#SPRINGBU 2016 DAY ONE QUOTES

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Head Coach Art Briles

On new players:
"That's what's most exciting to me, is that we have really good people that have been having to wait for an opportunity to play because there are really good people in front of them. But now is their time, and we are ready to put them on the field and let them go. In the lines, in particular, but in the receiving department as well. We've got good people, and that's what is exciting. We have to make sure we have the right person in the right place and turn them loose and let them go."

On momentum from the end of last season:
"Any time you come off a win and have the spring to evaluate and go from there, it's a big deal. It really helped because we needed that win extremely bad. It's given us a lot of confidence going into this season, because we had to adjust and do some things differently. It gave us some confidence as a team, knowing that whatever the situation is, we can overcome it."

On Seth Russell's health:
"We certainly hope so. He did a great job last year up until the injuries. I thought Stidham was unbelievable. I think that as bad as it was last year, it's going to be that good this year. We have two guys that are really good and really experienced. Seth will begin taking first team. Right now he's fully cleared for everything except contact, and he's not going to have that anyway in the spring. He'll be out there today doing everything like nothing ever happened."

On if last season was the most challenging:
"They're all challenging. There were certainly some low days along the way that challenged your inner strength and to stay focused and motivated to do what needed to be done in the field of play, which is making sure our student-athletes are well-prepared and taken care of. So from that standpoint, I'd say it was very challenging."

On moving Davion Hall to safety:
"It's a natural spot for him. He was really good at receiver also, but we have a lot of receivers. I felt like that was where he'd really help us. He's a tough kind, he's smart, and an outstanding leader. We are excited about letting him get out there and make some plays. He has a tough mentality."

On filling spots of players graduating and leaving for the NFL:
"I think it's going to be the most competitive spring we've had. We've never had quite this many holes to fill. It's very exciting. It's like the situation where we had to prepare for the bowl game, a lot of unknowns. We get out there, put them on the field and turn them loose, and that's what we will be looking at this spring and going into next fall. The thing that helps is that our guys have done a really good job recruiting over the past three and four years."

On Seth Russell returning for his senior year:
"It's great. That's another plus, another positive. Stidham was the best miracle and best freshman last year. We've got two really good guys that can make it happen."

On expectations for the offensive line:
"To just carry on the tradition that we've had. We've got a great tradition there. These guys are good. They've got a little growth and maturity to them. They're good players. We're excited to get them out there and turn them loose."

On receivers replacing Corey Coleman and Jay Lee:
"Those are big-time players. KD is good, he just really has to step up more as his roles change for us. Ishmael Zamora is a guy we are really excited to see have a lot of opportunities. We have a lot of depth and a lot of guys that could do it."

On keeping the edge with all of the new players coming in:
"The hunger comes from the good times more than the bad. You can sit back and relax and say, "That was good". We don't want that. We say "Let's make the next one better". We have to keep that edge and that hunger, and that's our job as a team, my job as a coach and our job as a fan base, because last time I checked, we didn't win the national championship last year. There's a whole lot more we can do."

Seth Russell, QB

On his family and other supporters:
"My family has always been a tight-knit family. Blood's thicker than water. Everybody's been there and not just family. Baylor Nation, people outside of Baylor, people from every part of the earth. I've had people message me from Europe and Australia. It's amazing to see how something like football can bring people together."

On his range of motion and throwing:
"I've definitely thrown. My range of motion is right at 99%. Just have to keep working it, it's a little stiff since I'm only four months out of surgery. It takes six months to get the full range of motion. I'm right there and it's coming back pretty quickly."

On "what if" moments, what if he had not been injured:
"When you're sitting there and can't do anything except eat, sleep and maybe use the restroom, you just start thinking. But it was amazing to see how Corey (Coleman) ended the season, and I felt like I could have been a bigger part of that. The team had a great run, but I feel like I let the team down."

On improvement this upcoming season:
"I can improve in all kinds of ways, decision making, reading the defense, running the offense. If I need to change the play I can, and be quicker and faster with snapping the ball."

On his inner circle telling him to step away from football:
"Definitely not. They supported me through it all. They weren't going to tell me something that would put a negative thought in my head. If I say I want to play football, they're going to support it. Of course if it came down to a health issue, that's something we would look at."

