SHOW UP AND SHOW OUT

By Jerry Hill
Baylor Bear Insider
            What Baylor coach Dave Aranda saw in Saturday's scrimmage at McLane Stadium was pretty much a mirror image of the things he's seen through spring training and the first two weeks of fall camp.
            "I thought the guys that have been making plays throughout the spring really showed (out) today," Aranda said.
            While quarterback Blake Shapen was decisive with his throws and Arkansas transfer Ketron Jackson Jr. "made some contested catches," Aranda said it was "the (linebacker) Mike Smith Show" on defense.
            "He's a dynamic dude," Aranda said of the Liberty transfer. "There were about five tackles for losses where it looked like a blitz but it wasn't. And that's on top of the blitzes that he did have and the pass breakups; just a crazy performance. But he's done that. He did that within the first three days of spring ball. Football is a first language for him, so he takes to it pretty easily."
            Smith's dominating defensive performance came in Baylor's first scrimmage of fall camp and the Bears' first visit to McLane Stadium.
            "It was good to be able to come out here for our first scrimmage and get some live reps," Shapen said. "It's always good to come over here because this is where we're going to be playing. Especially this year, we have eight home games."
            Last year, Shapen wasn't as decisive because "I feel like we probably coached him to be perfect. And shame on me for that," Aranda said.
            "And then, we didn't have the weapons that we have now. I think when it's framed in that way, it was a real uphill climb," Aranda said. "So now, with the people that we've got, and having gone through it and the confidence and everything that's with it, (he's just) way decisive."
            Several times, Shapen was able to get the ball out prior to the receiver's break, "and the receiver just sticks his foot in the ground and the ball is right there."
            "Hal (Presley) had one of those, so it's just really cool to see," Aranda said. "With stuff like that, everyone kind of notices and their confidence grows."
            One of the new weapons is Jackson, who scored a touchdown on a bullet pass by Shapen between two defenders.
            Jackson, who played in 25 games with eight starts in two years at Arkansas, is "athletic, he's strong, he's big. He's a great target to throw to," Shapen said.
            "And he just pushes other guys around him each and every day. That's what we need. Iron sharpens iron. I'm just excited to have him in the room, and he's fun to watch."
            Additionally, Aranda said the offense was able to get some good runs from Dominic Richardson and Richard Reese, "and our tight ends were able to make an impact. We're trying to be able to get them more involved, so that was good to see."
            Defensively, it's been a consistent playmaking trio of Smith, redshirt freshman safety Corey Gordon Jr. and fifth-year senior defensive lineman TJ Franklin.
            "TJ, I thought, really played well. His pursuit and his pass rush showed up," Aranda said. "His improvement in the run game, just fighting pressure, is helping us a bunch. And then, Corey Gordon showed up a lot in terms of coverage, third down, rushing the passer and setting edges. I think from the beginning, those three have kind of been the guys. And it was cool to see them show up here."
            Smith and Franklin, in particular, have "accepted the roles that Coach put on us."
            "We know we've got to show up and show out and try to lead the way for our defense," said Smith, who had a team-high 85 tackles last season at Liberty. "We're just trying to play to the standard every time we're on the field."
            After seeing limited action in two games last season, Gordon has blossomed in the spring and early in fall camp at the hybrid Star position where Jalen Pitre earned All-America honors two years ago.
            "Corey just has the instinct and ability to make plays," Aranda said. "Last year, I remember (former safety) Christian Morgan saying, 'This dude is way, way talented and way twitchy.' I think that very much holds true now. As a Star, he can cover man-to-man, he can blitz, he can set edges . . . a lot of flexibility."
            To take the next step before the Sept. 2 season opener against Texas State, Smith said the defense needs to play together, communicate and "just giving 110% and playing for the brother next to you."
            After a disappointing 6-7 finish that included a loss to Air Force in the Armed Forces Bowl, Shapen said there is a "better culture this year."
            "I think we've got guys that want to do better than what we did last year. Nobody wants that to happen again," he said. "So, building that culture, building that standard, that's what we've been doing. Guys are working really hard, and we're just going to take it one day at a time and one game at a time."
            The Bears are taking a day off on Sunday before resuming camp with practices at the Allison Indoor and Simpson grass practice fields. All practices are closed.
Baylor will open the 2023 season on Sept. 2, hosting Texas State at 6 p.m. at McLane Stadium. Season and single-game ticket options are available at Football 2023.

SHOW UP AND SHOW OUT

Players Mentioned

TJ Franklin

Corey Gordon Jr.

Ketron Jackson Jr.

Christian Morgan

Richard Reese

Dominic Richardson

Blake Shapen

Footer