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I was just looking at the SMU Football roster and noticed that we may have more of a concern at DT than I thought. Here are the players I found for next year.

97 Ben Goldthorpe 6-2 240 DL FR-HS Denton, Texas
98 Szymon Czerniak 6-5 236 DT FR-HS Houston, Texas
99 Serge Elizee 6-1 300 DT JR-TR

It seems that we only have 1 DT at 300lbs and the others are 50lbs or so behind. How are we going to hold the line against big offensive lines?
Somebody please tell me I am wrong and have overlooked someone.

I would think Huahulu would have every chance to play early, and who knows, maybe Zac Thomas and/or Mickey Dollens moves back inside. The way they're collecting young offensive linemen, it wouldn't be a shock to see one or more head over to defense.
What about man Andrew McKinney? Could he get big enough to play there?

Zac Thomas and Dollens played inside last year

SMU 86 wrote:I was just looking at the SMU Football roster and noticed that we may have more of a concern at DT than I thought. Here are the players I found for next year.

97 Ben Goldthorpe 6-2 240 DL FR-HS Denton, Texas
98 Szymon Czerniak 6-5 236 DT FR-HS Houston, Texas
99 Serge Elizee 6-1 300 DT JR-TR

It seems that we only have 1 DT at 300lbs and the others are 50lbs or so behind. How are we going to hold the line against big offensive lines?
Somebody please tell me I am wrong and have overlooked someone.

I would hope that after a full year in a D-1 program that Goldthorpe and Czerniak have added some bulk from their high school days.

Thomas and Dollen are both at 260, that's more DE size. Hopefully, they can put on about 20 pounds of muscle over the summer and be ready to roll for the first game.

Here are some tackles you missed:

Kyle DeGroat 6'0" 270 lbs, FR-RS - was injured before the season started.

Mickey Dollens 6'3' 260 lbs FR-RS

Additionally several of the DE's have some size to play inside:

Nick Antaki 6'4" 240 lbs FR-RS

Patrick Handy 6'2" 250 lbs. Jr.

Jordan Johnson 6'3" 245 lbs. FR-RS

Chris Parham 6'3" 295 lbs Soph

Zac Thomas 6'4" 260 lbs FR-RS

BTW, SMU always has been small on the DL. Hopefully, June can change that in the near future!

Thanks for the info guys.

DeGroat broke his leg at the begining of the season. I believe he was going to carry a bulk of the load (maybe even start). I'd expect Parham to play a lot this year.

PB left "little" for JJ on the D-line. And throw in absolutely no depth. Here's where juco's would have been huge. Just think if Elizee hadn't transferred in-wow

Surely Parham and Elizee start out spring ball as the starters, right? (BE IN SHAPE FOR THE FIRST DAY OF SPRING, GUYS!)

I'd like to see an offensive lineman move over (Ross Nigh? Chase Smith? Bryce Tennison?) Thomas and Dollens are nice to have, but too light for the position -- would rather see them at DE.

Hope Huahulu shows up ready to roll.

Defensive Linemen move to Offensive Line-and very very rarely the other way. If they were defensive lineman they probably would have been tried there first because it is the hardest position in college football to recruit.

Stallion wrote:Defensive Linemen move to Offensive Line-and very very rarely the other way. If they were defensive lineman they probably would have been tried there first because it is the hardest position in college football to recruit.

Stallion, been able to find anything else on Taylor Thompson?

Great.

In the meantime, we've got to play the hand we're dealt. We've got two big guys (Elizee, Parham) with starting experience. Two guys (Thomas, Dollens) with promise, but they're light. Another guy (DeGroat) coming off a snapped leg, so you never know what you'll get there.

Sounds thin. I'm not suggesting it's ideal, but clearly there is a need for more bulk at defensive tackle, and since Morstead already has three jobs, I don't think he wants to add DT to his list.

Stallion is right again. Most linemen go from D-line to O-line when they find out they are not quick enough or can not change levels to evade blockers. Not the other way.

Yes, I would love to see two surprise 300# MEN show up. 280 is the smallest I would be comfortable with at that position... and thats to fill in a little.