Ricker Honored As Broyles Award Nominee
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (SMU) – SMU Co-Offensive Coordinator and offensive line coach A.J. Ricker was named a nominee for the Broyles Award, which honors college football's top assistant coaches. The award is presented by the Frank & Barbara Broyles Foundation.
The Mustangs currently rank fifth nationally in first downs (251), are 13th in total offense (494.5), 14th in passing offense (318.0) and 17th in scoring offense (38.6).
Jaylon Thomas was named to the Outland Trophy Watch List, while Alan Ali was recognized as a member of the Rimington Trophy Watch List. Both Mustangs started all 13 games in 2019, and Thomas went on to earn All-American Athletic Conference Second-Team honors. The program set records for scoring average (41.
, scoring (544), total offense (6,368), yards per game (489., plays (1,037), TDs (73), rushing TDs (35) and first downs (322).In 2019, Ricker helped lead the offense to national rankings of seventh in scoring offense (41.
, ninth in total offense (489. and 13th in passing offense (309.0). The Mustangs' highest ranking in those categories the previous season was 27th in passing offense, while neither scoring or total ranked inside the top 50. Overall, SMU ranked 14th in the FBS in sacks allowed (1.31), giving up only 17 on the season.The 56 nominees in this year's class were selected from approximately 1,270 assistant coaches representing 127 Division One programs across the country. The Broyles Award selection process includes the Football Writers Association of America (FWAA), broadcasters, a college football hall-of-fame selection committee and current college head coaches.
A 43-member selection committee of distinguished former head coaches, broadcasters, and a committee representing the FWAA will select 15 semi-finalists and five finalists from the list of nominees and an overall winner.
