PonyFans.com

Like many coaches, SMU’s Sonny Dykes preaches the value of competition as the best way to sort out position battles among his players.

But the landscape has changed a little. With shifts in the NCAA’s transfer rules and policies that allow more and more players to throw their names into the transfer portal, there is a greater emphasis on players who arrive on campus with some college experience.

This year alone, the SMU roster lists 17 players — cornerback Sam Westfall, quarterback Shane Buechele, cornerback Chevin Calloway, safety Cam’ron Jones, linebacker Armando Fitz, linebacker Brian Holloway, kicker Luke Hogan, long snapper Michael Poujol, offensive lineman Coby Bryant, offensive lineman Charlie Flores, offensive lineman Thomas Shelmire, tight end Tommy McIntyre, defensive end DeAndre McNeal, defensive tackle Will Jones, defensive tackle Zach Abercrumbia, punter Russell Roberts and defensive lineman Cody Banks — who were enrolled last fall at other universities or junior colleges.

None is under a brighter spotlight than Buechele.

It’s not ...

To read this article in its entirety, CLICK HERE.

I have a friend in the UT athletic department. Thinks Buechele will do great and is a really good kid with a lot of talent.

When the Buechele-to-SMU rumors, I started talking to friends who cover UT, and got basically the same report. Everyone I talked to said he'll do well, and every one of them said he's an even better person than player.

How is he looking so far?

From what I have seen (and I don't make every practice), Buechele looks good. He sets his feet very quickly and has good balance when he throws, and a quick, smooth release. I don't know that he has the strongest arm on the team, but I don't know that he doesn't — I have yet to see the quarterbacks wind up and fire it as far as they can downfield. But in drills and in live (11 on 11/scrimmage) scenarios, he seems to be quite accurate, at least in short and intermediate throws.

Couldn't tell you his pure speed, but like I said, he sets his quickly and under the token rush (QBs are basically off limits to defenders), he seems to have some escapability.

I've been to practice a couple times. Buechele is a huge improvement over Ben Hicks. The additional zip he puts on short and intermediate throws makes me confident he will be an improvement over Hicks on deep balls too.

So he probably wont be pick six Buechele?

Doubt he will be Picks Buechicks