By Kevin Lonnquist
Publisher
Baylor has knowns at the tight end position returning and some unknowns at wide receiver. Several met with the media post practice on Friday.
TE Drake Dabney
(Are you playing both TE and WR) I’m playing more of the wide position. In this offense we’re expected to do a little bit of everything. The room’s been great, there’s a lot of energy, and it’s been fun to be around those guys every day.
(Competition) Every day we just try to go out there and get better, and just pushing each other to be the best we can be. There’s definitely a lot of opportunities that can open up for our position group.
(What did you try to improve on) Really just every part of my game, blocking with more dominance, and in the pass game I feel like I’ll have more opportunities there. Just really getting in the indoor and throwing routes with the QBs every day.
(Having Gavin Holmes around) Gavin’s great. He definitely brings a lot of fun energy to the room.
(Is there more on the tight ends with WRs unproven) We definitely have a young group of receivers, but I think they’re more than capable of stepping up into that role this year. We still have an opportunity to get involved in the passing game.
(Have established QB) We know who our guys are, and whoever is at quarterback we’re going to support him.
(Blake) He can spin it for sure. He’s going to put it on you, and he has real good touch. He knows where to put the ball.
(Second year in Grimes offense) I think the growth has been tremendous. Last year we definitely established the run game, so I think this year we’re looking to open it up and have a more balanced attack. I think everyone, even the younger guys, are starting to catch up and the older guys are getting better at what they already knew.
(Getting height advantages on pass plays) Yeah for sure, I think the opposition will have a lot of mismatches that we’ll be able to create.
Monaray Baldwin
(How much have you heard from people about TD run in Sugar Bowl) I hear it a lot. I don’t really like to talk about it because it’s just one play, It’s more of a team game. People always talk about it. It felt good at the time, but I’m getting ready for this next season coming up.
(Competition at WR) It’s been great. I feel we have a lot of talent. Whoever Coach Baker chooses to play, we can all go out there and produce. It doesn’t matter who plays. Whoever goes out there, we’re going to produce.
(Depth) We can go four-deep at every position. Gavin is a little tweaked up, but he’ll be back in no time.
(What have you worked on) For me it’s really just blocking because everybody knows I’m fast and I can run the ball and catch the ball. But blocking is something we’re really taking more of a focus on. It’s really not something people focus on. They know we’re going to run the ball and pass the ball, so if we’re the best blocking team in the country I know nobody can stop us.
(Shapen passes) Beautiful, in the right place. Blake is one of the best quarterbacks I’ve ever seen, I’m not going to lie. That’s all the quarterbacks, but Blake is really good at throwing the football.
(Questions about unknown receivers) I don’t take that personally because they’re on the outside looking in. I know these guys on a good level and I know what they’re capable of. We go out there and work. They say we’re young, but if you can play football you can play football.
(Sugar Bowl run) It doesn’t really affect my confidence because I’m a confident person. I know my team has my back. Maybe a few people in the stands know my name now, but other than that it doesn’t really change anything. As long as we execute we’ll be fine.
(Tyquan TD catch for Patriots) It motivates me a lot, especially since I knew him on a great personal level and I talk to him all the time. For him to be at that level, it just motivates me because the dude was right here last year. He’s from here, I can go there. It motivates me to push myself and push my teammates.
(Blake) Blake can do anything. No shade on Gerry, but Blake can do anything. He’s going to go out there and execute. He’s not the biggest quarterback, but he can run the ball, so they have to account for that. Other than that, Blake can do anything.
(Role in WR room) Whatever they call, I’m going to execute to the best of my ability, whether it’s a run or pass play. I hope we can all be on the same page on offense.
H-Back Gavin Yates
(Positions you’re playing) Kind of an H-back, fullback, tight end; kind of whatever Coach Grimes says, I play.
(Like being able to be that versatile) Yeah, for sure. I’m not the biggest tight end, I will say, I’m not as tall. So, I don’t put my hand in the dirt a lot. So, I’m off the ball and move in different directions and filling holes. So, I think it fits my game a lot more than, per se Drake (Dabney), who’s on the ball.
(How did all that happen, were they looking at you in a particular spot) I was definitely recruited as more of like the H-back, fullback kind of tight end.
(Favorite one) I think H-back and fullback kind of intertwine. They’re both off the ball and kind of do similar stuff. I think they kind of go hand-in-hand.
(How do you balance prepping for the different roles) I think it’s just kind of half and half, and you kind of think about it the same way and approach it the same way. There are, of course, little tweaks to everything, but you kind of attack them the same way, and you study film for a long time. And you’ll start to pick out little tweaks of, I can add this to H-back as I am a fullback.
(What’s the similarities) Hit people really hard, run through their face; and just narrow hands to get underneath their chest, pad level.
(Advantage of having the OC as your position coach, likes to use tight ends) He does, and I think it’s really no different. If he was the wide receiver coach, he’s still going to use the tight ends the same way because that’s just a big part of our offense. So, I think yes, it gives us an advantage in the meeting room sometimes, because he explains kind of the whole concept behind the play. But, he treats every position group the same, they’re just as important as us.
