Page 1 of 1

Eight Mustangs Name To Athlon Sports Preseason Teams

PostPosted: Sat Jun 15, 2019 9:07 pm
by PonyPride
From SMUMustangs.com:

Eight Mustangs Name To Athlon Sports Preseason Teams

Full Preseason Teams

DALLAS (SMU) – Eight Mustangs were named 2019 Athlon Sports All-American Athletic Conference preseason selections, the outlet announced Tuesday.

Senior James Proche led SMU selections as a first-team offense honoree, as well as a fourth-team specialist. A 2018 All-American Athletic Conference selection, Proche led the Mustangs with 93 receptions for 1,199 yards and 12 touchdowns. He was also SMU's top returner with 20 punt returns for 165 yards and 12 kick returns for 276 yards.

Proche led the conference and was in the top 12 nationally in receptions per game (7.8, 5th NCAA), receiving TDs (8th NCAA), receiving yards per game (99.9, 10th NCAA) and receiving yards (12th NCAA). He was also second in the league for all-purpose yards (138.08, 13th NCAA). He had five 100+-yard games in 2018, giving him nine for his career.

The senior ranks fifth all-time at SMU with 24 career reception touchdowns and seventh all-time in both career receptions (190) and reception yards (2,724).

Additional offensive selections include third-team member Reggie Roberson, Jr. and fourth-team selections, Shane Buechele, Xavier Jones and Hayden Howerton.

Roberson was second on the team with 52 receptions for 802 yards and six touchdowns in only 10 games last season. He posted four 100+-yard receiving games and five games with 100+ all-purpose yards. Roberson, Jr. added five kick returns for 206 yards, including a 98-yard return for a touchdown in the win over Navy.

Jones rushed for 311 yards on 69 carries and had a pair of touchdowns, while Howerton started all 12 games at center in 2018.

Quarterback Buechele is set to join the Mustangs this fall.

On defense, Richard Moore, Rodney Clemons and Delontae Scott were selected to the outlet's second team.

All-AAC selection Moore led SMU with 92 tackles (56 solo) and had a team-leading 5.0 sacks for 28 yards. His 13.5 TFLs for 44 yards were second. Moore also added five quarterback hurries and a forced fumble. His 7.7 tackles per game were eighth in The American, while his TFL total was ninth.

Clemons ranked third on the team with 72 tackles, including 2.5 for loss. He also added one interception, four breakups and a blocked field goal he ran back for a touchdown against Tulsa. Scott registered 10.5 TFLs for 47 yards, including 4.5 sacks for 33, while also adding a forced fumble.

The Mustangs open the 2019 season on the road Aug. 31 at Arkansas State, before hosting North Texas (Sept. 7) and Texas State (Sept. 14) at Gerald J. Ford Stadium. The final non-conference test of 2019 takes SMU across the Metroplex to face rival TCU on Sept. 21 in The Battle for the Iron Skillet.

SMU hosts AAC West Division opponents Tulsa (Oct. 5) and Tulane (Nov. 30), while the road slate features a Thursday evening match-up at Houston on Oct. 24, and Saturday contests at Memphis (Nov. 2) and Navy (Nov. 23). East Division games include Temple (Oct. 19) and ECU (Nov. 9) at home and USF (Sept. 28) on the road.

For Mustang ticket information, call the Athletics Department Ticket Office at (214) SMU-GAME (768-4263).

Offense
First team – James Proche
Third team – Reggie Roberson, Jr.
Fourth team – Shane Buechele, Xavier Jones, Hayden Howerton

Defense
Second team – Richard Moore, Delontae Scott, Rodney Clemons

Special Teams
Fourth team – James Proche