Friday practice event

[JasonB]

Finally got to go out to see the team for the first time this Spring at the Friday event... here are some thoughts by position group:

- QB: Jennings has put on some muscle, which will really help him out next season. Hawkins is legit, and I think is actually probably a solid backup option in the fall. Great arm strength, and shows some really nice touch on the deep ball to the corner. Like any young player, needs to grow to read the field better. But you can see he has a ton in his bag and he is the QB of the future. Two impressions of Van Dyke - he is a giant who looks straight out of a 1955 yearbook and he looks 35. I can definitely see a scenario where Jennings goes pro this year, TVD is the starter the next year, and Ty starts as a redshirt Sophomore. We desperately need a backup in the portal to preserve Ty's redshirt this season - someone like the Iowa guy a couple of years ago where they have started some games, had a starting spot taken from them, aren't a starter at the P5 level, and want to transition to coaching and get a really good grad degree in their final year.

- RB - McFall looks great. Added muscle, quick, and fast. He has that shift that you want in a RB. I think Johnson is behind him. Both were used in punt return, where I thought McFall looked smoother. Johnson might be used in KR because his straight line speed is elite. I would not surprised to see them pick up another RB in the portal besides TJ just in case, unless they really like Minors that much.

- TE - RJ and Hibner didn't play, of course. RJ though looks like he is pretty close with his knee and was moving well in his rehab - I would expect he is ready for fall camp. Adam Moore is a giant human who no longer has baby fat - he is a rock. That dude needs to be on the field. Riordan is a notch below, but is a TE we would have loved to have in the past. Eby caught a pass. We should absolutely have two TE on the field almost every play, because all of them can line up in the slot and really run. I'm excited to see what the group can do in the fall, because you can create mismatches all over the place. Line up a TE in each slot in a psuedo 4 WR look with 5 OL and if the other team attempts to guard them with a LB you throw, and if they put a corner against them, you run the ball and pulverize them. We might have the best 3 TE group in the country.

- WR - Hudson has grown up - he now has a really nice frame and is a more physical receiver. Absolutely toasted Smoke on a long TD pass. Closest we have had to an alpha since Rice graduated, which has been a big hole on the team. Brinson is the second WR and is athletic enough at that spot. I saw him stop running a bit on a Jennings improvization rather than coming back and opening while the play was still going, which is disappointing for a senior. So there are gaps in his game. Cooper is smooth with good hands and drew a PI. He might push Brinson in the fall, we will see. Singleton sat out, but he doesn't look like a freshman at all. In the slot, Lavender looks much better than he ever has, but I am not sure if he is an ACC level player. Beasley was small in the slot, but was muscled up and really physical for a little guy. Lavendar isn't built like that, at least not yet. He made some plays, but I'm just not sure. I'm not as worried as others about the slot receiver position because as I mentioned, I would play 2 TE the vast majority of the team. And when TJ and Green show up, I wouldn't be surprised at all to see Johnson and McFall slide out and play in the slot when we need another WR like West did. They have two more WR showing up in the fall, and I'll be interested to see if they go get a veteran outside WR to push Brinson and also serve as a backup because both Brinson and Hudson have a history of injuries.

OL - Last year in fall camp, the OL 1 couldn't move DL 1 off the line. And OL2 was dominated by DL2. This year, OL1 wins and OL2 wins. We will get to the DL in a minute, but I think there is definitely an upgrade on the OL. PJ is a stud, Byrd looks better, Chamblee looks better. Large is more ready to play. Zionn didn't play, but that guy is just absolutely gigantic. And then you have the frosh coming in who is going to push to start at LT. At guard, Parr is at one and Bates the other, and Bates looks the part. Woods backing up at LG is a little behind the others, but still looks good against the second team DL. The guy who surprised me at guard was Patterson, 78. Last year he was just a big guy, out of shape, couldn't move that well. He now has rebuilt his frame, and is a giant of a human being that can move and is strong. He has really improved and I think if he keeps this momentum up, he becomes a very good backup guard in the fall. At C, Nichols looks great, especially run blocking. And Uter as the backup looks completely different. Last year, he had technique but wasn't near big enough to play. Now he has the size and still the technique. He is a legit backup C. We are two deep for the first time since the death penalty, and I think this is the best run blocking OL we have had in a long, long time. It makes me want to run two TE out there even more. It might even mean we definitely need another RB in the portal just because we need to run the ball a ton. We are moving the linemen around and pulling a lot more as well. Last year, we won at the line and then let B Smith use his speed and athleticism to make plays in the open field. This year, I think we are going to get to that next step of winning at the line as well as at the second level and generating a ton of explosives in the running game. I'm not completely sold on pass protection just yet, but we have mobile QBs for a reason. The run blocking is going to be great.

