RECRUITING: What Baylor needs in the 2018 recruiting class

[caption id="attachment_36725" align="aligncenter" width="770"] Matt Rhule's 2018 class at Baylor is currently ranked fourth in the Big 12 and 24th nationally.[/caption] National signing day is coming fast, and we'll be looking at each FBS team's needs as the end of the 2018 recruiting season arrives. First up: BaylorBiggest need: Offensive line This might be the biggest, clearest need of any team in the state. With apologies to the defensive secondary, depth along the offensive line is more important than any position for every program in the Big 12. Baylor signed 22 players in its 2016 class. Eight are still on the roster and quarterback Zach Smith is the latest to leave, announcing plans to transfer to Tulsa to play for former Baylor assistant Philip Montgomery earlier this week. Matt Rhule salvaged Baylor's 2017 class with a Herculean two-month effort to secure the nation's No. 40 class. Still, the Bears were left with a converted tight end playing center, three freshmen and a sophomore in the offensive line's two-deep by season's end. The Bears didn't have enough depth, and six offensive line signees in the class (with only one ranking in the top 100 at his position) is far from enough to fix the issue, especially considering how intent Rhule is on establishing the running game. How it's being addressed:  The Bears have five offensive linemen who signed in the 2018 class during the early signing period and one who's enrolling early and will be on campus later this month. Connor Galvin is on the way to Waco from state power Katy as the nation's No. 29 offensive tackle and Franklin's Casey Phillips gives the Bears a new body at tackle for spring practice. He's the nation's No. 67 offensive tackle and Southlake Carroll's Jackson Kimble, Bryan's Ylijaah Hall and All-Name Teamer Princeton Pines give this Bears' class five signees all ranked in the top 103 at their positions by 247 Sports. More could be coming, too. Rhule has offers out to a handful of other offensive line prospects and it couldn't hurt to add as many capable bodies as possible to an already outstanding 2018 group. The Bears' class is fourth in the Big 12 and 24th nationally, giving plenty of reason to believe Rhule has the program pointed in the right direction despite a frustrating 2017 season.