Loading the stable with big horses — errr ... Mustangs

[PonyPride]

Coaches talk all the time about their preference, when constructing a roster, to prioritize the big guys at the line of scrimmage. Rhett Lashlee and the SMU staff certainly seem to be buying in to that theory.

Remember the past coaches who would recruit small, unheralded linemen and then insist "don't worry — they'll grow"? Some of them did grow, and some flourished.

But the blockers being recruited now are in a different class ... and size. Consider the offensive linemen who will be sophomores or younger a year from now:

Already on the team
C Graham Uter (6-5 / 290)
G/T Abel Hoopii (6-5 / 330) — Offers include Hawaii, Arizona State, Washington State
T King Large (6-5 / 301)
T Dramodd Odoms (6-5 / 300) — Offers include Michigan, Florida State, LSU, Tennessee, Mississippi State, Purdue, Arkansas, Baylor, California, Oklahoma State, Ole Miss, Purdue, Texas A&M
G Drew Hill (6-3 / 270) — Offers include Utah, Arizona State, Baylor, Boise State, Boston College
T/G Sione Ma'u (6-6 / 375)

2025 freshmen
T Devinn Farris (6-6 / 310) — Offers include Mississippi State, Houston, Maryland, Oklahoma State, Pittsburgh, Boston College
G Jacob Maiava (6-2 / 290) — Offers include North Carolina State, UNLV

2026 freshmen
G/T Drew Evers (6-4 / 300) — Offers include Georgia, Ohio State, Oregon, Texas, Alabama, Michigan, Texas A&M, Tennessee
T/G Pupungatoa Katoa (6-3.5 / 365) — Offers include Miami, Texas, Oregon, Tennessee, Oklahoma, Texas A&M, Arizona, Arizona State, Arkansas

[Charleston Pony]

And BUS is a happy guy after reading this

[PonyPride]

Now add:
Evan Goodwin (6-7 / 325) — plays tackle in high school, but it has been suggested he could play guard or tackle in college

[Higher Authority]

What they're doing in the trenches is incredible

[Otto]

I was no math major, but that's 3,136 pounds of young, talented offensive linemen -- and those won't be the only ones, of course, There will be older veteran players, and new freshmen and transfers added.
We're getting to the point when other teams will look at our offensive line and conclude they need to build their offensive lines up like SMU's line.

[crazy horse]

Can't wait to see King Large on the field. Don't know if he can play, but I LOVE that name for an OL.

The average height has to be 6'5" and weight 300 lbs+! Not bad for underclassmen and incoming freshmen.

[BUS]

More than happy but always want more.
For now my wants are two 320 plus d.t,s.
Thank can run a 4.9 40 as well as dance and do cart wheels.
So still work to do.
O.M.G.
It is a great time to be a Mustang!

[BUS]

More than happy but always want more.
For now my wants are two 320 plus d.t,s.
Thank can run a 4.9 40 as well as dance and do cart wheels.
So still work to do.
O.M.G.
It is a great time to be a Mustang!

[giacfsp]

The size of these guys is insane.
At the risk of aging myself, we had a guy on my high school team who played NT at MAYBE 6 feet and right at 200 pounds, and we thought he was the biggest, baddest dude alive. He was really strong, but in today's HS game, he would be a LB at best, or a slow RB.

[BUS]

Yes, times have changed. A o-line of 270 to 290 was pretty good back in the early 80's.

This team should not have any issues getting that one yard when everyone knows you need one yard.

SMU is back - NIL
Now it's legal!