On the surface, Baylor’s receiving corps looks like Kendall Wright and a bunch of kids.

Wright has proven himself as one of the Big 12’s best receivers over the last two years, but Baylor coach Art Briles doesn’t expect defenses to just cover him and let everybody else run free.

Though Baylor’s receivers are young, they’re bursting with talent.

Redshirt freshman Darius Jones will look to fill in for David Gettis and Ernest Smith in the Baylor receiving corps. The Bears’ spring game begins at 2 p.m. today.
Rod Aydelotte/Tribune-Herald

“We’re real young at receiver, but I don’t care if they’re 18 or 28,” Briles said. “It’s all about making plays. We’re just looking at who can get the job done right now.”

With his speed and superb hands, Wright is the Bears’ top returning receiver after catching 116 passes for 1,389 yards and nine touchdowns in his first two seasons. He’ll be joined at inside receiver by senior Krys Buerck, redshirt freshman Darius Jones and true freshman Tevin Reese, who enrolled at Baylor this semester after grayshirting last fall.

Like Wright, Jones was a high school quarterback who has made the conversion to receiver at Baylor. As a senior at Marshall High School, Jones ran for 784 yards and passed for 354 yards, and was one of the top recruits in Baylor’s 2009 class.

“I never played anything but quarterback until I got to college,” Jones said. “But when you play quarterback, you have to know everybody else’s position, and I think that’s helped me make the transition to receiver. I’ve had to learn how to run routes here, but I’ve always had good hands from playing quarterback.”

After redshirting last year, Jones is eager to get on the field. Briles believes Jones and Reese have great explosiveness and are fearless pass receivers.

“I think that redshirting helped me to get mentally and physically prepared for college football,” Jones said. “I’ve got my size and weight up, and I think my knowledge of the game is better.”

Several of Baylor’s wide receivers are looking to play bigger roles following the departure of senior David Gettis, who had a breakout year with 52 catches for 675 yards and three touchdowns, and could be picked in the NFL draft later this month.

Lanear Sampson showed a lot of potential as a redshirt freshman as he caught 29 passes for 297 yards and two touchdowns, and should put up bigger numbers this season.

“A lot of us are going to have to step up after losing two good receivers like David Gettis and Ernest Smith,” Sampson said. “But we’ve got a lot of young talent and we’re still progressing. Playing last season gave me more confidence and I got used to game speed.”

Josh Gordon will play a bigger role after catching just one pass last year.

With his speed and 6-4 frame, Josh Gordon will play a bigger role after catching just one pass last year. Terrance Williams showed he’s a potential long-range threat by catching three passes for 61 yards as a redshirt freshman.

“Josh is still maturing, but the light has clicked on and I think he understands what it takes to be great on a daily basis,” Briles said. “The sky’s the limit for him.”

Switching positions

Making the switch to tight end is 6-6 sophomore Willie Jefferson, who caught five passes for 101 yards and a touchdown as a freshman last season. Jefferson joins sophomore Jerod Monk and senior Brad Taylor to give the Bears a solid tight end corps. Taylor has missed the spring following a patella operation.

“I think I can help the team at tight end with my size and speed, which should give me an advantage against linebackers,” Jefferson said. “I played tight end as a sophomore in high school, and I know how to block.”

Baylor’s receiving corps has caught passes from several quarterbacks this spring, including Robert Griffin, Nick Florence and Bryce Petty. Griffin has been limited to non-contact drills after last season’s knee injury, and won’t play in today’s spring game. But the receivers are looking forward to playing with Griffin in the fall.

“Robert’s recovery is going well and we’ll be glad to have him back,” Sampson said. “He brings a lot to the offense with his knowledge. You can tell he really wants to be out there. It’s hard to keep him down.”

jwerner@wacotrib.com

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BAYLOR FOOTBALL SPRING GAME

Baylor’s spring football game will begin at 2 p.m. today at the Highers Athletics Complex practice fields.

Fans are encouraged to park at the Ferrell Center/Turner River Front Complex parking lots and ride complimentary shuttles to the Highers Athletics Complex.

The shuttle service will begin at noon, and gates to the practice fields will open at 1 p.m.