March 2, 2009
| 2009 Spring Roster 
| Spring Quick Facts
WACO, Texas - Head coach Art Briles and the Bears opened his second spring training at Baylor Monday with a 140-minute workout in helmets and shorts at the Highers Complex practice fields.
"We're just glad to be back on the field," Briles said. "You spend all your time planning and hoping and now you get to put it to realization on the field. It's just a great time."
Ninety players took part in Monday's practice, the first of four practice days before taking a week off for Baylor's spring break. The Bears will practice on Tuesday, Thursday and Friday this week before spring break begins at Baylor, March 7.
"The thing we are really excited about is just getting a chance to concentrate on our guys," Briles said. "When you are in a season, you spend a lot of your time working on opponents and yourselves. When you get to spring ball, it's all about you.
"This is what we are all about. We're about Baylor. We are about getting ready to be bowl bound in '09."
The Bears will conclude the spring Thursday, April 2, with a controlled scrimmage presented by Time Warner Cable. The scrimmage and all spring workouts will take place at the Highers Complex fields located behind the Simpson Center on University Parks Drive.
All workouts will be open to the public, and fans interested in practice times can contact the football office at 254-710-3058. Remaining spring practice dates are scheduled for March 3,5,6,16,17,19,21,23,24,26,28,30,31 and April 2.
NOTES:
Returning Starters & Lettermen: The Bears 2009 roster includes 20 returning starters and 52 returning lettermen from last season. Nine starters are back on offense (as well as a 10th, Krys Buerck, who was a defensive starter in 2008 and back on offense for 2009), nine starters return from the defense (eight that will play defense in 2009) and both specialists return.
Spring Newcomers: Baylor's spring roster includes three newcomers, 2008 signee Nick Florence (quarterback, Garland, Texas), Penn State transfer Phil Taylor (defenisive tackle, two years of eligibility remaning) and December signee and junior college transfer Danny Watkins (offensive tackle, Butte College).
Returning Award-Winners: Baylor returns eight players who received on-field honors in 2008. The Bears return one All-American, five All-Big 12 honorees and two freshmen All-Americans. The returing award-winners are headlined by senior linebacker Joe Pawelek, a 2008 third-team All-America pick by Phil Steele and a three-year All-Big 12 selection (consensus first-teamer in 2008). Additional 2008 All-Big 12 returners include first-teamer Jordan Lake (senior safety), second-teamer Derek Epperson (junior punter) and honorable mention selections James Barnard (senior offensive guard) and J.D. Walton (senior center). Freshmen standouts from 2008 back as sophomores are Robert Griffin (quarterback, first-team) and Kendall Wright (wide receiver, third-team), each freshman All-Americans last season and Griffin was named the Big 12 Freshman of the Year by multiple outlets. Running back Jay Finley (junior) was named second-team All-Texas by Dave Campbell's Texas Football.
Position Changes: Six Bears are playing new positions heading into 2009 spring training, including five that have switched sides of the ball. Three offensive players were moved to the defensive backfield: running back Jeremy Sanders (senior) and receiver T.J. Scranton (senior) have moved to safety and receiver Romie Blaylock (sophomore) has moved to cornerback. Krys Buerck (junior) has moved back to receiver after playing last season at cornerback. Sam Sledge (senior) has moved from defensive tackle to big slot (fullback). Receiver Ernest Smith has moved from wide receiver to the inside receiver position.
