WACO 性视界传媒 Ever since Dawson Pendergrass arrived on campus two years ago, nothing about Baylor has stayed consistent.
He was a third-string option as a true freshman under Jeff Grimes性视界传媒 run-heavy wide zone scheme.
When Jake Spavital brought his up-tempo offense to Waco ahead of last season and the Bears added Khenon Hall to coach the running backs, it forced Pendergrass to adapt once again as he continued to climb the depth chart.
性视界传媒淗e was learning me, I was learning him; he性视界传媒檚 trusting me, I性视界传媒檓 trusting him,性视界传媒 Hall said. 性视界传媒淚t just took time for us to find our relationship where that trust factor for us is going both ways. And understanding, I trust you, you trust me, go in there and execute.性视界传媒
Adapting is what Pendergrass has been doing for his entire football career.
Growing up in the small town of Alba 性视界传媒 population 499 性视界传媒 he did a little bit of everything at Mineola High School, playing mainly linebacker and receiver but also spending time as a safety, quarterback and running back.
So when he finished last season with 671 yards and six touchdowns, he wasn性视界传媒檛 surprised.
性视界传媒淚 knew I always had it in me, it just took some motivation,性视界传媒 Pendergrass said.
The Baylor running back depth chart is clearly defined, with Bryson Washington, who is coming off the best season for a freshman running back in Baylor history, serving as the unquestioned lead back.
Pendergrass is the lightning to Washington性视界传媒檚 thunder.
The pair were the only backfield duo in the country to have a 1,000-yard rusher (Washington) and a 600-yard rusher (Pendergrass) in the same backfield in the country last season.
性视界传媒淚t性视界传媒檚 kind of a brotherhood,性视界传媒 Pendergrass said. 性视界传媒淥ur whole room is a brotherhood, but it性视界传媒檚 just little things like I性视界传媒檒l be sitting behind him watching him. If I see something he did that I think he could do better, I性视界传媒檒l tell him, and vice versa.性视界传媒
Pendergrass averaged seven carries per game last season, while Washington averaged more than double that.
While Washington added muscle and hopes to have the kind of season that can get him a look in next year性视界传媒檚 NFL draft, Pendergrass also got bigger, adding 15 pounds of muscle in the offseason.
He hasn性视界传媒檛 lost any of his speed and he also feels the heightened expectations.
性视界传媒淚 also feel like we have those expectations for ourselves,性视界传媒 Pendergrass said. 性视界传媒淐oach Hall always brings up a great point, that you always get better or you get worse, but you never stay the same. That性视界传媒檚 kind of what we性视界传媒檙e living by. We性视界传媒檙e just pushing each other.性视界传媒
With Dominic Richardson and Richard Reese both transferring out, the depth in the running back room behind Pendergrass and Washington is a bit of a concern.
Redshirt freshman Joseph Dodds missed all of last season with an injury, and the Bears brought in four-star high school prospects Michael Turner from Richland Hills and Caden Knighten from Pauls Valley, Oklahoma.
Hall said there isn性视界传媒檛 a sure-fire No. 3 on the depth chart just yet.
性视界传媒淭hey性视界传媒檝e got the will to do it,性视界传媒 Hall said. 性视界传媒淎ll of them are built the right way. They性视界传媒檝e got the right mindset and they性视界传媒檙e physical. They check all the boxes of what you性视界传媒檙e looking for in a running back. Those guys are going to fight it out.性视界传媒
Pendergrass, who is the most experienced running back of the group with two full seasons under his belt, stands out as a huge piece of the running back puzzle.
Hall said leadership comes from the top down, and that the normally quiet and understated Pendergrass has continued to become more of a vocal leader to the freshmen throughout the spring.
Pendergrass said he性视界传媒檚 seen nothing but hard work from the next generation of Baylor running backs and that they have accepted coaching from both him and Washington.
Even if it was a little out of his comfort zone.
性视界传媒淚t性视界传媒檚 kind of weird being one of the oldest guys in the room now,性视界传媒 he said.
性视界传媒淚性视界传媒檓 used to being the young buck. But I性视界传媒檝e got to lead the freshmen the right way and make sure they性视界传媒檙e doing everything right and stay on them.性视界传媒