By Wendell Barnhouse
Big12Sports.com Correspondent

2014 record: 11-2 overall, 8-1 in Big 12, lost to Michigan State, 42-41, in Cotton Bowl.

Returning starters: 8 on offense, 9 on defense.

Top players returning: Junior QB Seth Russell, junior RB Shock Linwood, senior WR Jay Lee, junior WR Corey Coleman, sophomore WR K.D. Cannon, senior OT Spencer Drango, sophomore K Chris Callahan, senior DE Shawn Oakman, senior DT Beau Blackshear, senior DB Terrell Burt.

Key players to replace: QB Bryce Petty, WR Antwan Goodley, LB Bryce Hager, WR/KR Levi Norwood, OT Troy Baker, P Spencer Roth.

Spring review
Junior Seth Russell, who started one game last year when Bryce Petty was injured, solidified his place as this season's starter. His challenge will be following in the footsteps of previous productive QBs and maintaining the nation's most explosive offense

"He hasn't done anything to not show that he's capable of doing the job," coach Art Briles said. "He's shown the ability to help our football team to win with his feet, his arm and his intelligence, and that's what we're looking for."

Russell will be operating behind a solid offensive line and has a smorgasbord of selections when it comes to play makers. The top three running backs return from last season while Jay Lee, Corey Coleman and K.D. Cannon are the best of a deep and talented group of receivers.

Senior defensive end Shawn Oakman, at 6-9 and 275 pounds, anchors one of the most imposing defensive lines in college football. The key to the defense will be the development of play makers at linebacker and in the secondary.

While the defense has an imposing player in Oakman, the talk of spring practice was senior tight end Laquan McGowan. The 6-7, 410-pounder – yes, that's correct, 410 pounds – is listed as a co-starter. His touchdown reception in the Cotton Bowl was one of the highlights of the 2014 postseason and his permanent move to tight end is not a stunt.

Quick slants
Baylor's coaching staff has changed as offensive coordinator Phillip Montgomery left to become the head coach at Tulsa and Brian Norwood, who was the Bears' safety coach, followed Montgomery to become the Golden Hurricane's co-defensive coordinator. Kendal Briles replaced Montgomery and ran the offense for the Cotton Bowl while Cris Dishman was hired to replace Nortwood.

After spring football wrapped up, receiver K.D. Cannon joined the Baylor track team. The Class 4A 100-meters champion in high school, Cannon set Baylor freshman records with 1,030 receiving yards, 58 catches and eight receiving touchdowns.

Baylor's spring game was a 90-minute controlled scrimmage. The backups in the secondary got plenty of action as three of the four starters were sidelined with injuries before play started and a fourth was sidelined after the action started.

Coach Art Briles on …
Super-sized tight end Laquan McGowan:
"I don't have to worry about what I say about him, because no one else has got anybody like him. He's the most unique football player in the United States with his combination of size and athletic skill. He's going to be a dominant player. Not just a guy who jogs out on the field and does his job, he's going to be dominant in what we ask him to do."

Baylor likely being a preseason top five team:
"The expectations are extremely high, and that's a good thing. That's kind of where you want to get as a program, and we're finally there as a program, to where every time we step on the field we expect to win and other people expect us to win."

What he wants in terms of the preseason practice and the season opener:
"The keys early in the year are to be dominating defensively, especially up front. And then the offensive line has to be dominant. That's where we have to start."

2015 Schedule

Sept. 4	at SMU
Sept. 12	vs. Lamar
Sept. 26	Rice
Oct. 3	vs. Texas Tech (AT&T Stadium, Arlington, Texas)
Oct. 10	at Kansas*
Oct. 17	West Virginia*
Oct. 24	Iowa State*
Nov. 5	at Kansas State*
Nov. 14	vs. Oklahoma*
Nov. 21	at Oklahoma State*
Nov. 27	at TCU*
Dec. 5	vs. Texas*

* - Conference game.