COLLEGE FOOTBALL DAILY REPORT : USC : Baylor Freshman Impresses Early

Baylor’s freshman quarterback, Jeff Watson, has led 10 touchdown drives in two starts and taken his team to a 3-0 record in preparing to play USC at 7 p.m. Saturday at the Coliseum.

Against Oklahoma State last weekend, Watson brought Baylor from behind twice to win, 14-10. Watson and wide receiver John Stanley connected on an 81-yard touchdown pass play in the third quarter and he and tight end Damon Rhynes connected on a 70-yard scoring pass play in the fourth.

Earlier, Baylor defeated Louisiana Tech, 44-3, and San Jose State, 54-20.

Watson has completed 22 of 40 passes, with five touchdowns and one interception. Of Baylor’s 1,161 total offensive yards, 675 have been accounted for by freshmen.

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Defensive coordinator Don Lindsey still is evaluating film, trying to figure out how his players went from an outstanding performance against Washington to giving up 534 yards in a 38-14 loss at Penn State.

“We’re an enigma. . . . I don’t know yet what we are,” Lindsey said.

“Against Washington, we got six sacks and five turnovers. Normally, you rant and rave when a defense has a game like that.

“Against Penn State, we were playing one of the best offensive teams in the country. I go into these games as a realist, but I also think we always have a chance to win.”

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Coach John Robinson was talking about the “quickness” of little-used wide receiver Ryan Lenderman, who is 5-11 and 180 pounds. Someone noticed he is on the depth chart as the backup long snapper for placekicks.

“He’s also the holder,” Robinson said.