DL - Of course part of that is because we aren't as good on the DL as last year. We don't have a NG right now, we have two DT. Webb and Mba are good players, but neither is a NG. Last year, when you play a large 6'7 DT like JHH, it is okay when his height gets leveraged because your plug Tank takes up the other side of the line and is unmovable, and your LB can come in a fill and destroy the run up the middle. Now you have another 6'7 in Mba, but if he gets leveraged, you don't have that plug next to him. Webb is able to be moved enough to create a bigger hole, and it is a problem. You combine that with Cam isn't as good as Roberts was against the run and Turbo isn't as good as Harvey against the run, and you can see where our run defense gets a downgrade. That group of four is outstanding in the pass rush. They are an absolute problem to deal with. But the run defense takes a step back. With the backup group, Wilson is playing the strong DE, but he doesn't quite have the frame for that yet. On the other side, Walton looks completely different and is ready to play, and you can see why everyone is excided about DJ Warner. But for the strong side, you can see why we added Lang in the portal, to try and give us an additional size option. Backing up in the middle they had Burris and Allen, both of whom made plays in the scrimmage in the passing game. But I am not sure that they are quite ready to see extended time in the ACC. I don't think they are ready to be your second string, but they would be well above average as third string. I know the staff likes Lewis, but he hasn't played. And Jefferson, if healthy, is probably a starter in front of Mba. IMHO they need to pick up another DT in the portal It is going to be really interesting to see if we try and get a true NG or if we are going to continue with the experiment of playing with two DT and sacrificing some run defense for an improved pass rush.

- LB - Kilgore looks awesome. Period. Barker is a little bowling ball and is solid. I can see why they want another player to mix in as basically a 3 player rotation. Miyazano and Booker and Medlock aren't bad, but there is a gap between them and the starters. If that Juco isn't going to show up, I bet we add another here. The freshman, Iheanachor, looks the part for sure. He isn't what Kilgore was as a true frosh, but he is certainly ahead of where Miyazano and Zane Smith were. He will probably be third string this season, but he will move up the pecking order pretty quickly I bet and be ready to rotate in 2026.

- CB - Out at corner, I didn't get much of a read on Deuce, which is probably a good thing. Smoke is still an athlete but he gets burned at times as shown on the long TD to Hudson. He had a solid breakup on another play, but clearly the idea is for Barnes to play opposite Deuce in the season. Speedy was backing up on Deuce's side, and has taken a step forward - he had a great break on a ball and dropped a pick during the scrimmage. If Barnes wasn't coming, I think they would probably have him on Smoke's side to challenge for that spot. Holiday probably ends up being the 5th player in the group, and then Zay comes in the fall. So that gives you 6 players who can compete, which is better depth than we have had in a while out on the corner; and improved pass rush and this group stepping up a notch will improve the passing defense pretty significantly.

- NB - Chambers and Spencer were operating at the nickel spot. Compared to McGill and Sanders, both of them bring a little more size there than we have had in the recent past. Chambers has certainly taken a step forward, and Spencer looked good as well. Add JMJ to the group in the fall and I think that three will be an excellent competition. We will miss the intelligence and experience of McGill and Sanders, of course, but this group will be an upgrade in pure athleticism and size.

