DEPTH THROUGH VERSATILITY

By Jerry Hill
Baylor Bear Insider
            Baylor defensive coordinator Matt Powledge likes versatility, double-training linebackers at more than one spot, rotating the defensive line in and out and having safeties ready to play any of three different positions.

            "We're interchangeable," said Liberty transfer Mike Smith Jr., who can play the Mike and Will insider linebacker spots. "I was playing Mike at first in the spring, but then I switched. Just getting to know both, being able to be versatile, and that just helps you stay on the field."

     That was also the motivation for redshirt junior Brooks Miller, who just moved from Mike to Will on Thursday. Miller started one game last season at Will but was backing up Matt Jones at Mike when he was asked to move again.

            "I just like being on the field," Miller said, "and I'm going to learn – really everyone's going to learn both of them while you're on the field because you're out there talking so much. When they told me, 'Hey, you're going to move to Will,' I wasn't surprised or nervous or anything, because you really learn both at the same time."

            Jones might be the best example of versatility, starting eight games at the Jack outside linebacker position for the 2021 Big 12 champions, starting all but one game last year at Will and now starting at Mike.

            Smith said learning both inside linebacker positions was a "little bit" difficult, "but I've got a good staff around me and good teammates to help me with everything. So, anytime I had questions, I just go to them."

            Two weeks into fall camp, the coaches came to Miller and asked, "Are you comfortable doing this?"

            "I said definitely. Whatever I need to do to help the team, whether it's playing Mike or Will, I'm down for it," Miller said.

            Even with Jones moving inside, the Jack linebacker might be one of the deepest positions on the team with Garmon Randolph, Utah State transfer Byron Vaughns, junior Tony Anyanwu and redshirt freshman Kyler Jordan. In the Bears' 3-4 formation, they actually use two Jack linebackers – with the other one called a Sam.

            "They're pretty much similar," Anyanwu said. "It's just when you're in maybe short-yardage situations, that's when you want that type of personnel on the field."

            Going into his third year at Baylor, Anyanwu said he has worked on "my pass-rushing, run-blocking, being more aware in my drops and stuff like that."

            "I feel like this spring was really big for me with getting comfortable and just honing my craft and doing all things like that, getting better every aspect of my game," he said.

            Of the 13 players Baylor picked up in the transfer portal, no one has made a bigger impact than Smith. He was brought in to replace second-team All-Big 12 pick Dillon Doyle, who signed with the Seattle Sea Dragons of the XFL.

            Even as one of the newer players on the team, Smith has taken on a leadership role in the linebacker room.

            "People talk about that a lot, actually, but with people like Mike it lasts maybe two days," Miller said. "You're a new guy for two days. You go through the struggle with us and (snaps his fingers), you've been here the whole time. . . . He brings a little bit of everything. He's really fun to watch, he's super-skilled. And I'm just happy to have him in our room. He's going to make our team so much better."

            While he's no longer in the linebacker room, moving from Jack to the hybrid Star position, seventh-year senior Bryson Jackson is arguably the most respected defensive player on the team.

            "It's hard to look at B-Jack in a position and not say, 'Man, he's special!''' Miller said. "He gets anywhere on the field. He's 100 miles an hour, and he's just fun to watch. It's like a lightning bolt on the field. It's awesome."

            Baylor is also deep at the inside linebacker positions, with Jones, Smith and Miller joined by former LSU transfer Josh White, redshirt sophomore Tyrone Brown and redshirt freshmen Carmello Jones and Jeremy "JJ" Evans.

            "I enjoy being around all of them," said Smith, who had a team-high 85 tackles with 10 tackles for loss, two QB hurries, three forced fumbles and an interception last year at Liberty. "I think we're all talented in our own specific ways. I just try to be the best teammate I can for all of them."

            Baylor wraps up its third week of fall camp with a practice Friday morning and a scrimmage on Saturday at McLane Stadium before school starts on Monday.

            The Bears open the 2023 season Sept. 2, hosting Texas State at 6 p.m. at McLane Stadium. Season and single-game ticket options are available at Football 2023.

DEPTH THROUGH VERSATILITY

Players Mentioned

Tony Anyanwu

Tyrone Brown

Dillon Doyle

Bryson Jackson

Carmello Jones

Matt Jones

Kyler Jordan

Brooks Miller

Garmon Randolph

Mike Smith Jr.

Byron Vaughns

Josh White

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