GETTING 'VETERAN TREATMENT'
8/15/2023 1:10:00 PM | Football
7th-year senior Bryson Jackson is newcomer at Star position
By Jerry Hill
Baylor Bear Insider
As the only returning starter in the Baylor secondary and the only defensive player to start all 13 games last season, redshirt sophomore Devin Lemear is like the grizzled veteran.
But when the cornerbacks and safeties need advice, they turn to one of the newest guys in the room. Seventh-year senior Bryson Jackson, part of Matt Rhule's first signing class in February 2017, has played all three linebacker positions and moved in the spring to the hybrid Star position.
"He just has a lot of pointers for the young guys, not just football but life stuff," Lemear said of Jackson, "because obviously he's been through a lot here. He went through multiple coaching changes and position changes. He started as a safety, went to linebacker, back to safety. He's just really experienced and has a lot of advice."
That's big for a secondary that lists only one other scholarship upperclassman – redshirt junior cornerback Chateau Reed.
"Obviously, we're super young," said Lemear, an honorable mention All-Big 12 pick who totaled 57 tackles with two tackles for loss, two interceptions, two fumble recoveries and four pass breakups. "But we've come together really well. Every day, we're learning and just getting better and better. As long as we keep doing that, we're going to be really good."
Lemear is easily the most experienced at the back two safety spots, joined in that group by sophomores Devyn Bobby and Alfonzo Allen and redshirt sophomore Romario Noel, who has spent time at cornerback, safety and Star.
Last year, Lemear said he was "dealing with the ups and downs in the season, not just on the field, but off the field as well."
"Just learn how to manage it all," he said, "because it's really easy to let outside things seep into the season. You don't want that to happen."
In his six previous seasons, Jackson has dealt with his share of ups and downs, going through a 1-11 finish in 2017, a pair of Sugar Bowl trips in 2019 and '21 and last year's disappointing 6-7 season that ended with a loss to Air Force in the Armed Forces Bowl.
Instead of moving on – he's the only player left from that 2017 signing class – Jackson opted to return for one more year and transition to the Star position.
"I feel like I've been prepared, changing positions and being put in different roles," Jackson said. "But just having (defensive coordinator Matt Powledge), definitely with his energy and his critique and his detail and level of coaching, it's amazing. There's some jitters and nervousness in some areas, but that's normal. You've got to use these days at camp to work through that and come on the other end of it."
While he might be a newbie in the room, Jackson is definitely getting "veteran treatment," Lemear said.
"The way he works and the way he studies film and just intentionally everything," he said, "you have no choice but to treat him like a veteran. Because when he goes out there, he knows what he's doing every play."
Jackson is being pushed by redshirt freshman Corey Gordon Jr., who was praised by head coach Dave Aranda following Saturday's scrimmage at McLane Stadium.
"Corey Gordon showed up a lot in terms of coverage, third down, rushing the passer and setting the edges," Aranda said. "As a Star, he can cover man-to-man, he can blitz, he can set edges. If we have some type of weak-side rotation, he can go back and play the half or play a third (of the field). So, I think a lot of flexibility. What allows him to do all that and put that together is just the maturity with him off the field."
A true sophomore from Miami, Fla., who played in all 13 games last season as a backup safety and Star, Allen is battling Bobby for the starting position at the safety spot opposite Lemear.
"Honestly, I'm just taking it one day at a time," he said. "If I'm a role player, I'm going to be the best role player I can be. And if I'm a starter, I'm just trying my best to be the best starter I can be. So, it's just one day at a time, honestly."
Allen said Powledge, who works specifically with the safeties, is doing a great job of teaching "us in our waves, finding ways to each and every individual."
"I just feel like Coach Pow can relate to us," Allen said, "because he's not (as much) like an old-school coach. So, he brings a lot of juice, and we feed off of him. His energy will help us get through a lot."
The cornerback position has even less experience returning. Redshirt freshman Tevin Williams picked off a pass in a 45-17 rout of Texas Tech and made his only start in the Armed Forces Bowl. Reed, the other projected starter, has played in a combined 20 games over the last three seasons.
"I see individuals growing each and every day," Allen said of the cornerbacks. "I see Tevin Williams taking steps every day; Chateau, (true freshmen) Carl Williams and Caden Jenkins, and even the new guys that just enrolled this year as well. We're all just taking it one day at a time, getting our communication better, growing with each other."
Sophomore transfer Isaiah Dunson from the University of Miami adds experience and depth to a group that also includes redshirt freshman Reggie Bush and true freshman LeVar Thornton Jr., MJ Artmore Jr. and Tay'Shawn Wilson.
"Recently, there have been a lot of 'go' balls, and they've been competing really well with it," Lemear said of the cornerbacks. "They've just been competing with receivers, making each other better."
Baylor is back on the practice field Tuesday afternoon and will wrap up the third week of fall camp with another scrimmage on Saturday at McLane Stadium.