- S - Moses and NWO are awesome, of course. I thought Mohammed looked good last year in the spring game as well as in the fall, and he was fine in this scrimmage. J Moses can play as well. But the guy who stands out is the frosh, Polley. He can really move. IMHO, Polley is good enough that they don't need to go out and get someone in the portal to add depth. There might be some concern about his size, but he moves really well and reads the game well - I think he could come in and make an impact as a frosh the way Moses did. On top of that, you have the other two frosh showing up in the fall who could provide additional depth if you need it. We will see what they do, but there are other areas of need, and I think the frosh are good enough to stay pat.

Overall, my impression is that while we are thinner than we want to be in some areas, this is a really physical team that should once again compete at the top of the ACC. But we are going to see the team evolve again on both sides of the ball.

For the first time, Rhett is going to be able to put his power run offense in play that will make us more consistent on the offensive side of the ball and not as reliant on great throws and explosive plays. Which is important, because we lost a lot of explosive power through graduation with Smith, Junior, Moochie, and Keyshawn, and while I think McFall and Johnson and the frosh WR will make up for some of it, I think it is a net loss for this season. It will make the margins smaller in a lot of games, but the style change will ultimately make us more competitive against the Clemson and Penn States of the world and in poor weather.

Defensively, this is a team that will take a step up in the secondary. But even though the pass rush might improve as a whole with two mobile tackles, I am not sure that Cam, Turbo, and Mba are the NFL players that Roberts, JHH, and Harvey were. And the defense might take a pretty decent step back in terms of the run defense.

Last year, we won games with a stifling defense, an explosive offense, and the magic of Jennings. If the defense shifts from top 15 to top 40, will an improved, efficient running game be enough to both offset that drop and the drop in explosive plays in the passing game, and overcome a harder ACC schedule with an improved ACC?

We will see what the rest of the transfer season brings us in terms of a backup QB, more RB depth, another WR, at least 1 DT, and a LB. Maybe we bring enough in that the defense doesn't step back and we are able to generate explosive plays in the passing game again. But right now I wouldn't be surprised at all to see us go 8-4 next year and take a little bit of a step back as the program adjusts to more of a focus on high school recruiting.

[PNW_Stang]

Great to hear about Patterson! Sounds like the OL is legit this year — a lot of guys seem to have developed well. If we can land another WR and RB, and stay lucky with QB health, this offense could be really good.

Losing Jefferson to injury and a few DTs to the portal definitely hurt our depth, though. Hopefully we’ve got the NIL funds to bring in 1–2 good ones. Would hate to see the whole season derailed because the interior DL (and maybe the DL overall) takes a big step back.

[highlander]

What was your pre-season prediction last year?

[Jimmy78Pony]

Jason, a great analysis as always. I strongly agree with you on Adam Moore. This guy needs to see a lot of time on the field. Kilgore = stud. One that impresses and intrigues me is the frosh LB, Ileanachor. I was not expecting to see what I saw. His looks and the way he handles himself in the drills caught my attention. And finally, Polley. This is (going to be if not now) a football player. Another in a list of reasons to set up an "SMU South field office" on Camp Wisdom Road near Cedar Ridge. LOL.

[JasonB]

What was your pre-season prediction last year?

Right before the season, after fall practice:

So, I have us at 9-3. Great QB play gets us to 11-1. Injuries on the OL and CB put us at 7-5.

[peruna81]

What was your pre-season prediction last year?

Right before the season, after fall practice:

So, I have us at 9-3. Great QB play gets us to 11-1. Injuries on the OL and CB put us at 7-5.

From your mouth...

[PonyPride]

JasonB and I saw a lot of the same things, but here are a few more:

A few more observations:

• Transfer DT Jeffrey M'ba talked this spring about the need to "play low" to compensate for opposing offensive linemen who try to get underneath him and drive him back off the line of scrimmage. The 6-6 M'ba did get low several times Friday, and when he does, he has exceptional power. A couple of times when I watched him specifically, he barreled into a double-team — once splitting two blockers to get into the backfield, and the other time driving both blockers backward until one fell on his back. It's difficult to do, and offensive lines will adjust, but when he gets low he has enough power to help collapse a pocket.

