Led by Each Other, Four Bears Take Ultimate Step
5/12/2026 8:41:00 AM | Football
By Brent Ingram, Baylor Athletics Communications
WACO, Texas -- College athletics has gone through a period of unprecedented change in recent years.
One thing that has not changed for Baylor Athletics? A deeply embedded commitment to the mission of the University to change lives through the spiritual growth of its student-athletes.
That mission was at the forefront on Wednesday night at the Fudge Family Football Development Center, as four new Baylor football standouts pledged their life to Christ and were baptized.
Kelab Arterberry, Daniel Cobbs, DJ Lagway and Stilton McKelvey participated in the most-impactful moments of their spiritual lives, acknowledging Him as their Lord and Savior in front of teammates, coaches, staff and friends and family. Baylor Associate Athletics Director for Mission Impact & Enrichment and the Athletics Chaplain, Kevin Washington and senior safety Michael Allen baptized the four young men in the athletics training spaces at the Fudge Center.
"Moments like these are so special and speak to the mission of our University and program," Baylor football head coach Dave Aranda said. "These young men were drawn to it through each other, through the relationships they've built. That's what makes it so meaningful. When you watch these guys come in as complete strangers from differing backgrounds and previous institutions, and within a few months they're making the most important commitment of their lives in front of their teammates, that's a culture speaking. I'm proud to be around the young men who make up our program every day."
For the last few years, Baylor's football program has had a player-led bible study at the Fudge Center. Safety Michael Allen, a fifth-year senior, has been a vital part of leading the bible studies. Each of the newcomers, who were baptized on Wednesday have been active participants of the team bible studies and small groups.
"The ongoing nature of having student-athletes care about things that are eternal has been so prevalent in this program," Washington said. "The baptisms spring from a player-led bible study. The student-athletes lead this completely. It's really rewarding to see our young men commit to something and be willing to publicly express that among their teammates. It's just encouraging to be a part of. God does the work. The people that we're pouring into are the ones that are talking to their teammates and trying to encourage them to understand and apply the gospel in everyday life."
The four newcomers recently completed their first spring practice season for the Bears, who will open their season on Sept. 5 vs. Auburn in Atlanta.
Arterberry became a story of the spring season with his play at inside linebacker. The sophomore from Pearl, Miss., was a standout in his collegiate debut for Mississippi Gulf Coast CC, where he totaled 61 tackles, including 5.5 for a loss and two sacks in 2025.
"I was baptized as a kid but just never had the decision to make myself, that I wanted to do it and get the real, true meaning behind doing it," Arterberry said. "One reason I chose Baylor was because it was a Christian school, that I needed God in my life more and that there was more I needed to do to get closer to the Lord, spiritually, physically and mentally. Talking with Mike Allen, he had the same journey, baptism-wise as a kid that I did. Talking to him about it, getting into the verses more and getting him to understand the true meaning of baptism, it just helped me make my decision even more to be baptized. I didn't go to the first two (bible studies) that they had and one of our linebackers invited me. When I went, it showed me how much I needed it. When I joined, we were in Exodus, talking about Moses, who as a kid he got put in the river and still found his way back with his family. It just shows that your plan is to follow what God has for your future."
A native of Fort Worth, Texas, Cobbs completed his first spring with the Bears and positioned himself to be a key member of the Baylor secondary in 2026. He joined the team in Waco after beginning his career at Tyler CC and Kansas State for the last three seasons, where he totaled 46 tackles, four for a loss, with four interceptions.
"Really ever since I got to college, I've always try to grow and get closer to God," Cobbs said. "I started at a JUCO, and then was blessed to play at K-State, and throughout my years in college, I just wanted to further a bond with God. Coming to Baylor, at such a Christian-based school, is a big element to that. Michael Allen introduced himself as soon as I got here, he's a real leader on the team, and invited me to church. It felt like a sign. I could already feel that I was going to grow in my faith. There was an incident where my cousin had to go to the hospital and a day or two after, two random people came up to me at Wal-Mart and asked to pray for me. That was a huge sign that God was watching over me. That is what led me to be baptized. It's not like I just started believing but I wanted to show it more. Words don't mean anything without actions."
A native of Willis, Texas, Lagway joined the Bears following two seasons as the primary starter for the Florida Gators. A top recruit out of Willis High School, Lagway was the Gatorade High School Player of the Year in 2023, before taking over the QB gig at UF. He threw for 4,179 yards with 28 TDs in his 19 starts at Florida, before returning to the Lone Star State to play for the Bears, where his father, Derek Lagway, was a standout tailback.
McKelvey, a redshirt junior cornerback, joined the Bears after playing the 2025 season at New Mexico State and two years at New Mexico Military Institute. After leading the nation's junior colleges in interceptions in 2024, McKelvey started 11 games at corner for NMSU last season.
"Being able to invest in being at a faith-based University has been a big thing for me," McKelvey said. "My family is faith based. My Papaw has his own church in Houston and I always grew up in church. Being at a faith-based school makes that journey even better, knowing that my belief is in the Lord and we have a school that reflects the same thing. We all have a common goal - that's to live for the Lord and get to heaven."
