Despite having to replace more than half the starters from last season, having a defensive leader like senior linebacker Luke Hutchins gives Baylor a solid foundation for rebuilding.
The 6-foot-2, 210-pound Hutchins will be a three-year starter and sets the type example that Red Raiders coach Phil Massey hopes the rest of the team follows.
“When I was talking to the team about the virtues of being a leader, Luke had every single one of the qualities we named,” Massey said. “He’s the first here to work every day and the last to leave. He never complains, is very coachable and is always encouraging his teammates. It’s so important to have guys to lead by their actions and not by talking, and that’s exactly what Luke does for us.”
Hutchins, an all-region selection last year when he made 69 tackles and 11 for loss despite a nagging knee injury, is one of only five starters back on defense. As the quarterback of the defense, he makes all the defensive calls and is responsible for making sure his teammates are aligned correctly.
But when he joined the varsity, as a 150-pound freshman, becoming a starter at any point in his career looked like a long shot.