CHIP ON HIS SHOULDER

By Jerry Hill
Baylor Bear Insider

WACO, Texas – Rather than announcing the three finalists on Tuesday, maybe the Burlsworth Trophy committee should just go ahead and hand the award to Baylor receiver/punt returner Josh Cameron.

Even as the Bears were being handed a 55-28 defeat at the hand of 13^th-ranked Utah Saturday night at McLane Stadium, Cameron not only didn't quit, he put on the performance of a lifetime. The former walk-on from Cedar Park, Texas, had career highs with 13 catches for 165 yards, scored twice and added two punt returns for 27 yards.

"Just the effort he had and the energy he had through early in the game to late in the game . . . Josh is a leader, and he's going to bring people with him," Baylor coach Dave Aranda said in the postgame press conference.

Baylor (5-5, 3-4) put up 563 yards total offense against a Utah (8-2, 5-2) defense that came in as one of the stingiest in the country, allowing just 14 points and 301 yards per game. Quarterback Sawyer Robertson completed 29-of-58 passes for 430 yards and three touchdowns and became just the fourth player in program history to throw over 3,000 yards in back-to-back seasons.

"The quarterback is a real weapon, as is . . . it's the best receiving corps we've seen all year," Utah coach Kyle Whittingham said. "There's no question about that. The tight end (Michael Trigg) is outstanding. So, they have a lot going for them, particularly on offense."

Twice in the first half, Cameron answered scores by the Utes, connecting with Robertson on a one-yard TD reception on a fourth-down conversion that made it 14-7 and then again on a 29-yarder that cut the deficit to 28-17 right before the half.

"You could definitely feel the momentum and just the whole energy kind of shift in our favor," said Cameron, who had five catches for 54 yards on seven targets in the first half. "There was definitely a look on guys' faces coming out halftime that people are focused and ready to go."

That carried over to the second half, when the defense came up with a stop on Utah's first series of the third quarter. Cameron had three grabs for 55 yards on a 10-play, 63-yard drive, but the Bears had to settle for a 31-yard field goal by Connor Hawkins when Robertson missed Trigg on a third-down pass.

"I think it goes back to the offense scoring the touchdown at the right time," Cameron said, "because the defense came out and got a big stop. We drove down, but we've got to get in the end zone at that time to keep that momentum all the way."

Instead, the Utes put up 21-straight points and stretched the lead to 49-20, the last score coming after a 31-yard interception return to the 9-yard line by linebacker Trey Reynolds.

"We had a lot of one-on-one opportunities. We were able to make completions on some of those, and then others we missed," Aranda said. "In games like this, we have to make those, whether it's the catch, whether it's the throw. I thought the inconsistency on offense in terms of scoring would affect us. And it did."

Although the game was out of hand, Cameron had his best production in the fourth quarter, hauling in five passes for 56 yards on seven targets.

Asked about what motivates him to keep going in a game like that, Cameron said he likes to "carry a chip, regardless of the situation . . . of where I came from."

"I came from nothing. I didn't have any offers," he said. "That's always ringing in the back of my mind – win, lose or draw. So, that's the motivating factor. Another thing, I'm doing this for my mom, to take care of my family one day just to get us in a different position. Just always carrying that chip is the main thing."

Hopefully, the Burlsworth Trophy committee was watching.

In honor of Brandon Burlsworth, a former University of Arkansas walk-on and All-American offensive lineman, the Burlsworth Trophy is given to the nation's most outstanding player that began his career as a walk-on with no financial aid from the university's athletic department.

Cameron ranks first in the Big 12 Conference in receptions (60) and second in yards (746) through the first 10 games and now has 161 career receptions for 2,110 yards and 17 touchdowns.

Going into what could be the final two games of his storied Baylor career, Josh said there is "still a lot to play for in the season."

"I've only got a couple more opportunities left, because I'm a senior, and really getting that message out to the rest of the team," he said. "Young guys, old guys, it doesn't matter who it is, we still have a lot to play for. We're still fighting for a bowl game, the extra game, spending more time with our brothers. That's the main message, I'm not going to quit, regardless."

Baylor will play Arizona (7-3, 4-3) at 12 p.m. CT Saturday, Nov. 22, at Arizona Stadium in Tucson, Ariz., in a matchup that will be televised by TNT. The Wildcats ran their winning streak to three in a row, beating Cincinnati, 30-24, on the road Saturday.

CHIP ON HIS SHOULDER

Players Mentioned

Josh Cameron

Connor Hawkins

Sawyer Robertson

Michael Trigg

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