WACO, Texas -- College athletics has gone through a period of unprecedented change in recent years.
One thing that has not changed for Baylor Athletics? A deeply embedded commitment to the mission of the University to change lives through the spiritual growth of its student-athletes.
That mission was at the forefront on Wednesday night at the Fudge Family Football Development Center, as four new Baylor football standouts pledged their life to Christ and were baptized.
Kelab Arterberry, Daniel Cobbs, DJ Lagway and Stilton McKelvey participated in the most-impactful moments of their spiritual lives, acknowledging Him as their Lord and Savior in front of teammates, coaches, staff and friends and family. Baylor Associate Athletics Director for Mission Impact & Enrichment and the Athletics Chaplain, Kevin Washington and senior safety Michael Allen baptized the four young men in the athletics training spaces at the Fudge Center.
"Moments like these are so special and speak to the mission of our University and program," Baylor football head coach Dave Aranda said. "These young men were drawn to it through each other, through the relationships they've built. That's what makes it so meaningful. When you watch these guys come in as complete strangers from differing backgrounds and previous institutions, and within a few months they're making the most important commitment of their lives in front of their teammates, that's a culture speaking. I'm proud to be around the young men who make up our program every day."
For the last few years, Baylor's football program has had a player-led bible study at the Fudge Center. Safety Michael Allen, a fifth-year senior, has been a vital part of leading the bible studies. Each of the newcomers, who were baptized on Wednesday have been active participants of the team bible studies and small groups.
"The ongoing nature of having student-athletes care about things that are eternal has been so prevalent in this program," Washington said. "The baptisms spring from a player-led bible study. The student-athletes lead this completely. It's really rewarding to see our young men commit to something and be willing to publicly express that among their teammates. It's just encouraging to be a part of. God does the work. The people that we're pouring into are the ones that are talking to their teammates and trying to encourage them to understand and apply the gospel in everyday life."
The four newcomers recently completed their first spring practice season for the Bears, who will open their season on Sept. 5 vs. Auburn in Atlanta.
Arterberry became a story of the spring season with his play at inside linebacker. The sophomore from Pearl, Miss., was a standout in his collegiate debut for Mississippi Gulf Coast CC, where he totaled 61 tackles, including 5.5 for a loss and two sacks in 2025.
"I was baptized as a kid but just never had the decision to make myself, that I wanted to do it and get the real, true meaning behind doing it," Arterberry said. "One reason I chose Baylor was because it was a Christian school, that I needed God in my life more and that there was more I needed to do to get closer to the Lord, spiritually, physically and mentally. Talking with Mike Allen, he had the same journey, baptism-wise as a kid that I did. Talking to him about it, getting into the verses more and getting him to understand the true meaning of baptism, it just helped me make my decision even more to be baptized. I didn't go to the first two (bible studies) that they had and one of our linebackers invited me. When I went, it showed me how much I needed it. When I joined, we were in Exodus, talking about Moses, who as a kid he got put in the river and still found his way back with his family. It just shows that your plan is to follow what God has for your future."
A native of Fort Worth, Texas, Cobbs completed his first spring with the Bears and positioned himself to be a key member of the Baylor secondary in 2026. He joined the team in Waco after beginning his career at Tyler CC and Kansas State for the last three seasons, where he totaled 46 tackles, four for a loss, with four interceptions.
"Really ever since I got to college, I've always try to grow and get closer to God," Cobbs said. "I started at a JUCO, and then was blessed to play at K-State, and throughout my years in college, I just wanted to further a bond with God. Coming to Baylor, at such a Christian-based school, is a big element to that. Michael Allen introduced himself as soon as I got here, he's a real leader on the team, and invited me to church. It felt like a sign. I could already feel that I was going to grow in my faith. There was an incident where my cousin had to go to the hospital and a day or two after, two random people came up to me at Wal-Mart and asked to pray for me. That was a huge sign that God was watching over me. That is what led me to be baptized. It's not like I just started believing but I wanted to show it more. Words don't mean anything without actions."
A native of Willis, Texas, Lagway joined the Bears following two seasons as the primary starter for the Florida Gators. A top recruit out of Willis High School, Lagway was the Gatorade High School Player of the Year in 2023, before taking over the QB gig at UF. He threw for 4,179 yards with 28 TDs in his 19 starts at Florida, before returning to the Lone Star State to play for the Bears, where his father, Derek Lagway, was a standout tailback.
McKelvey, a redshirt junior cornerback, joined the Bears after playing the 2025 season at New Mexico State and two years at New Mexico Military Institute. After leading the nation's junior colleges in interceptions in 2024, McKelvey started 11 games at corner for NMSU last season.
"Being able to invest in being at a faith-based University has been a big thing for me," McKelvey said. "My family is faith based. My Papaw has his own church in Houston and I always grew up in church. Being at a faith-based school makes that journey even better, knowing that my belief is in the Lord and we have a school that reflects the same thing. We all have a common goal - that's to live for the Lord and get to heaven."
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