James Lynch was coach Matt Rhule's first visit. Now he's the face of Baylor's defense

Suzanne Halliburton | Austin American-Statesman

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When Matt Rhule arrived in Waco, Texas, in December 2016, he was tasked with a huge rebuild of the Baylor program. The team was stained by scandal. There were only 45 players on scholarship and just one recruit who was committed with national signing day weeks away.

So when you’re in need of everything, to whom do you turn for help, be it immediate or long term?

Rhule immediately drove to the Austin, Texas, area — 100 miles from Waco — hoping to woo a couple of players Baylor’s way.

Rhule’s first in-home visit was to Round Rock, Texas, to see defensive lineman James Lynch, the youngest child of a couple of transplanted Texans who gave their baby boy the middle name of “Husker” in honor of the family’s favorite college team. Lynch grew to be the largest kid in a family that included a brother and several cousins who all played college football.

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Lynch had been committed previously to both TCU and USC, but somehow had escaped the attention of the state’s marquee programs, Texas and Texas A&M. Or, as Lynch describes it, the “blue blood” teams just didn’t show much interest.

Yet Lynch was so athletically gifted that Round Rock coach Jeff Cheatham also used him as a tight end in a short-yardage package on offense. Lynch could punt, too. As a freshman, he was a hulking left-hander who pitched and played the outfield for the Dragons’ baseball team.

Lynch could be the perfect clean-cut prospect to build a defense around.

“Baylor really was close to home,” Lynch said Tuesday. “Coach Rhule was very honest and up front about where he wanted to take the program.”

Lynch’s mother, Sherri, recalled how her youngest told people he eventually wanted to be “the face of Baylor.”

Three years later, Lynch certainly is the face, at least of the resurgent Bears defense. His 8.5 sacks lead the Big 12. He’s already earned one national defender of the week award. His numbers are compelling enough to be worthy of All-American honors. Lining up as an end in Baylor’s new 3-3-5 base defense, Lynch has deflected four passes and registered 11 quarterback hurries, while forcing a pair of fumbles and blocking a couple of kicks.

“James Lynch to me is one of the most selfless, diehard players I’ve ever been around,” Rhule told the American-Statesman’s “On Second Thought” podcast this week. “He believes 1000% in what we’re doing.”

Coincidentally, the other face of Baylor is quarterback Charlie Brewer, who also was part of Rhule’s first class.

This Saturday, Lynch and Baylor play host to Texas. It’s the Bears, not the Longhorns, who are in line for a berth in the Big 12 title game. Baylor needs to beat either UT or Kansas to clinch a spot in next month’s game at AT&T Stadium. Oklahoma, which needed the biggest comeback in school history to break Baylor’s heart last Saturday, would be the likely opponent.

Lynch is a half-sack away from breaking the Baylor career record. Maybe that comes Saturday. The Longhorns have struggled to defend quarterback Sam Ehlinger. UT has allowed 27 sacks, which is tied for the worst in the league with TCU and Baylor.

Sherri and her husband Tim Lynch, who played linebacker for a year at Nebraska, have attended every Baylor game for the past two years. As per their tradition, the family will set up a tailgate across the street from McLane Stadium. Other players’ parents, along with friends and family, will kick in $10 each for food and bring chairs and beverages.

At 9-1, there has been lots of reasons to party. The Lynch’s oldest son, Dustin, who played offensive line at Texas State, normally brings the big grill. For this week’s tailgate, the Lynch family expects about 80 guests, many of them wearing burnt orange.

There’s no reason to dislike the hometown team that didn’t offer a scholarship.

Lynch says he’s not motivated by the UT recruiting snub. That’s not how his mind works.

“For me, it’s about the people who believed in me,” Lynch said. “Doing well for those people is what motivates me.”