The Player's Club: Confidence and Camaraderie

Back in the swing of things, Tuesday evenings mean a chance to hear the player side of preparations, as the Bears close in on Saturday's opener against Texas State. 

The sessions are wild cards regarding who we'll hear from, but the mystery is also intriguing because this program isn't trotting out just anyone to speak. 

For week number one, super senior safety Bryson Jackson and sophomore wide receiver Joshua Cameron kicked off the festivities. 

Welcome to the Player's Club.

JACKSON on BARRINGTON 

Let's start with one of the strongest seals of approval I've heard recently. 

On Monday, Aranda mentioned an emotional talk Clark Barrington had in front of the team during a fall camp meeting that solidified his leadership position. A day later, Jackson provided further insight into what went down, and it was less Hollywood rah-rah and more an opening of one's soul that defines the program's 'Person Over Player' identity. 

Clark came to Waco with his actual brother, Campbell, who takes more of the quiet approach. But that duo has quickly added a lot of new brothers in a short amount of time. 

"He's just the guy always doing the things that might seem like you might not want to do at the time, you got other things you want to do. But Clark is always putting this team in front," Jackson relayed to the media on Tuesday. "So, Clark's message was that he just kind of felt the pressures and everything, he just wants to know if he's doing a good job. And he needed that confirmation."

Vulnerability may not seem like the most powerful subject matter when winning football games is such a significant focus, but it hits different once you realize the potential impact. 

"And I think that his brothers gave him that confirmation … he's a leader that a lot of guys want to be, because putting your teammates in front over yourself, it takes a lot and he's definitely developed my trust and this team's trust."

It's one thing to receive praise for your leadership; it's another when that praise comes from a super duper senior in Bryson Jackson, who's witnessed a wide-ranging gamut of outcomes, teams, and leaders. 

CAMERON on WIDE RECEIVERS 

Last year's struggles at WR are well-documented, and the messaging was loud and clear this offseason. This team needs the wide receivers to step up. Adding a player like Ketron Jackson helps, but it's time for the younger guys to embrace being older and contribute accordingly. 

Among those in line to further breakthrough and change the narrative this season is redshirt sophomore Josh Cameron, who earned a scholarship last summer and then saw action in all 13 games, including four starts. 

WR coach Dallas Baker has worked tirelessly on the field and off to build solid relationships and coach this group. There's loads of potential, and now it's just a matter of making it happen. 

"We just feel very confident honestly. And that starts with the coaches as well. We've noticed throughout camp, throughout the spring that they've kind of like put it on us receivers, because we're the older guys now," Cameron said. "And so when you feel that confidence from your coaches, it's like, hey, I know I can play for my coach. I know he has faith in us and when he has faith in us, I can just go out there and be free and just do what I'm capable of doing." 

As receivers, there's something for the group to prove individually and as a room. But, as an overall team, there's nothing like that in play, especially on Saturday.

"I don't feel we have anything to prove, honestly, as long as we just keep the focus as not really so much as we're playing Texas State. This week, Coach Aranda, he's basically just been telling us, 'us versus us.' Focus on being the best version of us, and then the rest will take care of itself. So as far as expectations, things like that, we're just going to go out there and play, honestly." 

CAMERON on BLAKE SHAPEN 

Shapen is another player who's received high marks this offseason for his growth, which is a good thing, given last year's shortcomings and the clear messages sent that aided in him securing the starting role. 

For Cameron, the belief Shapen's leadership abilities will carry over this year boils down to the offseason and the strenuous exercises the strength staff put the team through. 

"And Blake was kind of like, at the forefront at those high-pressure situations, basically trying to keep everyone together. And I think obviously, with that training, it's kind of easy to carry over when you get to the real thing because he's just like so prepared honestly."

JACKSON on DBs

Now manning the STAR position, Jackson preaches the power of preparation when performing on Saturdays. Given the offense they'll be facing and the questions already surrounding the defensive backs, his most significant message is the importance of communicating.  

"Our DBs are going to be on an island, and we're gonna have guys having to know exactly what their assignment is, and being able to communicate out there against their tempo, pace. So it's going to be a unique test for us … put the best coverage guys out there and see what they can do."