(On Blake) He throws a good ball, and he’s super consistent. That’s what you want as a quarterback, you want the same guy day in and day out. And I think that’s Blake Shapen to a tee.
(Feel pressure to be the guy that brings the physicality to the offense) A little bit, but there’s only so much I can do as one person, there’s 11 people on the field. You kind of look to other people. It’s not just one person that does everything. I think it’s a team sport for a reason.
WR Hal Presley
(How do you see your role in the wide receiver room) Right now, I’m just going to do whatever the coaches tell me. It’s a team sport, and coming to Baylor, they make it very clear that it’s a team sport. And I like it like that.
(What do you feel like you can bring to the table) I feel like I can bring a little bit of everything to the table with playing on the field. But, like I said, it’s whatever the coaches want me to do.
(What did you see in Baylor when you left Auburn last summer) Honestly, I feel like I have a really good relationship with Coach Aranda. Coach Aranda has always been 100% real with me. He’s the realest coach I’ve ever met, honestly.
(Like the offense, was that part of it, too) Yes, I do. It didn’t have anything to do with it, but I’m so glad I chose it, because we run a few plays in a lot of ways.
(What’s the competition like) The competition is there, everybody is good, definitely, but we’re all getting better.
(Does that kind of depth push you to be on your game every day) Yes, it definitely does push me. But we don’t look at each other, really, as competition. We look at it as a team sport, so we are all just coming out every day to get better. And whoever the coach decides to put there, that’s who we’re rolling with.
(Not a lot of experience, but how much does it help to have so many guys ready to go) I feel like it helps in a lot of ways. Say if somebody was to get banged-up, we could put another person in there. So, I feel like it would help in that way.
(How much do you find yourself picking Coach Baker’s brain about playing that position on the next level) Honestly, we don’t even have to pick his brain, he just tells us everything. And he’s really a free spirit. He gives us all we need. And he, honestly ever since he came here, he’s made me a better player. I know more than I’ve ever known, so it’s really good with him being here.
(How would you describe a Blake Shapen pass) It’s beautiful, I’m not going to lie. It’s different, it’s different coming from him. In all my career, I’ve never had a quarterback like him. He can throw from different angles, he’s amazing.
(How different is he this fall than he was in the spring, since he was named the starter) I would say he has stepped up more as a leader. He’s definitely taking his leader, that’s what I would say.
(Leaders in the receivers room) I would say Gavin Holmes. He’s really stepped up big for us. He puts everybody in check when they need to be in check. And everybody listens to him. So, it’s good to have him in the room.
Publisher
Baylor has knowns at the tight end position returning and some unknowns at wide receiver. Several met with the media post practice on Friday.
TE Drake Dabney
(Are you playing both TE and WR) I’m playing more of the wide position. In this offense we’re expected to do a little bit of everything. The room’s been great, there’s a lot of energy, and it’s been fun to be around those guys every day.
(Competition) Every day we just try to go out there and get better, and just pushing each other to be the best we can be. There’s definitely a lot of opportunities that can open up for our position group.
(What did you try to improve on) Really just every part of my game, blocking with more dominance, and in the pass game I feel like I’ll have more opportunities there. Just really getting in the indoor and throwing routes with the QBs every day.
(Having Gavin Holmes around) Gavin’s great. He definitely brings a lot of fun energy to the room.
(Is there more on the tight ends with WRs unproven) We definitely have a young group of receivers, but I think they’re more than capable of stepping up into that role this year. We still have an opportunity to get involved in the passing game.
(Have established QB) We know who our guys are, and whoever is at quarterback we’re going to support him.
(Blake) He can spin it for sure. He’s going to put it on you, and he has real good touch. He knows where to put the ball.
(Second year in Grimes offense) I think the growth has been tremendous. Last year we definitely established the run game, so I think this year we’re looking to open it up and have a more balanced attack. I think everyone, even the younger guys, are starting to catch up and the older guys are getting better at what they already knew.
(Getting height advantages on pass plays) Yeah for sure, I think the opposition will have a lot of mismatches that we’ll be able to create.
Monaray Baldwin
(How much have you heard from people about TD run in Sugar Bowl) I hear it a lot. I don’t really like to talk about it because it’s just one play, It’s more of a team game. People always talk about it. It felt good at the time, but I’m getting ready for this next season coming up.
(Competition at WR) It’s been great. I feel we have a lot of talent. Whoever Coach Baker chooses to play, we can all go out there and produce. It doesn’t matter who plays. Whoever goes out there, we’re going to produce.
(Depth) We can go four-deep at every position. Gavin is a little tweaked up, but he’ll be back in no time.
(What have you worked on) For me it’s really just blocking because everybody knows I’m fast and I can run the ball and catch the ball. But blocking is something we’re really taking more of a focus on. It’s really not something people focus on. They know we’re going to run the ball and pass the ball, so if we’re the best blocking team in the country I know nobody can stop us.
(Shapen passes) Beautiful, in the right place. Blake is one of the best quarterbacks I’ve ever seen, I’m not going to lie. That’s all the quarterbacks, but Blake is really good at throwing the football.
