Nuggets From Baylor's Final Open Practice of Fall Camp
Today marked Baylor football’s final Fall Camp practice that was open to the media before the Bears gear up and prepare for the home opener against Texas State on Sept. 2.
Head coach Dave Aranda and select players will be available today for questions before a simulated game week beginning after the weekend.
Below are the observations I was able to gather in the limited time we were able to watch practice.
Friday’s practice opened up with wide receivers Jordan Nabors (So.) and Monaray Baldwin (Jr.) fielding punts.
Nabors and Baldwin are similar builds with similar but different traits, with Nabors having a slightly bigger build. Nabors is one of those players that offensive coordinator Jeff Grimes will have to find touches for each and every weekend; he’s dynamic. Hopefully, he’s able to make an impact in the return game.
Baldwin looked far more comfortable catching and receiving punts. Baldwin will be one of the Bears' top targets at wide receiver, however, and health is a concern for him, so if Nabors could handle the returning duties, that would probably be best case scenario for everyone involved.
This was my first time being up close to the quarterbacks, and I was impressed by Blake Shapen’s command of the room. Shapen definitely seems to have improved as a vocal leader, much like Aranda has reiterated over the last couple of months.
Sawyer Robertson (RS-So.) most definitely looks the part. The arm talent is there, and he seems to be much more comfortable rolling to his left and right than earlier in the year, which is to be expected as he gained experience in a new offense.
RJ Martinez is a fantastic option as your third-string quarterback. He moves really well, and I was impressed by his arm. Martinez definitely gives Baylor an advantage because I don’t think many schools in the country, aside from the five-star factories in the SEC and Big 10, feel good about the third-string depth in their quarterback rooms.
During one period, all the QBs were taking reps on rolling out of the pocket and then pitching back to the running back. Richard Reese (So.) was working with Shapen, and Oklahoma State transfer Dominic Richardson (Jr.) was working with Robertson.
Offensive line coach Eric Mateos was not on the practice field Friday and seems to have been out the past few days. Aranda later clarified Mateos is gone due to a death in his family. Grimes was in his place coaching the O-lineman.
This week, Bruce Fieldman released his “College Football Freaks List” in The Athletic. I wouldn’t be surprised if Kaden Sieracki (RS-Fr.) makes the cut in a few years. He is massive. Baylor’s website has him listed as 6-foot-8, 310 pounds and he’s plenty athletic.
Other updates: Wide receiver Hal Presley (Jr.) was practicing in a gold jersey to signify “no-contact.” However, he was a full-go it appeared in all of the catching drills.
Running back Bryson Washington (Fr.) remains not on the field. However, to calm fears, Aranda said last weekend that he expects Washington to play in tomorrow’s scrimmage.
Utah State transfer cornerback Ajani Carter is still not on the practice field.