DEPTH AT SAFETY
8/5/2024 3:36:00 PM | Football
Western Kentucky transfer Simpkins bolsters already strong room
By Jerry Hill
Baylor Bear Insider
Even though he ranked among Baylor football's team leaders last season with 41 tackles and three pass breakups, redshirt junior safety Devin Lemear felt like there were some plays that he took off last year just because he was tired.
"That's no longer an excuse," Lemear said of a deep secondary that includes 14 safeties for three positions. "My personal goal is just to play hard every play, don't take any plays off . . . and the rest will take care of itself."
Including the cornerback positions, the Bears return six players with starting experience from last season, brought back another player with 25 career starts under his belt and a Group of Five transfer that started 22 games at Western Kentucky.
"When new people come in, you know that nobody's spot is secure," said junior safety Devyn Bobby, who ranked second in tackles (76) and first in pass breakups (six) last year. "So, every day, you've got to come in and you've got to work hard to earn your spot. We've got 14 safeties, so we push each other every day trying to make each other better. We're happy to see each other shine this year."
Lemear and Bobby are the returners at the two deep safety positions with a combined 35 starts, but Western Kentucky transfer Kendrick Simpkins and sophomore Carl Williams IV are getting looks at multiple positions.
"I feel like competition in every position is great, because it brings out the best in everybody," said Simpkins, who had a breakout season with the Toppers last season with 52 tackles, 7 ½ sacks, eight QB hurries and four forced fumbles. "It's one thing to compete and grow apart, but we're competing and we're all together. Whoever's got the hot hand, that's probably going to be the guy."
Second-year defensive coordinator and safeties coach Matt Powledge said the 6-foot, 207-pound Simpkins "can be dynamic."
"And he is dynamic. But I'm saying there are times, man, where he's just different," Powledge said. "He's a seasoned vet, he's played a lot of snaps, he's played a lot of good football. He's got a good feel in (and) around the box. And the thing I love about him is he's a worker. It'll be a walk-through day, and he wants to stay after and get extra work, not on something he's good at, but to work on something that he feels like he needs to improve on."
When Simpkins reported in January, it was an interesting dynamic with him being a veteran collegiately but a newcomer at Baylor.
"I haven't felt that way since freshman year," he said. "To go back to that and have to learn how to meet new people, it was really good for me because I'm a guy that doesn't really talk a lot."
But he has lofty goals to establish himself as a leader, "get that C (captain's letter) on my chest."
"Really, it's just being the best person I can be every day," he said. "I know it was a younger group last year. So, coming in with a lot of experience, just any questions, any way I can help the young guys, that was really big for me."
Another player with tons of college experience is fifth-year senior cornerback Lorando "Snaxx" Johnson, who spent three seasons at Baylor before starting all 12 games at Arkansas last season and then transferring back to Waco this summer. He made the first of his 25 career starts as the nickel back in the Bears' 21-7 win over Ole Miss in the Sugar Bowl.
"Especially with Snaxx coming back, it's a big difference now," said cornerback Caden Jenkins, who earned Freshman All-America honors last season. "He's been here, so he already knows the schemes, he already knows the plays, he already knows what to do. So, he's just trying to get back to it."
Lemear, who played alongside Johnson for two years, said "he's the same guy, really competitive, but maybe a little chilled out . . . a little bit."
Jenkins, who played a big part in the comeback win over UCF with an interception and a 72-yard fumble return for a touchdown, said wants to step up as a leader this season.
"Just being that guy who talks more and who lifts guys up more," he said, "because I know I'm a big player on this team."
Caden's twin brother, Cameren, is also part of that deep safety room. He transferred from UNLV after notching 32 tackles and a blocked kick in 13 games as a true freshman.
"It's great," Caden said, "just having my family with me. Just getting him back home, because him being that far (away), I know he didn't like it out there. So, I had to get him back."
Another interesting addition in the secondary is freshman safety Mason Dossett, the son of former Baylor receiver and track standout Martin Dossett, who won a Big 12 title in the 4x100-meter relay. Mason has excelled on the track as well, winning the 6A state championship in the 110-meter hurdles in 13.44 seconds.
Coming off a 3-9 season, Lemear said "everybody's sick of losing."
"I feel like everybody's just focus on competing. Losing is not an option for us," he said.
The Bears are back on the field Monday afternoon for their fourth fall camp practice. All practices are closed to the public. The annual "Meet the Team" event will be held at 2:30 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 24, at the Allison Indoor Practice Facility.
