Final practice notes

[PonyPride]

• QB Neal Burcham took the first snaps, and after practice, June Jones stopped short of naming Burcham the starter next year but reaffirmed that Burcham will be the leader going into camp. This spring he showed good accuracy, but as the coaches have said, part of getting the ball out is making faster decisions, and choosing quickly where to throw. Burcham said at the end of the 2013 season that the two-plus games in which he played helped accelerate that learning process. Teammates have said Burcham is a step faster than Garrett Gilbert, but he obviously is not as big, so how much he'll run remains to be seen.

• One of the best players in spring camp has been slot WR Cedric Lancaster, who has very good hands and runs very precise routes, rather than looking like a freshman trying to rely only on his speed and run past everyone. He starts and stops, and changes direction very well, navigating his way through defenders like someone who has played in more than just one college game (as Lancaster did last year before breaking his collarbone). Lancaster shook defenders all day to get open, including the longest pass play of the day when he got behind his defender to haul in a 50-yard touchdown strike.

• Still no word on whether or not the NCAA will grant an extra season of eligibility for Kevin Pope, who all play running back if he is granted the extra year. He spent much of the spring workouts as an interested observer, running on the side, but he got a regular dose of the running back rotation Saturday, along with K.C. Nlemchi and Prescott Line. Teams that assume the former linebacker is nothing more than a battering ram-style linebacker could get burned, as Pope showed very good acceleration again. When Pope was standing on the outside looking in throughout much of spring workouts, Line and Nlemchi split all of the reps in practice.

• Several players have talked about how WR Jeremiah Gaines has had a strong spring after moving from slot WR to outside WR, and Saturday was his best day of the spring. The biggest receiver on the team, he ran well and wrestled a few contested passes away from smaller DBs, and just looks more comfortable running his routes.

• The offensive line is a fluid unit at the moment, with OL coach Wes Suan spending the spring trying different combinations, and tried several players at multiple positions. The first-team offensive line for much of the spring has featured C Taylor Lasecki and OTs Chauncey Briggs and Kris Weeks, but the guard spots have rotated several players while they try to settle on players and let them create chemistry with each other. The guards who have had the most snaps in spring (in no particular order) have been Daniel McCarthy, Chewy Chamagua and Seaver Myers. Who will play in August remains to be seen.

• Speaking of the offensive line, Bo Antunovic is starting to "get it." He's not there yet — his football-playing career is still in its infancy, but he looks more comfortable and confident, as he begins the learning process. When camp opened, teammates had to tell him the most basic things, like how to line up. Now he understands things like that. He still gets fooled, but his balance and footwork are much better, and his pure strength is undeniable.

• One of the more unusual sights has been Beau Barnes getting some snaps at outside linebacker, instead of his customary defensive end spot, from which he posted five sacks last year (second to LB Jonathan Yenga's six). The 6-5 Barnes casts an imposing figure at linebacker, but he is one of the fastest defensive ends on the team, and did not look completely lost when he dropped into coverage.

• The secondary has looked terrific, especially the cornerbacks. Horace Richardson, J.R. Richardson and Ajee Montes (as the "nickel back" who fills a number of roles) have been among the three best players from the start of spring camp until Saturday's finale. Watching them run, it's hard to believe either Richardson has ever suffered a knee injury (both have).

• With Hayden Greenbauer still working his way back from knee surgery, Darrion Richardson has been lining up next to Shakiel Randolph (who looks much stronger) at safety. No, that doesn't mean he'll start, but coaches and teammates alike have raved about both Darrion Richardson's progress.

• Lots of recruits (not sure how many) and lots of former SMU players were there, including OL Dave Richards (father of incoming OT Tony Richards), LB Ja'Gared Davis, OL Bryce Tennison, OL J.T. Brooks, DE Margus Hunt, QB Kyle Padron, DE Dave Blewett, WR Cole Loftin, DB Bennie Thomas, CB Bryan McCann … and several more — sorry I didn't get to see everyone. Several incoming freshmen were there, too, including QB Darrel Colbert, OL Nick Natour, OL Evan Brown and LB Elijah Anglin (again, there might have been more, but I don't know everyone by face yet).

[Big12Mustang]

These should be reposted below so people can comment/discuss

[Casey]

That's why they're here.

I'm glad to see that Gaines is doing well. I've got really high hopes for that guy.

[AusTxPony]

Looking at the schedule, 6 wins seems maximum. We must win North Texas and Cincinnati to get to 6 IMHO. We play all 4 of the favorites in Conference. Are we the only ones who do that?

[Rebel10]

According to there reports I predict SMU goes undefeated.

[Roach]

According to there reports I predict SMU goes undefeated.

What the hell makes you say that? The report basically says

Burcham started that day in practice and isn't as big as GG.
Lancaster shows promise … which could have been that he looked great or a poor reflection of some other WRs.
No word on Pope.
The offensive line is unproven and positions are not yet claimed.
Bo A. is strong but has no idea yet what he's doing.
Beau B. doesn't appear to be completely incompetent at LB.
The Richardson CBs, who were starting to show promise before getting hurt, might still end up being good.
Hayden Greenbauer is not yet ready to go.
Some former SMU players and future Mustangs were there.

That's hardly a claim of greatness for any of them. Looks like nothing more than updates.

[RGV Pony]

Going out on a limb but I'm pretty sure Reb10 was being facetious

[Grant Carter]

According to there reports I predict SMU goes undefeated.

What the hell makes you say that? The report basically says

Burcham started that day in practice and isn't as big as GG.
Lancaster shows promise … which could have been that he looked great or a poor reflection of some other WRs.
No word on Pope.
The offensive line is unproven and positions are not yet claimed.
Bo A. is strong but has no idea yet what he's doing.
Beau B. doesn't appear to be completely incompetent at LB.
The Richardson CBs, who were starting to show promise before getting hurt, might still end up being good.
Hayden Greenbauer is not yet ready to go.
Some former SMU players and future Mustangs were there.

That's hardly a claim of greatness for any of them. Looks like nothing more than updates.

I know he was being sarcastic, but I agree with you that the report was so sunshiny as to warrant the sarcasm. Just a knee jerk reaction I guess.