Baylor Bear Insider
As Zeke Brown, Garret McGuire and Thor Rodoni were each called up for a private one-on-one meeting earlier this week, "there was probably some nervousness at the beginning," Baylor head coach Dave Aranda said.
That nervousness quickly turned to unimaginable joy, though, as the three former walk-ons got word that they were getting a full scholarship for this year.
"I think anytime you're doing stuff the right way, you're treating people right, making other people better, and you're striving for growth, you want to reward them," Aranda said during Wednesday's media session. 'That's what it's about. They smiled, they got emotional, it was a pretty cool moment. I'm a big fan of all three of those guys."
Brown has made the biggest impact of the three, playing in 29 career games and coming up with an interception in last year's win at Kansas. McGuire, the son of associate head coach Joey McGuire, is a scout-team quarterback who has appeared in four games over the last two seasons, while Rodoni is a fifth-year senior and backup deep snapper.
Junior receiver RJ Sneed, one of five players who were awarded single-digit jerseys on Tuesday, tweeted: "Man, getting a single digit was an honor, but to see my best friend, my bro for life get put on scholarship was an amazing feeling."
CARRYING ON THE TRADITION: When Aranda was hired at Baylor in January, he quickly found out how important the single-digit tradition was that Matt Rhule started back in 2017 to reward the "toughest, hardest-working, most-competitive players."
"It seemed like something that was earned and something that was done the right way, so I'm excited to continue it," Aranda said.
The first five single-digit jerseys were awarded on Tuesday, with senior running back John Lovett being voted in for the fourth-consecutive year and selecting No. 7. First-timers are quarterback Charlie Brewer (No. 5), running back Trestan Ebner (1), Sneed (0) and linebacker Terrel Bernard (2).
"I give credit to Coach Rhule and Joey (McGuire) and Shawn (Bell) and Coach (David) Wetzel and the staff that was here previously, because they really poured into those guys," Aranda said. "We used to say back in Wisconsin that certain guys are hooked up right, they see it the right way, they see problems for what they are, they see the bigger picture. All these guys get it. They're great communicators and leaders and very deserving of this honor."
Aranda said the players would vote on the remaining five single-digit numbers after Saturday's scrimmage.
XAVIER LEADING THE O-LINE: With the departure of Sam Tecklenburg, who Rhule signed as a free agent with the Carolina Panthers, the offensive line had a leadership void that needed to be filled.
Senior Xavier Newman-Johnson, who's made 19 career starts at guard, has moved to center and "grown from a leader of the O-line to a leader of the offense and has really become one of the leaders of the team," Aranda said.
"I'm really impressed with him and how he sees things and the standards he holds for himself and others. He's one of our better players."
Sophomore Casey Phillips made six starts last season at tackle, but has shown the versatility to play either tackle spot and has also moved inside to guard at times during fall camp.
"His ability to play those spots as needed, I think, makes us a stronger unit," Aranda said. "I love his personality and his aggressiveness."
Aranda calls junior left tackle Connor Galvin "the lynchpin" of the offensive line.
"(Tuesday) was one of our longer practices. And he was leading the team at the very end. He was motivating guys and trying to get them to match his intensity," Aranda said. "When you're seeing that type of development – (offensive line coach Joe) Wickline has a lot to do with it – there are some positive things happening."
BUILDING DEPTH AT SAFETY: Outside of juniors JT Woods and Christian Morgan, who have started a combined nine games, there is precious little experience at the safety positions.
But, Aranda likes what he sees from a young group that includes sophomore transfer Al Walcott and true freshmen Devin Neal and Mike Harris.
"Al brings some length (6-2). He's playing at the STAR, so they're moving him around quite a bit, and I think he's handling it," Aranda said. "We're trying to get as many peanut butter and jelly sandwiches into Mike (5-10, 170) as we can. But, the learned piece with him, the physicality, all that stuff comes real natural.
"Devin, the way he can move, he can change direction and keep his center of gravity, it's a special piece to him. He can make an open-field tackle, sink his hips and drive people back. Those are things you don't ever see, and he's done that pretty consistently."
THIRD AND FOURTH QUARTERS COMING: The Bears will close out their third full week of fall camp with a scrimmage on Saturday at McLane Stadium.
"We're trying to give the picture of what a late third quarter or fourth quarter looks like because eventually third and fourth quarters are going to come our way," Aranda said. "We're looking for guys that when it's hot and they're tired or they're real sore, that they push through it and lift people up and bring other people across the finish line. I think we have that type of character in our team and we're looking for that type of leadership."
Baylor kicks off the season with back-to-back home games, hosting Louisiana Tech on Sept. 12 and opening Big 12 play two weeks later against Kansas.
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