Dave Aranda’s recruiting strategy at Baylor will likely fail

Former LSU football defensive coordinator Dave Aranda recently became the new head coach of the Baylor Bears.

Former LSU defensive coordinator Dave Aranda is putting together a staff that has a definite Louisiana flair to it.

Aranda has hired two assistants away from LSU’s staff — defensive line coach Dennis Johnson (who didn’t coach on the sidelines for LSU in 2019 because of a knee injury) and analyst Jorge Munoz (who was expected to be a candidate to replace Joe Brady in Baton Rogue).

Johnson has a reputation for being a tremendous recruiter — especially in Louisiana. And Munoz drew praise this past fall for his work with quarterback Joe Burrow.

It seems apparent that Aranda is going to make recruiting Louisiana a priority. Johnson, a former LSU defensive tackle, knows the high schools in Louisiana as well as anyone. He’ll definitely be an asset for Aranda in the area.

But while it’s probably wise for Aranda to target talent in Louisiana, it probably isn’t going to end well for him. I can’t see many in-state recruits eschewing LSU in favor of Baylor.

I’d be shocked if an elite recruit signed with Baylor over LSU. It’s just not something that’s likely to happen.

Aranda might be wasting his time with recruits he’ll never have a shot at landing. He’d be better off focusing on the incredible amount of in-state talent that Texas has.

I’m sure Aranda thinks he’s being slick by creating a pipeline to Louisiana via Johnson and Munoz (and himself), but it’s a pipeline that probably won’t pay dividends.