By Jerry Hill
Baylor Bear Insider
            Even though he's going into his seventh season opener at Baylor, Bryson Jackson will still have some butterflies when Saturday's game against Texas State kicks off at McLane Stadium.
            If nothing else, he's at a new position, switching from an inside linebacker to the hybrid safety/linebacker spot at Star in Baylor's 3-3-5 defense.
            "There's definitely a little bit of anxiety and nervousness there," said Jackson, the lone holdover from the 2017 team. "But I've got my faith in God . . that I'm going to be able to go out there and do what I can do and trust myself and trust my ability and technique, trust (defensive coordinator Matt) Powledge and just communicate with my teammates."
            Communication was an issue last year, particularly on the road, but Jackson can be a calming influence for a young, inexperienced secondary that is starting three sophomores and a redshirt junior.
            "There's going to be some nerves and jitters and anxiety when those guys step out there," Jackson said. "But as soon as they get comfortable, me being out there and being a guy that has experience in dealing with that, I can help them on the sidelines as far as just calming them down and getting their focus to where it needs to be."
            Sophomores Devin Lemear and Devyn Bobby are slated to start at the other safety positions, with sophomore Tevin Williams and junior Chateau Reed at the corners. The Bears also have three freshmen listed in the depth chart for the secondary.
            "Those guys getting in and watching film," Jackson said, "and after practice putting in work as far as getting their eyes and their hands in the right place. And then, when they're out there, just communicating. So, if you don't know something, look to the guy next to you and communicate what you think you might have, and that guy might know what you have. Just communicate, so you can cover up a lot of the mental errors you might have in the game."
            FROM WALK-ONS TO STARTERS?: Roommates since they came in as walk-ons two years ago, redshirt sophomores Josh Cameron and Jonah Burton have dreamed of being on the field together at the same time.
            Cameron earned a scholarship and blossomed last season, hauling in 28 catches for 386 yards, but Burton has played in just one game in his first two years at Baylor.
            That moment will likely come Saturday, though, with both Cameron and Burton listed as potential starters at the receiver positions.
            "I think Jonah has just taken a huge step forward," Cameron said of Burton, who hails from Simi Valley, Calif. "He's just really grown mentally. He's fine-tuned his routes, his body . . . but really just the mental (side) with him. Just seeing him battling through different injuries and finally getting the chance to show who he is, it's been awesome to see."
            A bigger receiver at 6-1 and 215 pounds, Cameron is listed with junior Hal Presley at one of the wide receiver spots, while Burton or returning starter Monaray Baldwin will get the start at the slot position.
            "I look to my left or my right, and he's there," said Cameron, an all-area pick for Cedar Park's state runner-up team in 2020. "It's awesome. We always talked about it, like we wanted to be on the field together. It's a super-great feeling."
            HANDLING THE HEAT: After an up-and-down sophomore season, quarterback Blake Shapen has been through the fire of pressure situations in the spring and summer workouts to get him ready for the grind of a 12-game season.
            "The strength coaches, they put us in these situations to see what would happen with the team camaraderie when something didn't go your way," Cameron said. "And Blake was kind of at the forefront of those high-pressure situations, basically trying to keep everyone together. And I think with that training, it's easy to carry it over when you get to the real thing just because you're so prepared, honestly."
            At last Saturday's "mock game," Shapen was "motivating guys, he's getting in guys' faces. And then he's loving them up afterwards," Baylor head coach Dave Aranda said.
            "These are things that you just didn't see (last year)," Aranda said, "and things that were kind of outside the whole view of how he saw himself. Going into last year, I know he wanted to be the starter. I don't know if there was a full comprehension of what that job entailed, of everything that came with it, and the responsibilities and the weight that's carried. And now, he's been on both sides of that."
            Saturday's game kicks off at 6 p.m. and will be streamed by Big 12 Now on ESPN+.