Kyler Baugh, a 6-foot-3, 300-pound defensive lineman from Houston Baptist announced Thursday, that he was transferring to Minnesota. He could have two years of eligibility for the Gophers.
Baugh had 52 tackles, 3 ½ sacks and 4 ½ tackles for loss this past season for the Huskies, who finished 0-11.
GopherHole caught up with Baugh Friday afternoon to learn more about his decision.
GopherHole: You committed to Minnesota last night. What was the main reason that you decided that Minnesota was where you wanted to play college football this upcoming season?
Kyler Baugh: It is a great opportunity and I think it’s going to be a place I can call home away from home.
GopherHole: Because of the transfer portal and having an extra year of eligibility, due to COVID, you were able to put your name out there. What other schools that you were hearing from besides Minnesota?
Kyler Baugh: I was hearing from quite a few schools. I had offers from Western Kentucky, SMU, Utah State and Tarleton State. I had a lot of Power 5 schools talking to me.
GopherHole: Did you have a final three or final five or had you narrowed it down to that level before you committed?
Kyler Baugh: No, I just felt that this was the best place.
GopherHole: Did you have a chance to visit any other schools?
Kyler Baugh: No. I am visiting Minnesota next weekend.
GopherHole: What do you know about Minnesota?
Kyler Baugh: I know a little bit, but I’m excited to learn a lot more once I get there.
GopherHole: What have you heard so far?
Kyler Baugh: They have been successful the past couple of seasons. I like the culture there. I like what P.J. Fleck is doing. I just think that is going to be a good place for me.
GopherHole: Was there a reason you decided to commit when you did before you even made a visit or did you feel that you wanted to know where you were going to go?
Kyler Baugh: I really just wanted to know where I was going to go before taking visits.
GopherHole: You played at Houston Baptist and have been very successful there. What other schools were you hearing from out of high school besides Houston Baptist?
Kyler Baugh: I was hearing from Houston Baptist, Abilene Christian and Tulsa. That was about it.
GopherHole: To be honest, were you a little bit surprised at how many big Power 5 schools you were hearing from when you put your name into the transfer portal?
Kyler Baugh: It shocked me, honestly. I didn’t think I was going to blow up like this.
GopherHole: If I had told you three or four years ago that you would be recruited by Utah State, SMU and Minnesota, what would you have thought?
Kyler Baugh: I would have thought that you were crazy.
GopherHole: I know that Minnesota has some good players coming back, but I know that they have some needs on the defensive line since they graduated some players. What have they told you about what your role might be for next year?
Kyler Baugh: My role is to compete, because I have a lot of experience compared to the other players there. Just to get up there and be productive right away.
GopherHole: At Houston Baptist, your numbers improved every year. Was it hard to leave the players and the coaching staff there?
Kyler Baugh: Yes, it actually was. It was very tough, but you know that college football is a business and I felt that this was in my best interest in going into the portal.
GopherHole: Had you been thinking about putting your name into the transfer portal before you did it was it something that just came up? What made you decide that now was the time?
Kyler Baugh: We had a rough season and I was thinking about it for awhile. I wanted to go to a place where they are successful and bigger ball.
GopherHole: Minnesota was a bowl team last year. What would it mean to play in a bowl game after your season?
Kyler Baugh: That would be great. Love that. Would probably be one of the greatest experiences of my life,
GopherHole: Minnesota fans haven’t seen a lot of you. I saw a couple of comments about your highlight video, in one particular play you chased down a punt returner preventing a touchdown. What do remember about that play?
Kyler Baugh: I remember I was playing left shield and they punted it and he got free from our net and I was like “I’ve got to make this play,” so I started running and I was like “I’m not letting this guy score a touchdown,” and I ran him down and tackled him.
GopherHole: What was the reaction your next film session with your coaches and players when they saw how far you had to run to get that guy?
Kyler Baugh: They were super impressed. It was something that you don’t see every day, like that is something that NFL scouts look at and they said that is one of the most special plays that they had ever seen.
GopherHole: For Minnesota fans who haven’t seen you play. What do you see as your strengths as a football player?
Kyler Baugh: My strengths are that I am a super hard worker and I don’t take any plays off. That is one thing that I can promise.
GopherHole: What do you like to do away from the football field.
Kyler Baugh: Away from the football field, I like to just hang out with my family, playing video games, hunting and fishing.
GopherHole: Do you know much about Minnesota’s fishing and hunting yet?
GopherHole: No, sir. I do not. I’m from Oklahoma, so I’ve never been there. Never been North before.
GopherHole: Do you have a go-to video game?
Kyler Baugh: I really like playing sports games. Right now, I’m really into MLB the Show ’22. I love playing Madden. I like playing Apex Legends.
GopherHole: Playing Madden, do you think that helps you for football?
Kyler Baugh: Yeah, for sure. It’s a lot of plays that are similar to defensive and offensive schemes and I feel like you pick up a lot of stuff by just playing that game.
GopherHole: When are you planning on coming up? Would it be in June?
Kyler Baugh: I plan on coming up in May.
GopherHole: How many years of eligibility will you have at Minnesota?
Kyler Baugh: Two years.