Player’s Club: Playing with Juice and an Edge

After a 45-3 dismantling of Tarleton in the season opener last Saturday, one of the main takeaways from the fanbase and media alike was that the Bears played with a renewed edge and intensity that head coach Dave Aranda discussed so many times throughout fall camp.

“Everybody knows about the season last year going 3-9,” safety Devyn Bobby (Jr.) told the media on Tuesday. “That left a bad taste in our mouths, and we made up our minds in the winter that we would be a different team. We changed the culture around here and are trying to get things rolling with how Baylor used to be. Right now, we’re 1-0 and off to a good start.”

Last fall, Baylor looked despondent on the field more often than not, especially at McLane Stadium, where the Bears limped to a 1-7 home record. This offseason, Aranda stressed regaining an edge to the coaching staff and, from there, down to the 85th man on the roster.

In the post-game press conference following the victory over Tarleton, Aranda was proud of the team’s intensity and noted that the sideline was the most locked in it had been in a while. 

Wide receiver Ketron Jackson (Sr.) feels similarly, saying, “[The energy] was different. It was different. I'm obviously comparing it to last year, but it was a different feeling. We had juice from the start, and I feel like we finished the game with that same edge.”

The defense, in particular, showed tangible improvement from last season, limiting the Texans to three points and 181 total yards on offense.

“We all saw the growth in the team; we all executed at a high level, and it was good going out there, flying around and getting a win,” Bobby said. “I feel like we were on one, especially coming out with the pick-six – shoutout to Keaton [Thomas]. Jackie Marshall and the whole D-line were flying around making plays. It was actually fun being out there on defense playing for Baylor.”

The aforementioned Thomas (RSo.) and Marshall (RJr.) were welcomed additions to Baylor’s improved and new-look defense. Thomas transferred from Northeast Mississippi CC, and Marshall returned after missing the 2023 season due to an ACL injury.

“Jackie has dealt with injuries, and we’ve known what Jackie can do, but the world didn't know what he could do. It was really good seeing him going out there, making seven tackles, and going crazy,” Bobby said. “With Keaton, since the first day he came in, he has been a leader of the team. We knew what Keaton could do because he showed it at practice every day. For him to go out there and showcase it on the field was good to see as well.”

Despite arriving in the spring, Thomas has quickly become one of Baylor’s most important players. He represented the Bears at Big 12 Media Days and is a leader on defense.

“We’ll be in walkthroughs, and he’s going full speed, and that'll make me say, ‘Okay, yeah, I gotta get right,’” Bobby said. “He brings a lot of juice to the defense, which is what we need. He plays a very hard position as a linebacker, and we need a guy like that. He definitely has influenced us.”

Despite still working through the kinks of a new offensive system, the newcomers on the other side of the ball made just as big of an impact, most notably quarterback Dequan Finn (6Sr.), tight end Michael Trigg (RJr.) and wide receiver Ashtyn Hawkins (5Sr.).

“We still weren't super clean, but I saw the explosiveness with the players who started earlier, like DQ, Ashtyn, Trigg and our running backs,” Jackson said. “I saw the potential, so that was really good because we haven't gone against somebody else. We’ve just been scrimmaging, so it was good to see that against another team.”

When asked how the offense can improve its showing in their next time out, Jackson responded immediately, saying, “Execute. Simple. We played hard last week, but we didn't execute that well. If we play hard and execute, I feel we will do really well.”

For the Bears to have a chance on the road against No. 11 Utah, they will most definitely have to execute in every facet of the game. After narrowly losing last season to the Utes in Waco, 20-13, Baylor is looking to avenge its loss this time around.

“We definitely got a chip on the shoulder,” Bobby said, talking about last year’s loss to Utah. “We are ready for our revenge tour. We are ready to step it up. We know it's going to be a physical game and is going to take all four quarters, but we’re prepared.”

Jackson added to that, saying, “I’m really looking forward to this trip. Obviously, from last year, this feels like another chance that we can get to knock them out.”

Baylor (1-0) will travel to Salt Lake City and face the No. 11 Utah Utes (1-0) at 2:30 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 7, at Rice-Eccles Stadium.