A CHANCE TO PUT ON THAT JERSEY
4/23/2023 1:03:00 PM | Football
Dabney, impact transfers shine in final spring scrimmage
By Jerry Hill
Baylor Bear Insider
Before Saturday's Green & Gold Game, Baylor offensive coordinator Jeff Grimes talked about being at that point in spring football "where all the players are ready for it to be over, and all the coaches wish we had four more weeks of it."
But the players were the ones that didn't want to see it end on Saturday, with the offense outscoring the defense, 38-27, at McLane Stadium to culminate the Bears' 15-practice spring drills.
Coming off a surgery to repair a broken fibula that forced him to miss the last five games of the 2022 season, tight end Drake Dabney hauled in a 29-yard touchdown pass from Blake Shapen and finished with three catches for 49 yards.
"It meant a lot just being back out there with the guys, putting that jersey on," Dabney said. "We're playing against the same guys, but it feels a little different when you get that jersey back on, that number and name on your back. It just felt good to be out there again and being able to make plays for my team, especially coming back from injury."
While Dabney and a handful of other players were coming back from injuries, Baylor had a total of 24 newcomers going through their first spring workouts with the program, including 10 Division I transfers.
"I think it's really unusual to hit on all your transfers," Grimes said of a group that includes offensive linemen Clark and Campbell Barrington from BYU, running back Dominic Richardson from Oklahoma State, wide receiver Ketron Jackson Jr. from Arkansas and tight end Jake Roberts from North Texas.
Sophomore transfer Sawyer Robertson from Mississippi State was part of a quarterback battle this spring with Shapen, the returning starter. On Saturday, Shapen was 11-of-20 for 100 yards and one TD predominantly against the No. 1 defense, while Robertson was 9-of-16 for 170 yards and two TDs versus mostly the second-teamers.
"I look at Sawyer, I look at his ability to run, he's got a moxie and kind of a spirit that's contagious," fourth-year head coach Dave Aranda said. "I think his growth and his learning is just going to take off because of his want-to with everything."
Coming off a disappointing 6-7 finish in 2022, for Shapen "to walk around and carry that can be heavy," Aranda said.
"And then, to put in the work and to make changes and to confront the things that were holding you back, and to do it in a way to not bring attention to yourself but really just to focus on the specifics of the thing is a way cool thing to see," he said. "You see a dude just kind of grow up, really mature. So, that's happening right now for Blake, and we're excited for him."
Robertson had TD passes of 14 yards to Jonathan Davidson in the first half of Saturday's scrimmage and a 57-yarder to Monaray Baldwin in the second half.
"I saw a lot of energy, a lot of leadership," Dabney said of the two quarterbacks, "and I think they both showed that they can make any throw on the field and move the ball with whatever group they were in. I think we saw a lot of good things from both of them today. I'm so proud of both of those guys."
Roberts was the game's leading receiver with five catches for 60 yards, while Richardson picked up 46 yards rushing on eight carries. First-semester freshman running back Bryson Washington led the rushing attack with 67 yards on 11 totes.
"When you have new guys, which we have a lot of them, you're really enjoying the progress and seeing guys get better every day," Grimes said. "So, you wish you could do it longer, but there will be a time to wrap it up and let them do it on their own for the summer."
One of the leaders on the defensive side, which got points for takeaways, fourth-down stops and three-and-outs, was junior transfer linebacker Mike Smith Jr. from Liberty.
"He's had a tremendous spring," fifth-year senior defensive end TJ Franklin said of Smith, who had a team-high 85 tackles last season at Liberty. "Beforehand, I didn't really know who he was. And then he came in, and he definitely showed up; showed everybody who he was. I expect him to be one of those big-time players in the fall."
Although some of the sacks were "maybe questionable," Aranda said, Franklin led a pass rush that was credited with six sacks on the day. Since the quarterbacks couldn't be hit, the officials oftentimes had a quick whistle.
"I believe our emphasis is going to be on disrupting the quarterback, moving the quarterback off his spot, making him uncomfortable in the pocket," Franklin said. "And we've got a lot of guys that can get at that. We've got me, Gabe (Hall), the outside linebackers, and we've got plenty of blitzes written up for people to go in there and disrupt the quarterback."
With first-year defensive coordinator Matthew Powledge, "there's an energy that you feel, it's a contagious one" Aranda said.
"It's cool for me to walk around in the walk-throughs and see an attention to detail and a focus," Aranda said. "There's a fit drill going on in front of you, and hands are in the right spot, the correct foot is up, eyes are in the right spot, and there's just all this detail to it.
"And then, you look behind you, and the guys that are not in the drill, they are kind of fitted up in the same way from what's happening up front. That's the stance, really, on defense. To have that, I think, is just going to translate into positive things on the field. There's a lot of guys that are locked-in that way. So, it's cool to see."
After concluding spring drills, the Bears will go right into the offseason program and then start fall camp in August. Baylor plays eight home games this season at McLane Stadium, opening with a Sept. 2 matchup against Texas State.
