Commercial Appeal Article
Posted: Wed Aug 22, 2007 3:45 pmGood read about the Ponies. Nothing we haven't already heard/read, but good to see them getting a decent-sized, positive story in the Memphis paper.
SMU's bowl hopes ride on QB
Sophomore playmaker tossed 26 TDs in 2006
By Phil Stukenborg (Contact)
Wednesday, August 22, 2007
So often during the relatively short history of Conference USA, a quarterback who has guided his program from obscurity to the postseason was not recruited by the staff that reaped the benefits.
In the late 1990s, Tulane quarterback Shaun King, signed by Buddy Teevans, prospered under Tommy Bowden and helped the Green Wave to an unbeaten season.
SMU is looking for quarterback Justin Willis (16) to make big plays.
SMU quarterback Justin Willis is hoping to direct the Mustangs to their first bowl since 1984 ... and accomplish the feat for the coach, Phil Bennett, who signed him. Bennett convinced Willis to come to Dallas from nearby Denton, Texas, despite offers from Kansas State, Northwestern, Iowa State, Tulsa and New Mexico.
Willis, the 2006 C-USA Freshman of the Year, nearly guided SMU to the postseason in his first year as a starter. After sitting out 2005 as a redshirt, Willis put the Mustangs in position for an elusive bowl game by passing for 2,047 yards and 26 touchdowns. He was intercepted only six times and completed 67.4 percent of his passes.
SMU battled Rice in last year's season finale, but failed to score touchdowns on two first-and-goal opportunities from the 1-yard line.
The loss kept SMU at home at 6-6 and nearly cost Bennett his job. The coach's ability to remain beyond this season likely depends on Willis.
It's a lot to put on the shoulders of a 20-year-old, but Willis has endured obstacles and heartbreak during his first season at SMU. He seems up to the challenge.
Teammate Emmanuel Sanders, Willis' favorite target and a roommate, said Willis persevered through a midyear suspension, the death of a suitemate (due to alcohol poisoning) and a broken hand suffered before spring workouts.
Sanders, an All-Freshman C-USA performer last season, overcame offseason knee surgery to participate in spring ball. He caught a team-high 46 passes for 605 yards and set a school record with touchdown receptions in six straight games.
''Everything we've been through, we've matured because of it,'' Sanders said. ''When you experience a death like Justin and I did, it makes you take nothing for granted.''
Willis was suspended last October for the UTEP game for his involvement in an off-campus altercation.
Two months before spring practice, Willis broke his right (throwing) hand when an SMU recruit accidentally slammed it in a car trunk. Sanders said he didn't notice a problem with Willis' throws in the spring.
''I think it was a good thing he broke his hand,'' Sanders said. ''He's gotten stronger. He was throwing with more velocity. He went from being 100 percent to 110 percent.''
Bennett is looking forward to more than scratching by with enough wins for the postseason. With Willis and Sanders among nine starters back on offense, he's expecting to challenge West Division favorites Houston and Tulsa.
''I think we're a team that's very capable of winning this league,'' Bennett said. ''Naturally, you've got to stay healthy and have some luck, but it all starts with the quarterback, and I think ours is as good as anybody's. I believe he can be the guy that can lead us back to where we want to go.''
As a freshman, Willis had three games in which threw four or more touchdown passes. His 158.4 quarterback rating ranked second in the conference and 10th nationally.
''He is a playmaker,'' Bennett said. ''I've been a defensive coordinator most of my career, and I judge quarterbacks by 'Can they make a good play a great one or a bad play a good one?'
''I think that's what he's capable of doing. What we've got to hope for is he's got to get more efficient on every play.''
Bennett said Willis will benefit from the hardships he endured last season. And he'll prosper from being a dedicated player, teammate and leader.
''He got suspended, and if doesn't get suspended we're in a bowl for sure,'' Bennett said. ''But it's a learning process. The thing I like about him is he looked at the (film) after the season and said, 'Coach, I was terrible.' He understands he can be a lot better.''
THE GRAND TOUR OF: SMU
Rewind: SMU literally came within inches -- 36 of them -- of snapping the team's lengthy bowl drought. But the Mustangs were unable to score on two occasions -- on first-and-goal from the Rice 1-yard line -- in a season-ending loss to the Owls. The season uncovered two of the brightest offensive stars in Conference USA in quarterback Justin Willis and receiver Emmanuel Sanders. Willis was named the league's Freshman of the Year and Sanders earned a spot on the All-Freshman team.
Fast forward: The Mustangs have the ability to be one of the league's most explosive offenses. In addition to the playmaking abilities of Willis and Sanders, another standout sophomore -- running back James Mapps returns -- as does veteran running back DeMyron Martin, a junior. Martin was limited last season after being injured in the team's second game. If he's healthy, he'll only make the Willis-to-Sanders combination more dangerous.