The Bears 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.
Baylor Bear Insider
As the only returning starter in the Baylor secondary and the only defensive player to start all 13 games last season, redshirt sophomore Devin Lemear is like the grizzled veteran.
But when the cornerbacks and safeties need advice, they turn to one of the newest guys in the room. Seventh-year senior Bryson Jackson, part of Matt Rhule's first signing class in February 2017, has played all three linebacker positions and moved in the spring to the hybrid Star position.
"He just has a lot of pointers for the young guys, not just football but life stuff," Lemear said of Jackson, "because obviously he's been through a lot here. He went through multiple coaching changes and position changes. He started as a safety, went to linebacker, back to safety. He's just really experienced and has a lot of advice."
That's big for a secondary that lists only one other scholarship upperclassman – redshirt junior cornerback Chateau Reed.
"Obviously, we're super young," said Lemear, an honorable mention All-Big 12 pick who totaled 57 tackles with two tackles for loss, two interceptions, two fumble recoveries and four pass breakups. "But we've come together really well. Every day, we're learning and just getting better and better. As long as we keep doing that, we're going to be really good."
Lemear is easily the most experienced at the back two safety spots, joined in that group by sophomores Devyn Bobby and Alfonzo Allen and redshirt sophomore Romario Noel, who has spent time at cornerback, safety and Star.
Last year, Lemear said he was "dealing with the ups and downs in the season, not just on the field, but off the field as well."
"Just learn how to manage it all," he said, "because it's really easy to let outside things seep into the season. You don't want that to happen."
In his six previous seasons, Jackson has dealt with his share of ups and downs, going through a 1-11 finish in 2017, a pair of Sugar Bowl trips in 2019 and '21 and last year's disappointing 6-7 season that ended with a loss to Air Force in the Armed Forces Bowl.
Instead of moving on – he's the only player left from that 2017 signing class – Jackson opted to return for one more year and transition to the Star position.
"I feel like I've been prepared, changing positions and being put in different roles," Jackson said. "But just having (defensive coordinator Matt Powledge), definitely with his energy and his critique and his detail and level of coaching, it's amazing. There's some jitters and nervousness in some areas, but that's normal. You've got to use these days at camp to work through that and come on the other end of it."
While he might be a newbie in the room, Jackson is definitely getting "veteran treatment," Lemear said.
"The way he works and the way he studies film and just intentionally everything," he said, "you have no choice but to treat him like a veteran. Because when he goes out there, he knows what he's doing every play."
Jackson is being pushed by redshirt freshman Corey Gordon Jr., who was praised by head coach Dave Aranda following Saturday's scrimmage at McLane Stadium.
"Corey Gordon showed up a lot in terms of coverage, third down, rushing the passer and setting the edges," Aranda said. "As a Star, he can cover man-to-man, he can blitz, he can set edges. If we have some type of weak-side rotation, he can go back and play the half or play a third (of the field). So, I think a lot of flexibility. What allows him to do all that and put that together is just the maturity with him off the field."
A true sophomore from Miami, Fla., who played in all 13 games last season as a backup safety and Star, Allen is battling Bobby for the starting position at the safety spot opposite Lemear.
"Honestly, I'm just taking it one day at a time," he said. "If I'm a role player, I'm going to be the best role player I can be. And if I'm a starter, I'm just trying my best to be the best starter I can be. So, it's just one day at a time, honestly."
Allen said Powledge, who works specifically with the safeties, is doing a great job of teaching "us in our waves, finding ways to each and every individual."
"I just feel like Coach Pow can relate to us," Allen said, "because he's not (as much) like an old-school coach. So, he brings a lot of juice, and we feed off of him. His energy will help us get through a lot."
The cornerback position has even less experience returning. Redshirt freshman Tevin Williams picked off a pass in a 45-17 rout of Texas Tech and made his only start in the Armed Forces Bowl. Reed, the other projected starter, has played in a combined 20 games over the last three seasons.
"I see individuals growing each and every day," Allen said of the cornerbacks. "I see Tevin Williams taking steps every day; Chateau, (true freshmen) Carl Williams and Caden Jenkins, and even the new guys that just enrolled this year as well. We're all just taking it one day at a time, getting our communication better, growing with each other."
Sophomore transfer Isaiah Dunson from the University of Miami adds experience and depth to a group that also includes redshirt freshman Reggie Bush and true freshman LeVar Thornton Jr., MJ Artmore Jr. and Tay'Shawn Wilson.
"Recently, there have been a lot of 'go' balls, and they've been competing really well with it," Lemear said of the cornerbacks. "They've just been competing with receivers, making each other better."
Baylor is back on the practice field Tuesday afternoon and will wrap up the third week of fall camp with another scrimmage on Saturday at McLane Stadium.
The Bears 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.
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