Baylor
Bears

Newsday isn't the only one noticing what is happening with the Bears as they get set for Briles' second year on the job. Suddenly, Baylor football is the topic of national magazine and television pieces and there are things like photo shoots to deal with.

You know Briles doesn't mind.

Obviously, a key reason for all this optimism is quarterback Robert Griffin, who burst to stardom as a true freshman last year and finished spring ball with a 310-yard/three-touchdown performance in the spring scrimmage. He also ran for 41 yards, including a one-yard touchdown run, and he and fellow sophomore-to-be, inside receiver, Kendall Wright seem to be developing into one of the best tandems in the Big 12.

--LB Joe Pawelek was named to the watch lists for the Rotary Lombardi and Lott Trophies.

--The Baylor family was saddened by the loss of former defensive back Kyle Woods, who passed away at age 49. Woods suffered a practice injury that rendered him a quadriplegic in 1979. "Kyle Woods is an icon and beloved member of the Baylor family who will be remembered for his warm friendship, perseverance through tragedy and being a source of inspiration to all of us," said Baylor Director of Athletics Ian McCaw. "He will always hold a special place in both our hearts and Baylor Athletics history."

--Baylor opens its season at Wake Forest and then, after a bye week, hosts Connecticut and Northwestern State.

--Incoming freshmen QB Bryce Petty and WR Tevin Reese were selected to play for USA Football's 2009 Junior National Team that will compete in the sport's first junior world championship this summer. This will be America's first national team in the sport comprised of players aged 19 and under.

SPRING MOVERS:

QB Robert Griffin -- This is the star-power guy who will lead this team as it tries to battle its way into the Big 12 pack. It was clear in the spring the Bears want to throw the ball more and Griffin did just that. He is on the national radar now. "Robert gives us an added dimension offensively," Said Baylor coach Art Briles. "He's a dynamic player that has an intellect and intensified discipline that compliments his competitive nature. He will make us a team to be reckoned with."

WR Terrance Williams -- He's one of the guys Griffin will be throwing the ball to. "Terrance has had an outstanding camp," said Briles. "He is a guy that we feel very confident about being on our football team, because he is a person that understands the game, he is very instinctive, and he keeps his body in full control when the ball is in the air. He has definitely had one of the better springs."

RB Jarred Salubi -- The redshirt freshman ran for 40 yards on 12 carries in the spring game and is listed on the depth chart as the backup tailback.

QUOTE TO NOTE: "I think we improved this spring without a doubt. What we want to do is make people respect us throwing the football offensively. I think we did that. We want to be creative running the football. I think we did that. We want aggressive physically and systematically. Coach Norwood and his staff certainly did that. And we want to be solid in the special teams and we are going to be that." -- Baylor coach Art Briles after the end of spring camp.

SCOUTING THE DEFENSE: "The great thing defensively is that we have a lot of returning starters back," says Briles. "So a lot of these guys have been through the wars and we're now ready as a program to take it to the next level."Joe Pawelek is one of the best linebackers in the county and just seems to be in on every play for the Bears, and safety Jordan Lake is usually in on the hits Pawelek misses. Transfer tackle Phil Taylor (Penn State) will help.

SCOUTING THE SPECIAL TEAMS: Kick returner Mikhail Baker has averaged 24.7 yards per return during his career, the third-best figure in Baylor history. Ben Parks isn't the steadiest kicker but Derek Epperson more than gets the punting job done.

ROSTER REPORT:

--OG Jordan Heavey missed spring ball recovering from the knee injury that cost him the last four games of last season.

--DT Phil Taylor (sat out last year), OT Danny Watkins (junior college transfer) and QB Nick Florence (early arrival from high school, joined the roster for spring drills.

--IR Kendall Wright joined the team late in spring after his stint with the basketball team.

--The Bears had eight players playing different positions in the spring than they played last year, including Krys Buerck, who moved from cornerback back to wide receiver, where he had been before shifting to defense.