Redshirt junior safety Jacob Redding has gone from unknown walk-on to defensive fan favorite in his time at Baylor . TheNew Braunfels native is bearinghigh expectations ahead of the 2026season,making him the sixth most important player to watch on the Bears' roster.
Redding is used to being a staron the footballfield,having beena unanimous First Team All-Districtselectionin his senior year of high school. His path to finding that same successat the college level though was not as easy as his high school dominance.
The safetygrew up under two hours away from Baylor and was a fan since birth. When it came time to choose a school,Waco wasthe only place onRedding's mind.The unranked prospect was forced to settle with a preferred walk-on spot, refusing to turn away his dream to play at Baylor.
Redding earned his way into the starting lineup in2025 after senior safety Devin Turner suffered a season-ending injury during spring practice. After grasping his chance to compete, the former walk-on never looked back.
Redshirt sophomore safety Jacob Redding dives for a tackle during Baylor football's 27-24 loss to Arizona State Saturday night at McLane Stadium. | Via: Mary Thurmond, Baylor Lariat
Redding quickly caught the eyes of Baylor fans in week two of the 2025 season as he snagged two pivotal interceptions that led to a 48-45 double-overtime win over No. 17 SMU . Thesafety'spicks fueled the Bears to their first win over a ranked opponent since the 2021 season.
Redding finished the 2025 season with 53 tackles and the highest defensive rating according to PFF on Baylor's roster. He also returnedaninterception forthe Bears'onlydefensive touchdown of the yearat home against Kansas State .
The pressure is in high gear for Redding ahead of the 2026 season. The redshirt junior set a high bar for himself after his breakout last year.
Not only will Redding be relied upon to mimic, if not exceed, his impressive numbers from 2025, but the full reins of a talented and reloaded defensive backfield rest in his hands.
Redding's biggest task ahead of the 2026 season is not just to duplicate his past year but also tobe the primary vocalleader for an expectedlytalenteddefensive secondary .
Safety Jacob Redding celebrating with teammates after his interception vs. SMU | Via: Baylor Athletics
The redshirt junior is almost guaranteed a starting position in defensive coordinator Joe Klanderman'sblackshirts. His productiondoes not need to end when the play dies but rather will be looked to as a leadership source for a position group that boasts a handful ofnew faces.
Redding will be looked to as a fan favorite for Baylor this year. The former walk on turned star safety will havearguably thehighest expectations of any lone defensive player ahead of the 2026 season.
Ifthere'sanything that Redding proved across his 2025 campaign though,it'sthat the safetyplays with the chip of a walk-on with him. If the chip on his shoulder serves as any sort of motivator, Redding should be expected to blowaway Baylor fans and opposing teams alike as he leads at the helm of a powerfully revamped secondary.
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This article was originally published on www.si.com/college/baylor as Baylor's Top 25 Most Important Players in 2026: Jacob Redding Jumps from Walk-On to Star .
