Baylor Head Coach Art Briles:

Opening Statement:
"It's always a fun time, a lot of energy, a lot of passion, a lot of excitement and a lot to prove. We certainly feel like we have a lot to prove as a football team and a program and as individuals. There's a few key areas that we're certainly going to concentrate on this spring. Of course, everybody's position is critical and under evaluation. But the thing we've got to see is cohesively from the quarterback position, we have to maintain the level we've been on for the last six to eight years."

On returning lots of players:
"On the defensive side, we have a lot of returning guys that will carry over into our improvement. We have our whole offensive line, most of our receivers and all of our running backs back, who will all need to be much improved. So we have a lot of people back, but that doesn't mean that that's good enough. You've got to improve the more you add. We want them better right now than they were when they stepped off the field on January 1."

On the battle for starting quarterback:
"We are a little bit familiar with Seth (Russell), and that's one thing that helps some. There's a difference from being the sixth man and being the starter. That's why they have sixth men that come off the bench with a spark when they play. When you are in the starting five you have to play every snap and be good every transition. That's what we've got to see. We have to make sure he can stay consistent with his predictability and his athleticism. He also needs to be cohesive with our receivers and running backs. That is critical in our offense. He will be taking first-team reps because he has experience there. He's been on the field for us before. He's a fourth-year guy who has been around the system. We will evaluate Chris (Johnson) and (Jarrett) Stidham as the spring goes along. They're both really talented, and we will see how they fit in."

On having a chip on the shoulder from the end of last season:
"I don't really think (we have a chip on our shoulder). We played really well, won a conference championship and got in a major bowl game and played against a well-respected team in Michigan State. They were a team that had won the Rose Bowl a year before and finished in the top five in 2013 and 2014. I certainly felt like we won the battle, but we just didn't win that game. They made a bunch of plays down the stretch and it was a fortunate win for them."

On the importance of having both offensive and defensive lines back:
"It's gigantic. All I can say is, it is giving us an opportunity to stay at this level. The thing that we have to do is understand when other universities are looking around seeing how to do things, Baylor is the team that's ahead. We have to do whatever we need to stay ahead because if you look down, there's going to be some chopping at the ankles. We can't let them catch us."

On how his approach changes with 17 returning starters:
"It changes from the standpoint that when we practice we have a general idea of what some guys are capable of doing, and some other people who we really need to look at and figure out how they can fit into our system and give them a chance to get onto the field and make a move on some people. That matters. The guys who have played, we expect them to be better right now than they were January 1 after the Cotton Bowl."

On Seth Russell's ability to run with the ball:
"He is capable of doing that. Bryce (Petty) was capable, Nick (Florence) did a good job running, and of course everyone knows about Robert (Griffin III). But when you think about it, you look at the Big 12 last year, very few quarterbacks went through unscathed. Bryce got hurt; Texas Tech went through a couple; the kid at Kansas State, Waters, got beat up; Boykin hurt his wrist, I'm sure Kansas had a guy that got hurt; Oklahoma State lost their QB; so did Oklahoma. It's so hard to keep those guys healthy, so what you want to do is limit the contact that they're going to take through called run plays. Seth does have the ability to have a little bit of an X-factor. We feel like a lot of his runs will come when the play breaks down, the pocket breaks down, and he makes plays that way. Called run plays will probably be minimal right now."

On the challenge of replacing Bryce Hager & others who graduated:
"You're talking about a three-year starter, a solid guy. The good thing is Aiavion (Edwards) played a little bit last year, (Grant) Campbell played a little bit last year when Bryce got hurt at OU, so those guys have been on the field some. We feel really good about them. (Colin) Brence also did a good job, another guy we lost. He was a great player for us - a fourth year guy who played four straight. [Travon] Blanchard and Pat Levels will be looking for that spot. Of course Antwan (Goodley), offensively, was a big-time player for us; a two-year All-Conference guy, All-American in 2013. We'll have some people who can hopefully step in and fill that role. We have people we certainly feel like this is their opportunity to shine for us."

On getting a lot of penalties and Baylor's style of play:
"We just play to win. We play hard. We play fast. We play physical. We play intense and we play with a lot of confidence and passion and energy. Wherever that leads, it leads. We also play with some intelligence. There's all different kinds of penalties - there's hustle penalties and then there's penalties where you hit out of bounds, or you hit late. I don't know how you classify those, people classify them different ways, but we're just going to play the game. We're going to play it hard. We're going to play it fast and we're going to live by what happens. "So far, our guys have been living pretty good with back-to-back Big 12 Championships."

