Photo by Todd Nickle
Baylor Football
Bill Snyder evaluates freshman QB Zach Smith
A season ago Kansas State head coach Bill Snyder watched from the sideline of Snyder Family Stadium as true freshman Baylor quarterback Jarrett Stidham tossed for 419 yards and three touchdowns against his Wildcats.
A year later, Snyder will do his best to keep true freshman Baylor quarterback Zach Smith from duplicating the performance.
Todd Nickle
Smith finished with 144 yards passing and one touchdown against Oklahoma.
Following Seth Russell's season-ending injury against Oklahoma in Baylor's most recent game, Smith entered the game and finished off the final 27 yards of a 75-yard touchdown drive.
Over the next three possessions, Smith took Baylor's offense down the field twice, once for a touchdown and once narrowly missing the end zone on a fourth-down attempt.
In four possessions with Smith as the quarterback against the Sooners, Baylor's offense covered 172 yards in 22 plays in his first significant action since mop-up duty on Oct. 10 against Kansas.
"Well, I think they do, as always, do a nice job of being able to prepare young guys in their program at the quarterback position," Snyder said.
"You get a chance to watch him play in a number of ballgames that he has played and his number aren’t as significantly good as (Seth Russell), but you go back and look some of the things he has done in regards to throwing the football, and I was impressed the velocity that he can put on the ball."
Smith's has completed only 16-of-35 passes for 45.7 percent on the season, but Snyder isn't ready to accept that number at face value.
"(Smith’s) accuracy is not bad, he’s throwing the ball in some good places," Snyder said. "And he looks to me — the key element, I think — is he looks like he plays with a great deal of poise. He doesn’t rush himself and seems to be mentally in the ballgame.
"It might be a little bit easier for him than it might be for others."
On the season, Smith has thrown for 272 yards and two touchdowns.
A product of Grandview (TX) High School, Smith threw for over 10,000 yards and 114 touchdown passes in his three-year high school career. He also added 483 yards rushing and 11 touchdowns on 140 carries.
A year later, Snyder will do his best to keep true freshman Baylor quarterback Zach Smith from duplicating the performance.
Todd Nickle
Smith finished with 144 yards passing and one touchdown against Oklahoma.
Over the next three possessions, Smith took Baylor's offense down the field twice, once for a touchdown and once narrowly missing the end zone on a fourth-down attempt.
In four possessions with Smith as the quarterback against the Sooners, Baylor's offense covered 172 yards in 22 plays in his first significant action since mop-up duty on Oct. 10 against Kansas.
"Well, I think they do, as always, do a nice job of being able to prepare young guys in their program at the quarterback position," Snyder said.
"You get a chance to watch him play in a number of ballgames that he has played and his number aren’t as significantly good as (Seth Russell), but you go back and look some of the things he has done in regards to throwing the football, and I was impressed the velocity that he can put on the ball."
Smith's has completed only 16-of-35 passes for 45.7 percent on the season, but Snyder isn't ready to accept that number at face value.
"(Smith’s) accuracy is not bad, he’s throwing the ball in some good places," Snyder said. "And he looks to me — the key element, I think — is he looks like he plays with a great deal of poise. He doesn’t rush himself and seems to be mentally in the ballgame.
"It might be a little bit easier for him than it might be for others."
On the season, Smith has thrown for 272 yards and two touchdowns.
A product of Grandview (TX) High School, Smith threw for over 10,000 yards and 114 touchdown passes in his three-year high school career. He also added 483 yards rushing and 11 touchdowns on 140 carries.
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