(Questions about unknown receivers) I don’t take that personally because they’re on the outside looking in. I know these guys on a good level and I know what they’re capable of. We go out there and work. They say we’re young, but if you can play football you can play football.
(Sugar Bowl run) It doesn’t really affect my confidence because I’m a confident person. I know my team has my back. Maybe a few people in the stands know my name now, but other than that it doesn’t really change anything. As long as we execute we’ll be fine.
(Tyquan TD catch for Patriots) It motivates me a lot, especially since I knew him on a great personal level and I talk to him all the time. For him to be at that level, it just motivates me because the dude was right here last year. He’s from here, I can go there. It motivates me to push myself and push my teammates.
(Blake) Blake can do anything. No shade on Gerry, but Blake can do anything. He’s going to go out there and execute. He’s not the biggest quarterback, but he can run the ball, so they have to account for that. Other than that, Blake can do anything.
(Role in WR room) Whatever they call, I’m going to execute to the best of my ability, whether it’s a run or pass play. I hope we can all be on the same page on offense.
H-Back Gavin Yates
(Positions you’re playing) Kind of an H-back, fullback, tight end; kind of whatever Coach Grimes says, I play.
(Like being able to be that versatile) Yeah, for sure. I’m not the biggest tight end, I will say, I’m not as tall. So, I don’t put my hand in the dirt a lot. So, I’m off the ball and move in different directions and filling holes. So, I think it fits my game a lot more than, per se Drake (Dabney), who’s on the ball.
(How did all that happen, were they looking at you in a particular spot) I was definitely recruited as more of like the H-back, fullback kind of tight end.
(Favorite one) I think H-back and fullback kind of intertwine. They’re both off the ball and kind of do similar stuff. I think they kind of go hand-in-hand.
(How do you balance prepping for the different roles) I think it’s just kind of half and half, and you kind of think about it the same way and approach it the same way. There are, of course, little tweaks to everything, but you kind of attack them the same way, and you study film for a long time. And you’ll start to pick out little tweaks of, I can add this to H-back as I am a fullback.
(What’s the similarities) Hit people really hard, run through their face; and just narrow hands to get underneath their chest, pad level.
(Advantage of having the OC as your position coach, likes to use tight ends) He does, and I think it’s really no different. If he was the wide receiver coach, he’s still going to use the tight ends the same way because that’s just a big part of our offense. So, I think yes, it gives us an advantage in the meeting room sometimes, because he explains kind of the whole concept behind the play. But, he treats every position group the same, they’re just as important as us.
(On Blake) He throws a good ball, and he’s super consistent. That’s what you want as a quarterback, you want the same guy day in and day out. And I think that’s Blake Shapen to a tee.
(Feel pressure to be the guy that brings the physicality to the offense) A little bit, but there’s only so much I can do as one person, there’s 11 people on the field. You kind of look to other people. It’s not just one person that does everything. I think it’s a team sport for a reason.
WR Hal Presley
(How do you see your role in the wide receiver room) Right now, I’m just going to do whatever the coaches tell me. It’s a team sport, and coming to Baylor, they make it very clear that it’s a team sport. And I like it like that.
(What do you feel like you can bring to the table) I feel like I can bring a little bit of everything to the table with playing on the field. But, like I said, it’s whatever the coaches want me to do.
(What did you see in Baylor when you left Auburn last summer) Honestly, I feel like I have a really good relationship with Coach Aranda. Coach Aranda has always been 100% real with me. He’s the realest coach I’ve ever met, honestly.
(Like the offense, was that part of it, too) Yes, I do. It didn’t have anything to do with it, but I’m so glad I chose it, because we run a few plays in a lot of ways.
(What’s the competition like) The competition is there, everybody is good, definitely, but we’re all getting better.
(Does that kind of depth push you to be on your game every day) Yes, it definitely does push me. But we don’t look at each other, really, as competition. We look at it as a team sport, so we are all just coming out every day to get better. And whoever the coach decides to put there, that’s who we’re rolling with.
(Not a lot of experience, but how much does it help to have so many guys ready to go) I feel like it helps in a lot of ways. Say if somebody was to get banged-up, we could put another person in there. So, I feel like it would help in that way.
(How much do you find yourself picking Coach Baker’s brain about playing that position on the next level) Honestly, we don’t even have to pick his brain, he just tells us everything. And he’s really a free spirit. He gives us all we need. And he, honestly ever since he came here, he’s made me a better player. I know more than I’ve ever known, so it’s really good with him being here.
(How would you describe a Blake Shapen pass) It’s beautiful, I’m not going to lie. It’s different, it’s different coming from him. In all my career, I’ve never had a quarterback like him. He can throw from different angles, he’s amazing.
(How different is he this fall than he was in the spring, since he was named the starter) I would say he has stepped up more as a leader. He’s definitely taking his leader, that’s what I would say.
(Leaders in the receivers room) I would say Gavin Holmes. He’s really stepped up big for us. He puts everybody in check when they need to be in check. And everybody listens to him. So, it’s good to have him in the room.
