Notes from Rhett Lashlee

[PonyPride]

Notes from SMU head coach Rhett Lashlee after practice:

• RB Camar Wheaton was much-improved against TCU, but if L.J. Johnson and Rooster Knighton are healthy, "those guys are going to play" against Charlotte.

• Lashlee said he isn't too worried about the notion that other teams might try to send a message to SMU on its way to the Atlantic Coast Conference next season by "giving (the Mustangs) their best shot" — echoing a refrain uttered in other programs as they prepare to migrate to new conferences. Lashlee called it "a good outside narrative" but said that "at the end of the day, it's a conference game and (the Mustangs) are excited to still be in The American."

• G Justin Osborne and S Brandon Crossley are "questionable — game-time (decisions). They're not worse off than they were a week ago" ... L.J. Johnson and is "more optimistic than he was a week ago, but he's still not 100 percent ... [b]WR Teddy Knox "should be back this week, which should really help us on (special) teams and at wideout."

• Lashlee said he has considered trimming the rotation among WRs, but "the problem is that all seven of those guys deserve to play ... but there is something to be said about getting into a rhythm." He said that sticking with the larger rotation means that with reduced plays, the players hold up better because of reduced physical punishment.

• Jakai Clark has been added to the depth chart as a backup center and guard after missing the first four games in large part because he added considerable weight before arriving in Dallas. Lashlee said Clark still has a redshirt year available, "so he can play in four regular-season games" and retain his redshirt year. "The hope is that we can do that." New rules stipulate that postseason games (conference championship games, bowl games, college football playoff games) don't count against the number of games played toward burning a redshirt.

[PerunaPunch]

If Clark is ready, or semi-ready to go, I think being able to plug him in strategically gives us a lot of flexibility while Osborne is on the mend. Plus, we can still get Clark back next year. This makes me feel better about the OL now and for next year.

[Ikus]

Totally agree on all counts

[Charleston Pony]

I do have concerns about the OL and DL next year with the SRs we are going to lose. Would be nice to to have that RS year out of Clark and hopefully Dallas grows on him as a place to be

[ClassOf81]

OL and DL have to be huge priorities in the transfer portal again ... every year.