Baylor DT Bravvion Roy paves way for Bears’ turnaround season, moves up draft boards

You’ve probably heard of this type of player before: First off the bus.

These are the types of players for whom their sheer size and physique alone are enough to scare teams.

Yeah, that’s not Baylor’s Bravvion Roy.

But that doesn’t mean Roy hasn’t put the fear of God into opponents all season – and may continue doing so on Sundays in the near future.

Roy is listed at 6-foot-1, 333-pounds by the school, and those measurements might be generous. His impact on the field, though, is a major reason why Baylor enjoyed a turnaround season this year. The senior finished with 56 tackles, 12 tackles for loss and 4.5 sacks.

Those numbers are good on their own, but once you realize that he was the nose tackle for the Bears in their 3-4 allignment, and those numbers suddenly look even more impressive.

The Hula Bowl is pleased to announce Bravvion Roy from Baylor University has been invited to come and showcase his talent at the 2020 Hula Bowl in Hawaii!! @bufootball#hulabowl #hulabowlhawaii #cbssports #collegefootball #nflpropsects #sicem pic.twitter.com/Zuv2E30eY9

— Hula Bowl (@Hula_Bowl) November 23, 2019

And his impact is felt throughout the defensive line. His pressure, strength and ability to command double teams helped edge rushers James Lockhart, a senior, and James Lynch, a junior, do what they do best: get after the quarterback and wreak havoc.

Lockhart (6-2, 263) finished the regular season with 29 tackles, 7.5 tackles for loss and 5 sacks, while Lynch (6-4, 295) finished with 39 tackles, 18.5 tackles for loss and a Big 12-leading 12.5 sacks, which was 5.5 more sacks than the next-closest defender.

Collectively, they were virtually unstoppable this season. According to Sports Info Solutions, by way of The Athletic, the top three linemen in the Big 12 this season for generating pressure were Lynch, Lockhart and Roy.

“Bravvion Roy is one of the best nose tackles in the country,” A.J. Schulte of Pro Football Network said in his preview of the Oklahoma-Baylor Big 12 championship. “Roy has incredible power at the point of attack and has excellent movement skills and athletic ability.”

Roy is also expected to run well at the Combine and might be the strongest player in the draft.

“Roy is a workout freak and should dominate the NFL Combine,” Schulte said.

Roy is currently the No. 268 prospect in the latest Fanspeak rankings, but that’s not entirely unexpected, as he entered the season graded by some scouts as a free agent.

However, Roy should see his rankings improve as the draft draws closer, especially if he performs well at the Combine.