SMU's bowl hopes ride on QB
Sophomore playmaker tossed 26 TDs in 2006
By Phil Stukenborg (Contact)
Wednesday, August 22, 2007
So often during the relatively short history of Conference USA, a quarterback who has guided his program from obscurity to the postseason was not recruited by the staff that reaped the benefits.
In the late 1990s, Tulane quarterback Shaun King, signed by Buddy Teevans, prospered under Tommy Bowden and helped the Green Wave to an unbeaten season.
SMU is looking for quarterback Justin Willis (16) to make big plays.
SMU quarterback Justin Willis is hoping to direct the Mustangs to their first bowl since 1984 ... and accomplish the feat for the coach, Phil Bennett, who signed him. Bennett convinced Willis to come to Dallas from nearby Denton, Texas, despite offers from Kansas State, Northwestern, Iowa State, Tulsa and New Mexico.
Willis, the 2006 C-USA Freshman of the Year, nearly guided SMU to the postseason in his first year as a starter. After sitting out 2005 as a redshirt, Willis put the Mustangs in position for an elusive bowl game by passing for 2,047 yards and 26 touchdowns. He was intercepted only six times and completed 67.4 percent of his passes.
SMU battled Rice in last year's season finale, but failed to score touchdowns on two first-and-goal opportunities from the 1-yard line.
The loss kept SMU at home at 6-6 and nearly cost Bennett his job. The coach's ability to remain beyond this season likely depends on Willis.
It's a lot to put on the shoulders of a 20-year-old, but Willis has endured obstacles and heartbreak during his first season at SMU. He seems up to the challenge.
Teammate Emmanuel Sanders, Willis' favorite target and a roommate, said Willis persevered through a midyear suspension, the death of a suitemate (due to alcohol poisoning) and a broken hand suffered before spring workouts.
Sanders, an All-Freshman C-USA performer last season, overcame offseason knee surgery to participate in spring ball. He caught a team-high 46 passes for 605 yards and set a school record with touchdown receptions in six straight games.
''Everything we've been through, we've matured because of it,'' Sanders said. ''When you experience a death like Justin and I did, it makes you take nothing for granted.''
Willis was suspended last October for the UTEP game for his involvement in an off-campus altercation.
Two months before spring practice, Willis broke his right (throwing) hand when an SMU recruit accidentally slammed it in a car trunk. Sanders said he didn't notice a problem with Willis' throws in the spring.
''I think it was a good thing he broke his hand,'' Sanders said. ''He's gotten stronger. He was throwing with more velocity. He went from being 100 percent to 110 percent.''
Bennett is looking forward to more than scratching by with enough wins for the postseason. With Willis and Sanders among nine starters back on offense, he's expecting to challenge West Division favorites Houston and Tulsa.
''I think we're a team that's very capable of winning this league,'' Bennett said. ''Naturally, you've got to stay healthy and have some luck, but it all starts with the quarterback, and I think ours is as good as anybody's. I believe he can be the guy that can lead us back to where we want to go.''
As a freshman, Willis had three games in which threw four or more touchdown passes. His 158.4 quarterback rating ranked second in the conference and 10th nationally.
''He is a playmaker,'' Bennett said. ''I've been a defensive coordinator most of my career, and I judge quarterbacks by 'Can they make a good play a great one or a bad play a good one?'
''I think that's what he's capable of doing. What we've got to hope for is he's got to get more efficient on every play.''
Bennett said Willis will benefit from the hardships he endured last season. And he'll prosper from being a dedicated player, teammate and leader.
''He got suspended, and if doesn't get suspended we're in a bowl for sure,'' Bennett said. ''But it's a learning process. The thing I like about him is he looked at the (film) after the season and said, 'Coach, I was terrible.' He understands he can be a lot better.''
THE GRAND TOUR OF: SMU
Rewind: SMU literally came within inches -- 36 of them -- of snapping the team's lengthy bowl drought. But the Mustangs were unable to score on two occasions -- on first-and-goal from the Rice 1-yard line -- in a season-ending loss to the Owls. The season uncovered two of the brightest offensive stars in Conference USA in quarterback Justin Willis and receiver Emmanuel Sanders. Willis was named the league's Freshman of the Year and Sanders earned a spot on the All-Freshman team.
Fast forward: The Mustangs have the ability to be one of the league's most explosive offenses. In addition to the playmaking abilities of Willis and Sanders, another standout sophomore -- running back James Mapps returns -- as does veteran running back DeMyron Martin, a junior. Martin was limited last season after being injured in the team's second game. If he's healthy, he'll only make the Willis-to-Sanders combination more dangerous.