Baylor senior linebacker Clay Johnston is out for the rest of the year with a knee injury, a Baylor official confirmed. The news was first reported by Yahoo Sports. 

Johnston was one of the primary catalysts behind the Bears’ defensive resurgence in 2019. He posted 58 tackles, eight tackles for loss, five pass breakups and 2.5 sacks in just six games for the Bears. Baylor dropped from No. 111 to No. 85 to No. 39 over Johnston’s final three seasons.

Baylor shifted to a 3-3-5 defensive alignment in 2019, shifting to just six and sometimes five players in the box. Johnston and defensive end James Lynch have made this alignment successful with their disruptive play. 

“It asks a lot of the linebackers because linebackers have to two-gap in certain situations, but Coach [Phil] Snow knows what he’s doing. They’re geniuses,” Johnston told us at media day. 

With Johnston out of the lineup, Sophomore Terrel Bernard is now the leading tackler on the roster. Johnston played the middle position, while Bernard and Jordan Williams shared weakside responsibilities, with Blake Lynch on the strongside. Williams would be an early contender to shift to the MIKE position next to Bernard. 

Freshman Matt Jones is listed as the primary backup to Johnston, and could see some time. Junior Jalen Pitre should also get more playing time. Defensive coordinator Phil Snow’s defense asks a lot of linebackers, so expect Baylor to lean on the veterans in the short term. Linebacker play is critical in this scheme. If the young linebackers struggle, Baylor could shift a nickel down into the box more consistently to help in run defense.

It’s too late for a medical redshirt, so Johnston’s Baylor career is likely over. He finished with 237 career tackles, 26.5 tackles for loss, nine passes defended and 4.5 sacks in 39 games. Johnston earned his first All-Big 12 nod in 2018. He came to Baylor via Abilene Wylie, where he earned all-state honors on both sides of the ball. 

Johnston is the son of former NFL strength coach Kent Johnston, and brother to former college football players Kody (Texas A&M) and Kole (Tarleton State). 

Baylor moved to 6-0 after beating Texas Tech over the weekend. The Bears travel to Stillwater, Okla., on Saturday to face off against Oklahoma State. The Bears are one of two undefeated teams remaining in the Big 12, along with Oklahoma.