• Fellow transfer DT Terry Webb is only three inches shorter, at 6-3, but looks very natural playing low, regularly getting underneath or blasting through blockers. It's one of the things that doesn't show up on a stat sheet, but is crucial to disrupting the opposing offense and allowing linebackers a free path to the ball.

• Speaking of DTs, Eric Taylor — the Mississippi State transfer — is no longer on the roster.

• As currently constructed, the running back position is talented but thin after the departures of L.J. Johnson to Rice, Brashard Smith to the Kansas City Chiefs and Rooster Knighton. Derrick McFall and Chris Johnson, Jr. both have good speed different running styles: McFall runs — almost glides — and changes direction effortlessly, while Johnson showed the ability to be a one-cut runner, heading through a running lane, planting a foot to change direction and hitting the accelerator. It's not the traditional change of pace that some pairs offer, but head coach Rhett Lashlee indicated after practice that the variety is comingwhen transfer RB T.J. Harden arrives, bringing a veteran presence and added bulk to the running game.

• Far too early to guess who the starting punter will be, but redshirt freshman P Wade McSparron showed good leg strength in both distance and hang time.

• One of the offensive linemen who has been waiting his turn and hoping to climb the depth chart is tackle King Large. In one-on-one lineman drills, Large got beaten by transfer DE Trey Wilson, but had the quickness to loop back, get his balance together and still keep Wilson from getting to the quarterback. Wilson got him the next time, but Large's foot speed and recovered balance was impressive.

• The Mustangs likely won't have a defensive end as big as Tampa Bay Buccaneers draftee Elijah Roberts, but it's clear they have been in the weight room: Billy Walton, Cam Robertson and Isaiah Smith all look visibly bigger and stronger than they did during the season. Smith really stood out — yes, he looks stronger, but it has not cost him any quickness. When he took inside routes, he regularly got through the line into the backfield.

• DT Blake Burris (6-5, 303) looks visibly leaner and much quicker than he did last year.

• The Mustangs' guards the last couple of years, Logan Parr and Justin Osborne, are big guys — Parr is listed at 6-4, 316 and Osborne was listed on last year's roster at 6-5 and 305. But at one point in team drills, the guard positions were manned by Paris Patterson (6-6, 350) and Sione Ma'u (6-6, 375). As JasonB said, Patterson clearly has worked hard in the offseason, looking quicker than a year ago. Ma'u did get beaten by quicker defensive linemen a couple of times, but it's easy to see what the coaches like in him. At one point, he got into the ribs of the 302-pound M'ba and drove him halfway across the field.

• Scary sight: At one point, QB Ty Hawkins threw a soft touchdown pass to WR Jordan Hudson, who caught it and tumbled into the fans sitting in makeshift bleachers that were set up behind the "end zone." The best part about the play: Hudson bounced up, checked t make sure that he hadn't crushed any fans and jogged back on the field, laughing.

• All spring, coaches have talked about the impressive performances by the new freshmen who enrolled a semester early. WR Jalen Cooper runs very impressive routes, eluding defenders with subtle fakes and shoulder dips. Meanwhile, S Tyren Polley has some veteran nuance to his pass coverage: freshman DBs sometimes are so intent on impressing their new coaches and teammates that they go after every ball ... to mixed results. One one play in team (11 on 11) drills, Polley realized TE Adam Moore got a step on him on his way to the end zone, but rather than trying to jump to the sky in an effort to tip the ball away, Polley stayed with Moore and knocked the ball from his hands in the end zone.

• Cool sight: one one of the final plays of the workout, Case Holleron, a walk-on redshirt sophomore wide receiver, went up over a defender to snatch a touchdown pass. Don't say the team doesn't recognize the work put in by walk-ons, many of whom get little to know playing time in games: players stormed the field to celebrate with Holleron as if he just caught a game-winning score.