Depth paying off for injury-riddled Baylor

Baylor showed its depth in the win over Oklahoma when running backs Lache Seastrunk and Glasco Martin went down with injuries and redshirt freshman Shock Linwood had to take over as the primary runner.

Linwood ran for 182 yards against the Sooners.

Now the undefeated Bears face a similar situation at wide receiver with the loss of senior Tevin Reese.

Reese will miss the rest of the regular season with a wrist injury as the unbeaten Bears begin their stretch drive for a Big 12 title and possibly more when they play Texas Tech. The game is Saturday (Nov. 16) in Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas.

"What we've got to do is figure out who we're going to lean, how we're going to lean on them and when we're going to lean on them," coach Art Briles said of potential replacements for Reese. "That's the situation."

Reese, who could possibly return for a bowl game, had 33 receptions for 824 yards and eight touchdowns in seven games, second on the team to junior Antwan Goodley in all categories.

Junior Clay Fuller, his backup and likely replacement at one of the inside receiver spots, has 15 catches for 215 yards and one touchdown.

"We do have players who are very capable," Briles said, "and it's a good chance for them to show their competence -- how they can help us and contribute with their accomplishments."

The game against the Red Raiders, who are 7-3 after losing their last three outings, is at a neutral site but is the first of three in a row away from Waco's Floyd Casey Stadium.

After the Raiders, the Bears are at Oklahoma State and at TCU, then finish at home against Texas.

NOTES, QUOTES

PLAYERS TO WATCH:

--Redshirt freshman RB Shock Linwood took over when junior Lache Seastrunk and senior Glasco Martin went out with injuries against Oklahoma and rushed 23 times for 182 yards in Baylor's win. Linwood was Seastrunk's primary backup early in the season as Martin recovered from hamstring issues but had seen his role reduced with Martin's return.

--Junior WR Antwan Goodley is Baylor's top receiver. His 10 touchdown receptions are the fifth most in a season in Baylor history, and his 974 receiving yards also are the fifth-most in a season in program history.

--Senior LB Eddie Lackey recorded his first interception of the year in the win over Oklahoma, giving the junior college transfer five in his two seasons with the Bears. He is No. 2 on the team in tackles with 60, including 8.5 for losses.

--Senior DE Chris McAllister is Baylor's sack master. He has 5.5 for the season, which is tied for fifth-most in the Big 12.

QUOTE TO NOTE: "I really don't think it would matter if we were ranked 4 or ranked 24 or No. 1. I think we're going to come out here every week, prepared and ready to go. You always have something to prove. It doesn't matter if you're the best or the worst." -- Junior QB Bryce Petty, on Baylor's No. 4 rankings in the polls and No. 5 spot in the BCS rankings.