Everything Ketron Jackson, Carl Williams IV Said After Practice No. 1 of Fall Camp
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Wide receiver Ketron Jackson (Sr.) and defensive back Carl Williams IV (So.) met with the media following one of Baylor’s 2024 fall camp practices. Here is everything they said when answering questions in the post-practice session.
Wide Receiver Ketron Jackson (Sr.)
What was the first day like?
I feel like today was good. It was good to get back. We had a lot of energy starting practice. Before practice, we were so excited to get back. It was super competitive. The defense was really competitive today. I feel like on the offensive end, we could have brought it a little bit more, but we all had a lot of juice to start right this off. It was good.
Coach Aranda talked a lot about urgency. Do you feel that urgency? And how much has that trickled down throughout the team?
That trickled down throughout the team a lot. He stated that today and I truly felt that from every single coach that was on the team today. And that made all of the players have to pick it up everywhere, and I felt that throughout the whole team.
How do you feel about that receiver room bringing in Jamaal [Bell] and Ashtyn [Hawkins] and the group you have back?
I feel like we've really grown from last year, we've really matured and adding them two and adding our freshman Jadon [Porter], I felt like they add a lot of talent to the team. That just boosted everybody, confidence boosted everybody's play, and I feel like we're gonna be really good.
Across from you, is there a [defensive back] who pushes you the most?
I got a few guys but Caden Jenkins. He usually does it. And Snaxx just returned. I haven't gone against him before, but me and him go at it a lot so I feel like he pushed me a lot too.
Is Coach Aranda a little more intense and maybe more serious than he's been? Are you guys feeling that?
We definitely are feeling that. He stated that, and how he's how he felt right here, that's exactly how he felt on the field. He wants to make sure everything is right, and he wants to hold us to a standard.
Is [Aranda] talking about winning games more, period?
Yeah – we’ve got to win. There's nothing else. Everything we got to do, he said that they got to pick up coaching, we got to pick up our play, everybody got to be involved in it. He's very, very intense about that.
For you as a receiver, is it a little bit more fun to play in Jake Spavital’s offense than maybe the run-first offense?
Yes, it's a lot more fun. Just going out there you know that we probably going to pass it more often than run it, but I feel like I'm super excited. When I get out there and we call the play, I don't care what it is, I just have an excitement about it because I know we can have an explosive play whenever we want.
Good retention from the spring?
We slowly added simple stuff just so we could execute it. That was Spav's main thing today was to execute so we just went through basic stuff, but it's the same day one install from the spring pretty much.
How do you not lose momentum when you have months in between the last team practice and now?
I would say the work I put in over the summer, like getting with [Dequan Finn], getting with Sawyer [Robertson] and getting our quarterbacks like going over to plays. We have player-led meetings and walkthroughs, so having all the laughter like that kept the momentum going into fall camp.
Are you pretty comfortable with both of those quarterbacks?
I saw leadership from both of them. They make great decisions on the field. They push the whole team they not just pushing the offense they talk to the defense so I feel like the leadership was a big factor between both of them
Do you feel more comfortable with [Spavital]?
Yes. I feel a lot more comfortable. He texts and checks in on us, and we can have a conversation about stuff. I feel like he's really a player's coach. I can joke around with him and laugh and stuff like that.
The [offense] kicked the defense around for the first three days of spring, and the defense won the rest of the days. How do you feel about that?
Most definitely because the defense always comes with energy. We could be dead, but we have to match their energy. We did get on him a few times during the spring, but they came back even harder and like they picked it up throughout the spring.
Defensive Back Carl Williams IV (So.)
How does it feel to get back out there? Can you sense the same intensity from the spring?
Feels great to get back out there. In summer workouts, we all worked hard. Offense, defense special teams and coaches, we all worked hard this this offseason. So getting back out there and getting to see like the fruits of our labor. It was pretty cool to see.
More intensity from Aranda. What does that look like from your perspective?
A more intense Dave Aranda is like ‘I want it, and I want it now type of thing.’ We also have a chip on our shoulder on the defense. So it's kind of different from [Ketron Jackson] seeing it and then from us in it because he's calling the defense. We just see that we have a chip on our shoulder type of thing. So just go out there and play hard, play fast, play physical and our brand of football.
Is there maybe a little bit of a chip on specifically for the DBs? Just mean, I think you only had seven interceptions last year. Is there a little bit of chip there in that group too?
Yes. All of the guys getting inside that playbook. A lot of guys are making themselves available for depth – depth plays a big role. We got guys who can play, fly around run cover and all those types of things. But to answer your question, yes, it is a big chip on our shoulders. We feel like we can lead this defense. We feel like we can be a big part of this defense.
With Snaxx [Johnson] being back, what do you feel like he adds to that group?
Energy. He brings a lot of energy. When he makes a play, you're gonna feel it. As a defense, we feed off of that and we feed off a guy showing their emotion. That's like our swagger. He brings that swagger; he brings that energy. So it's good to have.
Does it feel like he never left in that secondary with y'all and how does that flow together?
I wasn't here when he was here. But I always saw on film looking back that he was flying around making plays. And he was always a confident guy and always had that swagger with him. So for me, I look up to that; I look up to people having swagger on the field because that's how I want to represent my game as well. So it's cool having him back. I'm glad he's back.
What is it like to have Dave Aranda back focusing on the defense?
Oh, it’s pretty cool. He led LSU's 2019 defense, which was one of the greatest defenses. I believe in Coach [Aranda], we all believe in coaches from the offense and defense especially.
You've got some young guys back there in a secondary. Have they kind of meshed well with y'all? Does anybody stand out?
The young guys are learning. Some of them are getting out of that learning curve. But the young guys are coming to play, and they're learning. They're watching extra film, and it’s cool to see young guys trying to make themselves available to play and be a big asset to the team. But one guy that I will say stands out is Kris Wokomah. He comes in with a lot of energy and is ready to go to the ball. He always has a good attitude about himself and is always willing to work extra.
You had a pretty good year last year. How do you kind of keep that momentum going forward?
I say for me it is building and never getting complacent. I always want to learn, be the best and grasp everything that I can take. Whatever is out there to get – I want to get it. So it's kind of just having that mentality and thinking like that.
How has it been adjustmenting to play more deep safety?
It's cool playing deep safety – it’s different [than STAR]. I like to learn. I'm embracing it.
What’s the difference from a defensive perspective in the challenge that Spavital’s offense brings you guys on a daily basis compared to Grimes’ offense?
It’s two different offenses, one is spread. Spav’s offense is more spread with a lot of passing and a downhill run game. Grimes's offense wasn't as much passing-wise or things of that nature. It's just two different styles of offensive, but both have their perks.
Does that tempo make a difference on offense?