Jarrett Stidham, QB

On the level of competition this spring after players left:
"I'm excited to see it. There are spots that need to be filled all over the field. On offense, we've got the whole offensive line other than Kyle gone, so I'm just really excited to see those guys step up, and see what they can do. Obviously on the defensive line, and with "X" gone at corner, there are places all around the field that need to be filled, so I'm really excited to see those guys compete."

On if what Baylor did in the bowl game adds a new wrinkle to the offense:
"We're definitely going back to what we do, but that definitely adds a little spice to the recipe so we're going to see how things go and if we incorporate that, cool, but if we won't, that's definitely something to look at."

On momentum from the bowl win going into the offseason:
"It's huge. Any time you can win a bowl game and jump into the spring or the offseason with that good win then that's huge, for any team. Feeding off of that, and going into the spring and then obviously the summer and the fall, it's huge for us."

On if he's healthy or if there are any restrictions:
"No restrictions at all, they're letting me go for spring ball."

On how weird standing on the sideline with Seth and watching the bowl game was:
"It was tough. Any time you have to watch from the sideline it's tough. As a competitor, you want to be out there and compete with your team and play hard for them, but it's part of the game."

On how remarkable it is that Seth was able to bounce back from his injury:
"It's awesome. Any time you're dealing with a neck injury, spine injury, or anything like that, to come back from it strong is huge. It's really motivating to me and the rest of the team. We're looking forward to seeing what he can do this spring."

Shock Linwood, RB

On Seth Russell's injury
"I wish him the best of luck in the spring. I hope he's able to get out there and perform to the best of his abilities, and doesn't try to overdo."

On his general lack of injuries in the past:
"It's good that I can be very durable and be able to go through the season. This was my first injury and I have to adjust. I'm not used to sitting out and not being able to participate."

On spring competition:
"It's just raised the bar. Everybody's going to be able to compete more for a spot. That's what coaches look for, for us to go out there and compete for the position. Don't settle for a person being in front of you."

On confidence in the new players on the line:
"I just have to do what I do and get back out on the field and not overdo it. This is going to be my fifth year, I've established myself with the coaches and my teammates. I don't have anything to prove out there. I just have to go out there and get the other guys ready. I'm one of the guys that has the most experience, so I have to be their leader for the offense and take the role of getting them ready for the season."

Aiavion Edwards, LB

On the beginning of spring practice and the new year
"It's exciting. After offseason you get a little tired of lifting weights and just going back and forth. Getting back out there and competing is fun, and everyone I know is really pumped. I see the smiles on everybody's faces today."

On confidence in the defense:
"I have a lot of confidence in us. We have a lot of guys coming back, other guys are stepping up, up front, and I have all the confidence in them. I've seen them play and I know what they can do."

On following players who left for the draft:
"It just comes with practice. We have to get everyone together with good team chemistry and let everyone just do their jobs and see how things go."

On K.J. Smith and Byron Bonds going unnoticed:
"K.J. started his redshirt freshman year and Bonds has just played big the past few years. Anybody looking down on those guys is making a big mistake."

On more competition for defense spots:
"The guys that have been there have done a great job, but bringing them in helps everyone bring up their level of play a little. There are definitely new faces and some guys that haven't gotten as much experience, but they've gotten plenty of play and they know exactly what to do and how our mindset is."

Travon Blanchard, NB

On how it feels to be the "old guy":
"It's exciting. Coach always tells us that he can put us in the position that he wants, he can draw all the X's and O's on the board, but at the end of the day, it's a player's game. So, taking on that challenge, you have to embrace the role of the leader whether you want it or not. A lot of young athletic guys we have, we just have to get them the experience now. They have talent that you can't coach up."

On whether to calm them down or get them excited:
"Calm them down. Right now they're still nervous and have to get used to the offense. They're about to go up against one of the best offenses in the nation. I have to get them to calm down, lock in and play football."

On personal improvements and accomplishments for the spring:
"Personally, I want to get better at tackling and I want to be a more secure tackler. I also need to work on my pass rushing skills. This year I covered a lot more than I thought I would, so I want to work out with the corners and make sure I work on my coverage."

On celebrating after big plays:
"It's all spontaneous! I have my little shoulder move that's how you know I'm in the zone, if you ever see it. Other than that, it's just about having fun out there with your teammates and whatever happens, happens."