IT'S A DEEP ROOM
8/5/2023 12:13:00 PM | Football
Robertson, Martinez supporting and pushing Shapen at QB
By Jerry Hill
Baylor Bear Insider
Sawyer Robertson is hoping Baylor quarterback Blake Shapen "has the best year of his life."
At the same time, the Mississippi State transfer said "nothing has changed" since Shapen was named the starter at the end of spring training.
"You've got to come in, compete and prepare like you're the starter every day, every single week, and just be ready when your number is called," Robertson said after Friday's practice session, "whether it's week one, week two or next year, depending how it works.
"With that, I'm supporting Blake in his role and being the best teammate I can be, because he deserves it. He's been so good to me. I'm learning a lot from him, and I'm just trying to embrace everything."
While Shapen is the returning starter, throwing for 2,709 yards and 18 touchdowns last year, this is a deep quarterback room with Robertson and junior transfer RJ Martinez from Northern Arizona. A prep star at Austin Westwood, Martinez threw for 4,590 yards and 30 touchdowns in two seasons at NAU and led the Lumberjacks to a win over Arizona.
"I think we added two great guys with RJ and Sawyer," Shapen said. "Not only are they great players, but they're really good people to be around. . . . I think (RJ) adds depth to our room, for sure. He spins the ball really good. And, obviously, he's had some experience at other places."
While Shapen is going into his fourth year in Baylor's pro-style offense, Robertson and Martinez come from more of an "Air Raid" and spread-offense background.
"We've kind of struggled at the same things," Martinez said, "whether it's under center; we're not really used to that. Whether it's run-game footwork that we're also not used to. Just those kinds of things, along with verbiage of plays, things like that. We've kind of leaned on each other. Sawyer's a great, great competitor, a great guy to have in the quarterback room."
In an "Air Raid" attack at both Lubbock Coronado High School and Mississippi State, Robertson said he "worked hard learning (the pro-style offense) in the winter for the spring, and then doing it in the spring was very beneficial."
"Having that under your belt going into the summer and kind of reviewing it again, it's so much simpler, it feels like," said Robertson, who threw for 11,302 yards and 135 touchdowns in his high school career. "In the Air Raid, it was catch the ball, three-step drop, go through your reads. There's a lot more progressions based off what the defense does. . . . All of that is new, but you've got to work at it and adjust to it. It feels second nature now."
To get comfortable in the offense, Martinez said "it took a lot of reps in practice, a lot of film, a lot of getting with (quarterbacks coach Shawn Bell). And Blake and Sawyer have helped a lot."
"It's kind of just getting with them and doing extra things outside of just practice," said Martinez, who threw for 7,608 yards and 67 touchdowns as a three-year starter at Westwood. "That's allowed me to really become more comfortable in this offense and allowed me to kind of play to my strengths and my style of play."
After a redshirt freshman season that saw him earn Most Outstanding Player honors in the win over Oklahoma State in the Big 12 Championship game, Shapen struggled at times in a disappointing 6-7 season last year.
"It was tough," Shapen said. "Anytime you don't have the season you want to have, and (not) be able to perform like we did the year before, it's tough. That was nobody's goal of what happened last year. But I think it was good for me to be able to grow from it, see what it looks like going through a whole season, experiencing some losses and things like. I'm just looking to take things from that year and the year before and be able to keep moving forward."
Shapen has also added 15 pounds since the end of the 2022 season in hopes of being able to sustain the kind of hits he took last year.
"My body kind of took a toll a little bit on some of the hits I was taking," he said. "So, I think that it's going to help be able to wear some of those hits down a little bit. I feel like I can move the same, so it's been good."
Additionally, the fourth-year junior has stepped up as a leader, taking on more of a vocal role than he's ever had before.
"I think I've grown a lot in that area," he said. "I just want to be that guy that if things aren't going right or somebody needs to step up and say something, I want to be that guy. It's tough being that guy sometimes, especially if you don't talk a lot or you're more to yourself. But I've had to step out of my comfort zone a little bit and grow in that area."
Baylor will wrap up its first week of fall camp with a workout Saturday afternoon before taking a day off on Sunday. The Bears open the 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
Sawyer Robertson is hoping Baylor quarterback Blake Shapen "has the best year of his life."
