Baylor nets commitment from WR Cameron Bonner

Cameron Bonner could not wait until National Signing Day to reveal his next move.

The Houston (Texas) St. Thomas three-star athlete pledged to Baylor on Monday, with the Bears edging out Arizona, Illinois, Wisconsin, Texas A&M, SMU and Houston for the big-play wide receiver.

Bonner is a top-100 prospect in the Lone Star State for the Class of 2021 and finished his senior season at No. 97 overall in-state.

Bonner joins fellow Houston-area pass-catchers Elijah Bean (Summer Creek) and Javon Gipson (George Ranch) in Baylor’s 2021 haul, which entered the day ranked No. 55 in the Rivals team rankings with 16 commitments. Bonner, the highest-rated receiver of the bunch, should bolster the Bears’ position nationally.

Bonner is expected to sign his national letter of intent with Baylor when the early signing window opens on Wednesday.

New Baylor commitment Cameron Bonner was a downfield playmaker capable of taking the top off of opposing defenses for Houston (Texas) St. Thomas the past two seasons. Last season, Bonner broke out on the scene with 49 receptions for 1,249 yards and a dozen touchdowns. As a senior, Bonner turned 35 grabs into 740 yards with eight more scores.

The 5-foot-11, 175-pound Bonner is a two-sport standout with some speed downfield. He runs track with the following times: 100-meter (11.67 seconds); 200-meter (23.32) and 400-meter (47.65).

Bonner is able to consistently generate separation on routes downfield and has a second gear breaking away from the secondary on deep balls. He’s equally as smooth and a natural route-runner, using footwork and short-area quickness to create separation on plays in the short and intermediate parts of the field. He’s also developed some deceptive headfakes to deceive defenders and quickly get open.

Bonner runs like he’s on skates in the open field. He’s capable of catching passes on underneath routes with a surprising catch radius and reliable hands. He’s decently agile in space and may be best geared for a role in the slot in the Big 12.

Look for Bonner to continue to develop as a route-runner and showcase more of his ability to create in the different areas on the field when he arrives at Baylor. He averaged an impressive 21.14 yards per catch as a senior in 2020, which gives context to his big-play ability and opens the door to be a volume target in the Bears offense.