Observations from Friday (3/4) practice
Posted: Sat Mar 05, 2022 1:29 amThe SMU Mustangs held their first spring workout under new head coach Rhett Lashlee Friday. It wasn't exactly a conference game — the players didn't hit much harder than the assembled media. That said, here are some notes and observations:
• Amid all the Tanner Mordecai/Preston Stone talk, they are not the only QBs in camp. Joining them are holdover sophomore Josh Stupin (5-11 / 195), junior JC transfer Owen Easley (6-1 / 205) and grad transfer Will Kuehne (6-1 / 188), who arrives at SMU from North Texas.
• Several receivers impressed. Rashee Rice looked every bit the dominant player the Mustangs hope he will be, running or muscling his way past DBs, jumping over them to make high receptions, reaching out for a pair of beautiful one-handed grabs and twice pulling in passes while wearing a defender on his back. Since moving from QB to WR, Austin Upshaw has been heralded for his versatility and ability to play numerous WR roles, and he showed a little of that Friday. He won several contested passes and ran past DBs for a couple of deep balls. Perhaps most impressively, he caught short passes and then showed off the jets needed to split two closing DBs and get behind the secondary. Beau Corrales, the transfer from North Carolina, is an impressive physical target. He looks every bit of his listed 6-3 and 210 pounds and appeared to know how to use his big body to shield passes from would-be defenders; he also simply out-jumped DBs for a few high passes that were thrown to spots where either he would get them or nobody would.
• When a player finds the end zone in team drills, it's normal that he gets congratulations from teammates. On two of Upshaw's touchdowns, the first player to race downfield to congratulate him was the quarterback who threw it: Stone and Mordecai. After another, Upshaw got a headbutt from RB Tyler Lavine ... who didn't bother to put on his helmet first.
• Former Dallas Cowboys QB/head coach Jason Garrett was at practice.
• One of the pleasant sights was seeing RB T.J. McDaniel practicing again. McDaniel, of course, suffered a gruesome injury to his left fibula and ankle in the fourth game of the 2020 season and missed all of the 2021 campaign while recovering. He took part in all drills and head coach Rhett Lashlee said McDaniel has been fully cleared to participate since the team got together for offseason workouts.
• Also back with the RBs was Montaye Dawson, who sat out all of 2021 with an injury. He was in a red (no-contact) jersey, but at least he was out there.
• Lots of jersey number changes: TE Simon Gonzalez is now wearing 88, DE/LB Gary Wiley is wearing 3, S Isaiah Nwakobia is wearing 2, CB Bryce McMorris is wearing 24, S T.Q. Jackson is wearing 16 and LB Jimmy Phillips is wearing 6. There surely are others, but those are the ones I saw.
• Several players look like they have spent a lot of time in the weight room. RB Ulysses Bentley, RB Tre Siggers (who was in street clothes), Rice (who said he actually lost weight but got stronger) and DL Stone Eby are among those who look significantly stronger. Maybe it's time in the weight room, or maybe the cafeteria, or just growing more into their frames. Whatever the reason, they look like they have added some bulk.
• Also on the sideline in street clothes: S Roderick Roberson.
• Lots of mixing and matching with various combinations on the offensive line. Of note: Jaylon Thomas, the Mustangs' starting left tackle the last few years, got significant time at center; Lashlee said Thomas was recruited to play one of the interior line positions, and that the versatility to play at all positions across the line will only help him.
• One interesting pairing on the offensive line: 6-7 Thalen Robinson at left tackle and 6-4Tai Brooks at left guard. According to the weights listed on the team roster, that's 689 pounds on the left side of the line. Anyone else feel good running behind that? Brooks also got some reps at left tackle.
• QB Preston Stone practiced with a protective sleeve on his left knee. Not sure if he's recovering from something, if it's just a comfort thing ... stay tuned.)
• Amid all the Tanner Mordecai/Preston Stone talk, they are not the only QBs in camp. Joining them are holdover sophomore Josh Stupin (5-11 / 195), junior JC transfer Owen Easley (6-1 / 205) and grad transfer Will Kuehne (6-1 / 188), who arrives at SMU from North Texas.
• Several receivers impressed. Rashee Rice looked every bit the dominant player the Mustangs hope he will be, running or muscling his way past DBs, jumping over them to make high receptions, reaching out for a pair of beautiful one-handed grabs and twice pulling in passes while wearing a defender on his back. Since moving from QB to WR, Austin Upshaw has been heralded for his versatility and ability to play numerous WR roles, and he showed a little of that Friday. He won several contested passes and ran past DBs for a couple of deep balls. Perhaps most impressively, he caught short passes and then showed off the jets needed to split two closing DBs and get behind the secondary. Beau Corrales, the transfer from North Carolina, is an impressive physical target. He looks every bit of his listed 6-3 and 210 pounds and appeared to know how to use his big body to shield passes from would-be defenders; he also simply out-jumped DBs for a few high passes that were thrown to spots where either he would get them or nobody would.
• When a player finds the end zone in team drills, it's normal that he gets congratulations from teammates. On two of Upshaw's touchdowns, the first player to race downfield to congratulate him was the quarterback who threw it: Stone and Mordecai. After another, Upshaw got a headbutt from RB Tyler Lavine ... who didn't bother to put on his helmet first.
• Former Dallas Cowboys QB/head coach Jason Garrett was at practice.
• One of the pleasant sights was seeing RB T.J. McDaniel practicing again. McDaniel, of course, suffered a gruesome injury to his left fibula and ankle in the fourth game of the 2020 season and missed all of the 2021 campaign while recovering. He took part in all drills and head coach Rhett Lashlee said McDaniel has been fully cleared to participate since the team got together for offseason workouts.
• Also back with the RBs was Montaye Dawson, who sat out all of 2021 with an injury. He was in a red (no-contact) jersey, but at least he was out there.
• Lots of jersey number changes: TE Simon Gonzalez is now wearing 88, DE/LB Gary Wiley is wearing 3, S Isaiah Nwakobia is wearing 2, CB Bryce McMorris is wearing 24, S T.Q. Jackson is wearing 16 and LB Jimmy Phillips is wearing 6. There surely are others, but those are the ones I saw.
• Several players look like they have spent a lot of time in the weight room. RB Ulysses Bentley, RB Tre Siggers (who was in street clothes), Rice (who said he actually lost weight but got stronger) and DL Stone Eby are among those who look significantly stronger. Maybe it's time in the weight room, or maybe the cafeteria, or just growing more into their frames. Whatever the reason, they look like they have added some bulk.
• Also on the sideline in street clothes: S Roderick Roberson.
• Lots of mixing and matching with various combinations on the offensive line. Of note: Jaylon Thomas, the Mustangs' starting left tackle the last few years, got significant time at center; Lashlee said Thomas was recruited to play one of the interior line positions, and that the versatility to play at all positions across the line will only help him.
• One interesting pairing on the offensive line: 6-7 Thalen Robinson at left tackle and 6-4Tai Brooks at left guard. According to the weights listed on the team roster, that's 689 pounds on the left side of the line. Anyone else feel good running behind that? Brooks also got some reps at left tackle.
• QB Preston Stone practiced with a protective sleeve on his left knee. Not sure if he's recovering from something, if it's just a comfort thing ... stay tuned.)