2025 LB Kaleb Burns flips commitment from Texas Tech to Baylor

Baylor added another big piece to its 2025 football recruiting class on Tuesday, as Houston (Texas) Cy Falls three-star linebacker Kaleb Burns has flipped his commitment from Texas Tech to the Bears.

Burns previously committed to the Red Raiders on July 1, lasting less than a month in their class. He initially chose Tech over SMU, Baylor, Pitt and Houston.

The 6-foot-1, 230-pounder is the No. 463 overall prospect and No. 47 LB in the 2025 cycle, according to the On3 Industry Ranking, a weighted average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies. He’s also the No. 67 player in Texas.

His commitment is the 19th for Baylor this cycle, and he joins a class that includes five four-star prospects: EDGE Kamauryn Morgan, running back Michael Turner, wide receiver Taz Williams Jr., running back Caden Knighten and wide receiver Jacorey Watson.

Four of those five commitments — in addition to Burns’ — have come in the month of July as the Bears make a big move up the On3 Industry Team Recruiting Rankings.

HC Dave Aranda correlates Baylor’s recruiting success to NIL

When speaking at Big 12 Media Days in Las Vegas earlier this month, head coach Dave Aranda was asked about Baylor’s recent recruiting success. He didn’t mince words, pointing toward NIL as the primary reason.

“We’re paying players,” Aranda said on 365 Sports with Craig Smoak.

On3’s Pete Nakos dove in on the state of NIL at Baylor and where things currently stand:

“Baylor was initially slow to enter the NIL collective space, as one of the few Power 4 markets that went through Year One of NIL without a dedicated collective. The Bears now have GXG, which serves as a non-profit organization that partners with donors to provide NIL options to Baylor athletes. GXG Elite was rolled out in February as an NIL membership program for Baylor fans and donors. The program offers a range of exclusive benefits, including access to special events, behind-the-scenes content and unique merchandise and memorabilia.

In October 2022, the initiative executed a team-wide NIL deal with Baylor football players. While the full details of the contract were not disclosed to On3, sources said the total amount of cash given to the athletes was in the seven-figure range.”