-7 win at Texas, the school announced on Sunday.
A junior, Palmer had started all five games this season after appearing in 21 of 26 possible games as a backup during his first two seasons. He served as an important cog on a defensive front that ranks fourth nationally in yards per play allowed (3.91).
(Any compliment of Baylor’s defense at this point in the season under federal law must denote that those numbers were built against offenses ranked 127th, 54th, 115th and 118th nationally in yards per play, plus FCS Northwestern State.)
Palmer will end his season with 14 total tackles (six sol0), three TFL, 2.5 sacks and two quarterback hurries. For his career, Palmer has notched 56 tackles (35 solo) with 14 TFL, 7.5 sacks, five forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries and one pass deflection.
Redshirt freshman K.J. Smith served as Palmer’s backup on the Bears’ most recent depth chart. He’s actually been just as disruptive as the man Baylor is losing, tying Palmer with 14 tackles while outpacing him with 4.5 TFL and three hurries to go with two sacks. Smith recorded three tackles with a TFL while receiving the bulk of the action on Saturday.
Baylor hosts No. 8 TCU in a massive showdown of unbeaten teams battling for first place in the Big 12 Saturday in Waco (3:30 p.m. ET, ABC/ESPN2).