Single-game and season tickets are still available. To have a ticket representative contact you about season ticket options, please click here.
Baylor Bear Insider
Before Saturday's Green & Gold Game, Baylor offensive coordinator Jeff Grimes talked about being at that point in spring football "where all the players are ready for it to be over, and all the coaches wish we had four more weeks of it."
But the players were the ones that didn't want to see it end on Saturday, with the offense outscoring the defense, 38-27, at McLane Stadium to culminate the Bears' 15-practice spring drills.
Coming off a surgery to repair a broken fibula that forced him to miss the last five games of the 2022 season, tight end Drake Dabney hauled in a 29-yard touchdown pass from Blake Shapen and finished with three catches for 49 yards.
"It meant a lot just being back out there with the guys, putting that jersey on," Dabney said. "We're playing against the same guys, but it feels a little different when you get that jersey back on, that number and name on your back. It just felt good to be out there again and being able to make plays for my team, especially coming back from injury."
While Dabney and a handful of other players were coming back from injuries, Baylor had a total of 24 newcomers going through their first spring workouts with the program, including 10 Division I transfers.
"I think it's really unusual to hit on all your transfers," Grimes said of a group that includes offensive linemen Clark and Campbell Barrington from BYU, running back Dominic Richardson from Oklahoma State, wide receiver Ketron Jackson Jr. from Arkansas and tight end Jake Roberts from North Texas.
Sophomore transfer Sawyer Robertson from Mississippi State was part of a quarterback battle this spring with Shapen, the returning starter. On Saturday, Shapen was 11-of-20 for 100 yards and one TD predominantly against the No. 1 defense, while Robertson was 9-of-16 for 170 yards and two TDs versus mostly the second-teamers.
"I look at Sawyer, I look at his ability to run, he's got a moxie and kind of a spirit that's contagious," fourth-year head coach Dave Aranda said. "I think his growth and his learning is just going to take off because of his want-to with everything."
Coming off a disappointing 6-7 finish in 2022, for Shapen "to walk around and carry that can be heavy," Aranda said.
"And then, to put in the work and to make changes and to confront the things that were holding you back, and to do it in a way to not bring attention to yourself but really just to focus on the specifics of the thing is a way cool thing to see," he said. "You see a dude just kind of grow up, really mature. So, that's happening right now for Blake, and we're excited for him."
Robertson had TD passes of 14 yards to Jonathan Davidson in the first half of Saturday's scrimmage and a 57-yarder to Monaray Baldwin in the second half.
"I saw a lot of energy, a lot of leadership," Dabney said of the two quarterbacks, "and I think they both showed that they can make any throw on the field and move the ball with whatever group they were in. I think we saw a lot of good things from both of them today. I'm so proud of both of those guys."
Roberts was the game's leading receiver with five catches for 60 yards, while Richardson picked up 46 yards rushing on eight carries. First-semester freshman running back Bryson Washington led the rushing attack with 67 yards on 11 totes.
"When you have new guys, which we have a lot of them, you're really enjoying the progress and seeing guys get better every day," Grimes said. "So, you wish you could do it longer, but there will be a time to wrap it up and let them do it on their own for the summer."
One of the leaders on the defensive side, which got points for takeaways, fourth-down stops and three-and-outs, was junior transfer linebacker Mike Smith Jr. from Liberty.
"He's had a tremendous spring," fifth-year senior defensive end TJ Franklin said of Smith, who had a team-high 85 tackles last season at Liberty. "Beforehand, I didn't really know who he was. And then he came in, and he definitely showed up; showed everybody who he was. I expect him to be one of those big-time players in the fall."
Although some of the sacks were "maybe questionable," Aranda said, Franklin led a pass rush that was credited with six sacks on the day. Since the quarterbacks couldn't be hit, the officials oftentimes had a quick whistle.
"I believe our emphasis is going to be on disrupting the quarterback, moving the quarterback off his spot, making him uncomfortable in the pocket," Franklin said. "And we've got a lot of guys that can get at that. We've got me, Gabe (Hall), the outside linebackers, and we've got plenty of blitzes written up for people to go in there and disrupt the quarterback."
With first-year defensive coordinator Matthew Powledge, "there's an energy that you feel, it's a contagious one" Aranda said.
"It's cool for me to walk around in the walk-throughs and see an attention to detail and a focus," Aranda said. "There's a fit drill going on in front of you, and hands are in the right spot, the correct foot is up, eyes are in the right spot, and there's just all this detail to it.
"And then, you look behind you, and the guys that are not in the drill, they are kind of fitted up in the same way from what's happening up front. That's the stance, really, on defense. To have that, I think, is just going to translate into positive things on the field. There's a lot of guys that are locked-in that way. So, it's cool to see."
After concluding spring drills, the Bears will go right into the offseason program and then start fall camp in August. Baylor plays eight home games this season at McLane Stadium, opening with a Sept. 2 matchup against Texas State.
Single-game and season tickets are still available. To have a ticket representative contact you about season ticket options, please click here.
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