On offensive coordinator Philip Montgomery's departure and Kendal Briles' new role as OC:
"I'm really happy for Coach Montgomery and Coach Norwood both. I love both those men as family members, because when you spend so much time together, that's what we are. I have a tremendous amount of respect for them and I wish them the very best. I appreciate all they did for Baylor and our student athletes. Kendal got a little taste going into the bowl game, going against a very good defense in Michigan State, the No. 7 defense in America. We feel like we came through that pretty well. We didn't end up with the result [we wanted]. The thing we really have to work on as a staff is getting everybody's eyes in the right place. That's what hurt us really more than anything in the bowl game is we had some different people in the box that hadn't been there on the front end. And that's something that we'll have a chance to work through this fall where we really didn't have the opportunity to do last fall because of the timing factor. But excited about having a little different look offensively. I think it's going to change us in some areas, and that's what we're always looking for. We're always looking for change."

Baylor QB Seth Russell:

On the responsibility placed on him to carry on the tradition of excellent Baylor quarterbacks:
"It's a huge responsibility being able to go out there and be able to continue this legacy. I'm following some big shoes with the past quarterbacks, so it's going to be fun."

On if Coach Briles has told him that he is number one on the depth chart:
"He just told me that I am going to get the majority of the first team snaps, obviously it is because I have been here longer. He has not said that anything is set in stone yet, so I have to go out and prove myself."

On if he will be pushed by the other quarterbacks on the roster:
"Absolutely, those are some top notch guys, and they were great recruits coming in. Each day is going to be a fight, and I know they are going to give me a good fight. I'm going to give them the same."

On his comfort level with his receivers:
"I was looking at all the receivers, and I don't know who I shouldn't throw it too. I can throw it to anybody and I know they are going to go and get the ball. That's a great feeling to have as a quarterback."

On what he wants to accomplish this spring:
"Just consistency, predictability type stuff, not doing too much, and sticking with what the play is and reading it out."

On any changes with Kendal Briles being promoted to Offensive Coordinator:
"I feel like it went great. Coach KB is a great coach, and Coach Montgomery was a great coach too. He has the opportunity to coach Tulsa now. I feel like Coach KB really stepped in and filled the role really well, and we are going to succeed from it."

Baylor OL Spencer Drango:

On how he plans to improve this year:
"Well hopefully I can get a unanimous All-American selection - that is one of my goals. Another one of my goals is to win the Outland Trophy; I was a semifinalist last year so I hope I can improve on that. Just getting back to my old self, I got there about halfway through the season, but being able to be there and keep going and improve on that. I want to improve on pass-blocking because I didn't feel like I was quite back to 100 percent on that. I had to adjust but now that I have gotten a lot of my strength, it should help a lot."

On how he can help the offense transition with a new QB:
"I think it's on the whole line in general to maintain that protection we've had for quarterbacks in the past - not just maintain but improve on. I don't know how many sacks we gave up, not too many, but one is too many. I'd like to see us give up none. I think we can; we definitely have the talent on the line and the mindset from everyone to do that, it's just gonna take a lot of work."

On if it helps having a lot of experienced Linemen:
"It definitely helps. The more experience you have on the field the better. It puts guys in situations that they've been in before. Being down three touchdowns in the fourth quarter; we've done that and all those guys have been through it. Being up a couple touchdowns and having people come back on us; we've been there. It just overall makes everything run a little bit smoother and gives the guys the confidence they need to keep going."

Baylor Safety Orion Stewart:

On how his shoulder is feeling:
"I'm feeling way better than during the season. I have two more days with this sling on then I will start rehab, and I'll be back. "

On if he will be able to take any reps this spring:
"Pretty much everything is mental; I am going to be out there. I have had a whole year of experience so I am going to be out there coaching, but I am really not going to be doing too much. They (Baylor) don't want me to do too much so I am going to wait until Thursday to start my rehab."

On if it's going to be tough not being able to participate:
"Oh yeah, because in the offseason I didn't like watching everyone workout. I wanted to be out there lifting weights and competing with everyone else. It is tough but this is the hand God dealt me so I have to take it and live with it."

On the abundance of returning starters in the defensive back:
"It is going to be a big difference because we really did struggle on that end last year. With everyone back and having a year of experience, and Terrell Burt with 2 years of experience, I feel that next year we are really going to be good. We have a couple guys out so the new guys are getting experience right now and getting reps with the ones and twos. I think we are going to have a little more depth."

Baylor RB Shock Linwood:

On tempo with Kendal Briles calling plays:
"I believe we can be faster because we have guys from last year back. Coach KB (Kendal Briles) will make sure the offense doesn't lose a beat. We should always get faster not by the year but by the game. By having more time to practice with him, we should be fresh."

On having a healthy backfield:
"It's just going to help us out overall as a team. It's going to put less pressure on my body and give the defense more things to prepare for."

On Seth Russell:
"He's very versatile and athletic. He has a lot of speed for him being the quarterback and has a tremendous arm as well. He's going to surprise a lot of people."