For football season tickets, mini plans or single-game tickets, go to the link at 2024 Football.
Baylor Bear Insider
Even though he ranked among Baylor football's team leaders last season with 41 tackles and three pass breakups, redshirt junior safety Devin Lemear felt like there were some plays that he took off last year just because he was tired.
"That's no longer an excuse," Lemear said of a deep secondary that includes 14 safeties for three positions. "My personal goal is just to play hard every play, don't take any plays off . . . and the rest will take care of itself."
Including the cornerback positions, the Bears return six players with starting experience from last season, brought back another player with 25 career starts under his belt and a Group of Five transfer that started 22 games at Western Kentucky.
"When new people come in, you know that nobody's spot is secure," said junior safety Devyn Bobby, who ranked second in tackles (76) and first in pass breakups (six) last year. "So, every day, you've got to come in and you've got to work hard to earn your spot. We've got 14 safeties, so we push each other every day trying to make each other better. We're happy to see each other shine this year."
Lemear and Bobby are the returners at the two deep safety positions with a combined 35 starts, but Western Kentucky transfer Kendrick Simpkins and sophomore Carl Williams IV are getting looks at multiple positions.
"I feel like competition in every position is great, because it brings out the best in everybody," said Simpkins, who had a breakout season with the Toppers last season with 52 tackles, 7 ½ sacks, eight QB hurries and four forced fumbles. "It's one thing to compete and grow apart, but we're competing and we're all together. Whoever's got the hot hand, that's probably going to be the guy."
Second-year defensive coordinator and safeties coach Matt Powledge said the 6-foot, 207-pound Simpkins "can be dynamic."
"And he is dynamic. But I'm saying there are times, man, where he's just different," Powledge said. "He's a seasoned vet, he's played a lot of snaps, he's played a lot of good football. He's got a good feel in (and) around the box. And the thing I love about him is he's a worker. It'll be a walk-through day, and he wants to stay after and get extra work, not on something he's good at, but to work on something that he feels like he needs to improve on."
When Simpkins reported in January, it was an interesting dynamic with him being a veteran collegiately but a newcomer at Baylor.
"I haven't felt that way since freshman year," he said. "To go back to that and have to learn how to meet new people, it was really good for me because I'm a guy that doesn't really talk a lot."
But he has lofty goals to establish himself as a leader, "get that C (captain's letter) on my chest."
"Really, it's just being the best person I can be every day," he said. "I know it was a younger group last year. So, coming in with a lot of experience, just any questions, any way I can help the young guys, that was really big for me."
Another player with tons of college experience is fifth-year senior cornerback Lorando "Snaxx" Johnson, who spent three seasons at Baylor before starting all 12 games at Arkansas last season and then transferring back to Waco this summer. He made the first of his 25 career starts as the nickel back in the Bears' 21-7 win over Ole Miss in the Sugar Bowl.
"Especially with Snaxx coming back, it's a big difference now," said cornerback Caden Jenkins, who earned Freshman All-America honors last season. "He's been here, so he already knows the schemes, he already knows the plays, he already knows what to do. So, he's just trying to get back to it."
Lemear, who played alongside Johnson for two years, said "he's the same guy, really competitive, but maybe a little chilled out . . . a little bit."
Jenkins, who played a big part in the comeback win over UCF with an interception and a 72-yard fumble return for a touchdown, said wants to step up as a leader this season.
"Just being that guy who talks more and who lifts guys up more," he said, "because I know I'm a big player on this team."
Caden's twin brother, Cameren, is also part of that deep safety room. He transferred from UNLV after notching 32 tackles and a blocked kick in 13 games as a true freshman.
"It's great," Caden said, "just having my family with me. Just getting him back home, because him being that far (away), I know he didn't like it out there. So, I had to get him back."
Another interesting addition in the secondary is freshman safety Mason Dossett, the son of former Baylor receiver and track standout Martin Dossett, who won a Big 12 title in the 4x100-meter relay. Mason has excelled on the track as well, winning the 6A state championship in the 110-meter hurdles in 13.44 seconds.
Coming off a 3-9 season, Lemear said "everybody's sick of losing."
"I feel like everybody's just focus on competing. Losing is not an option for us," he said.
The Bears are back on the field Monday afternoon for their fourth fall camp practice. All practices are closed to the public. The annual "Meet the Team" event will be held at 2:30 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 24, at the Allison Indoor Practice Facility.
For football season tickets, mini plans or single-game tickets, go to the link at 2024 Football.
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