At the same time, the Mississippi State transfer said "nothing has changed" since Shapen was named the starter at the end of spring training.
"You've got to come in, compete and prepare like you're the starter every day, every single week, and just be ready when your number is called," Robertson said after Friday's practice session, "whether it's week one, week two or next year, depending how it works.
"With that, I'm supporting Blake in his role and being the best teammate I can be, because he deserves it. He's been so good to me. I'm learning a lot from him, and I'm just trying to embrace everything."
While Shapen is the returning starter, throwing for 2,709 yards and 18 touchdowns last year, this is a deep quarterback room with Robertson and junior transfer RJ Martinez from Northern Arizona. A prep star at Austin Westwood, Martinez threw for 4,590 yards and 30 touchdowns in two seasons at NAU and led the Lumberjacks to a win over Arizona.
"I think we added two great guys with RJ and Sawyer," Shapen said. "Not only are they great players, but they're really good people to be around. . . . I think (RJ) adds depth to our room, for sure. He spins the ball really good. And, obviously, he's had some experience at other places."
While Shapen is going into his fourth year in Baylor's pro-style offense, Robertson and Martinez come from more of an "Air Raid" and spread-offense background.
"We've kind of struggled at the same things," Martinez said, "whether it's under center; we're not really used to that. Whether it's run-game footwork that we're also not used to. Just those kinds of things, along with verbiage of plays, things like that. We've kind of leaned on each other. Sawyer's a great, great competitor, a great guy to have in the quarterback room."
In an "Air Raid" attack at both Lubbock Coronado High School and Mississippi State, Robertson said he "worked hard learning (the pro-style offense) in the winter for the spring, and then doing it in the spring was very beneficial."
"Having that under your belt going into the summer and kind of reviewing it again, it's so much simpler, it feels like," said Robertson, who threw for 11,302 yards and 135 touchdowns in his high school career. "In the Air Raid, it was catch the ball, three-step drop, go through your reads. There's a lot more progressions based off what the defense does. . . . All of that is new, but you've got to work at it and adjust to it. It feels second nature now."
To get comfortable in the offense, Martinez said "it took a lot of reps in practice, a lot of film, a lot of getting with (quarterbacks coach Shawn Bell). And Blake and Sawyer have helped a lot."
"It's kind of just getting with them and doing extra things outside of just practice," said Martinez, who threw for 7,608 yards and 67 touchdowns as a three-year starter at Westwood. "That's allowed me to really become more comfortable in this offense and allowed me to kind of play to my strengths and my style of play."
After a redshirt freshman season that saw him earn Most Outstanding Player honors in the win over Oklahoma State in the Big 12 Championship game, Shapen struggled at times in a disappointing 6-7 season last year.
"It was tough," Shapen said. "Anytime you don't have the season you want to have, and (not) be able to perform like we did the year before, it's tough. That was nobody's goal of what happened last year. But I think it was good for me to be able to grow from it, see what it looks like going through a whole season, experiencing some losses and things like. I'm just looking to take things from that year and the year before and be able to keep moving forward."
Shapen has also added 15 pounds since the end of the 2022 season in hopes of being able to sustain the kind of hits he took last year.
"My body kind of took a toll a little bit on some of the hits I was taking," he said. "So, I think that it's going to help be able to wear some of those hits down a little bit. I feel like I can move the same, so it's been good."
Additionally, the fourth-year junior has stepped up as a leader, taking on more of a vocal role than he's ever had before.
"I think I've grown a lot in that area," he said. "I just want to be that guy that if things aren't going right or somebody needs to step up and say something, I want to be that guy. It's tough being that guy sometimes, especially if you don't talk a lot or you're more to yourself. But I've had to step out of my comfort zone a little bit and grow in that area."
Baylor will wrap up its first week of fall camp with a workout Saturday afternoon before taking a day off on Sunday. The Bears open the 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.
Players Mentioned
Baylor Football: Sawyer Robertson & Reggie Bush Media Availability, Nov 11, 2025
Tuesday, November 11
Baylor Football: Weekly Press Conference with Dave Aranda | November 10, 2025
Monday, November 10
Baylor Football: Cinematic Recap vs. UCF
Wednesday, November 05
WIN CAM: Post Game Reactions vs UCF
Sunday, November 02