Baylor RB Devin Chafin:

On Seth Russell:
"I feel like Seth will be great. He was in my class so I've been around him since I got here. We got here together, and I got to watch him grow. I was excited about him getting reps last year when Bryce went down because I feel like that prepared him a little bit more for this year. I'm excited about getting to see Seth play."

On moving forward after the Cotton Bowl:
"It's definitely nice to stop thinking about that, but at the same time it's still in the back of our minds because it was a real bad experience. We don't want to feel like that again."

Baylor WR KD Cannon:

On how he thinks Seth will do in his new role:
"A lot of people are going to be shocked about the stuff he'll do. He's very athletic and can throw the ball, so it's going to be something to watch."

On what he's working on this offseason:
"Really just my focus, and getting familiar with the playbook again. That's really the main thing I've got to work on. It's just repetition-wise. Last season, I was in certain formations, and this year I'm going to be in all the formations. I've got to learn the formations I wasn't in last season."

On having a target on their back and success at McLane:
"It's a big target, especially when you come to play us in Waco because it's a place we don't lose at. Everyone fears us when they come here so that's a big target because everyone will try to knock you down every day."

Baylor DT Andrew Billings:

On if the spring is easier when there are so many returning players:
"Yeah (the spring) is easier. You can go at your own pace and everybody can go at their pace, whether they're hurt or not."

On if people will talk about Baylor's defense this year instead of offense:
"I don't mind what they are talking about. As long as they're talking about Baylor I'm good. But I feel like the defense might get a little bit more attention this year because we're going to perform better with everyone coming back."

On how important Oakman and Drango coming back is:
"It's pretty big. Those are two key players to the offense and defense so it's a pretty big deal to have them back."

Baylor IR Corey Coleman:

On what it's like to adjust to a new quarterback:
"It's really fun because before we got here Seth and I were back in Dallas practicing. I have always wanted him to come in and play after Bryce. He has his chance right now to come in and be a star."

On what helped him play well last season:
"I had a lot of confidence. (Also it was me) growing up; I wasn't a young guy anymore. I had to grow up fast and learn a lot. It put a lot of pressure on me, but at the same time I liked it. It was exciting and a fun role to play."

On where his confidence comes from:
"When you have great coaches around you who are always encouraging you to be the best, it makes it a lot easier to have a lot of confidence. Baylor produces the best receivers. You come in here, you better be the best."

On what he's focusing on this spring to take his game to the next level:
"There's always (something to work on), so I'm never satisfied. It's the little things. I've got to step up and be a good leader to the younger guys and help them to get lined up. I've also got to work on little stuff like not getting lazy on routes where I'm not getting the ball."

Baylor LB Taylor Young:

On what it's like to lose Bryce Hager and working to replace him:
"It's weird but that's life. That's what happens. It's time to move on. Bryce was a great linebacker and a great leader. He knew everything. If anyone needed anything or had a question to ask, Bryce was always there. Every time somebody turned around, Bryce knew the answer. There was just confidence with Bryce to always get the call. I'm working towards (that ability) every day. The coaches have no other goal but for me to get there."

On what he's seen out of Grant Campbell:
"He's strong, fast and physical. Those are three big things about Grant. He's going to bring attitude to the game."

On what this defense has to prove after the Bowl game loss:
"It's a big chip because we have so much to prove. We are a good defense that can be great. We have so much potential; it's just about finding that out and coming to work every day with an attitude saying that we can be the best."

On if getting defensive penalties can be fixed or if that is the team's style:
"It can be fixed. It will get fixed. It's just about being disciplined as players and doing the extra. Eventually it will get fixed. It comes with maturity. Everybody is another year in which helps overall."

On why people overlook small players when recruiting:
"I'm not the first, and I won't be the last. It just all comes down to the coach. Is he like Coach Bennett? He likes what he likes. At the end of the day, it just comes down to what that coach wants. If the coach just wants a football player, then he isn't going to only look for the 6-4 guy."

Baylor WR Jay Lee:

On becoming an "old man" on the team:
"This is not (my first time). This is definitely my last go-around, so I'm looking forward to making the most out of it. I can't wait to help these younger guys improve since I am the lone senior of the group."

On depth becoming even better:
"Every year we try to reload with better talent. I feel like this group is up there. We just have to have guys that get in there and contribute."

On the difference from the first time he set foot on campus:
"You have to still approach the game the same way. There is always something that you can get better at. Mentally, I just get in the game and try my best to be great at what I do, excel in this offense and keeping my body up to par."

On the mantra of the team since the Cotton Bowl:
"We want to get better. Through the past four weeks we have been grinding really hard. Our ultimate goal is to win a national championship. That's what we are aiming for."