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By my count, we have maybe 10 more scholarships to give. With 14 guys committed so far, here's who I'd most like to see the SMU coaches reel in:

DT/OL Cedric Cofer (6-4, 295, 5.0) DeSoto, Texas

DE Lucky Delay (6-4, 255, 4.76) — Irving (MacArthur), Texas

DT Ben Mitchell (6-6, 275, 4. — Nowata, Okla.

DE/OLB Marcus Foreman (6-1, 210, 4.6) — Hewitt (Midway), Texas

WR William Dowdy (6-5, 220, 4.5) Denton (Ryan), Texas

DT/OT Kendrick Pride (6-3, 350, 5.3) — Dallas (Skyline), Texas

C Tobi Kaiyewu (6-4, 320, 5.5) — Sugar Land (Dulles), Texas

LB Jason Berryman (6-3, 220, 4.6) — Houston (Kashmere), Texas

QB/Ath Joel Armstrong (6-0, 170, 4.5) — Longview, Texas

OL Kharylake Martin (6-6, 345) — Dayton, Texas

DT Jared Naylor (6-4, 270, 4.9) — Tulsa (Union), Okla.

S Joe Studivant (6-3, 195, 4.5) — Lilburn (Parkview), Ga.

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There are 12 names there, with 10 spots. The top 10 would make this an ideal class, although Naylor and Studivant certainly seem qualified, as well.

Also, I keep hearing that Ben Poynter is an invited walk-on, rather than a scholarship guy. Maybe his scholarship goes to Richard Bartel, so Bartel can spend the summer in town, throwing and getting ready for the season.

Also, Studivant might need to go higher on that list, since we need more safeties.

That's an extremely appealing list.

My only comments there would be that I don't get the impression Toby Kaiyewu has a lot of interest in us. Maybe that bumps Studivant into the remaining 10 'ships?

Also, has anyone seen Kendrick Pride play? Can he move, or is he just big?

Corso,

Bennett likes to recruit a complete team by position if he can. J. B. Phillips, TE, Colleyville Heritage, should be on that list.

Gatewood has to be on that list he has interest in SMU.

Mickey -
What about Allen Pollard, the 6'3", 268-pound TE from Rockwall? I've seen reports that suggest he has good hands, and also blocks like a madman. And that he could gain weight to be a traditional offensive lineman, even a tackle.
Have you ever seen Phillips or Pollard play? Any thoughts on who's better?

With Ben Mitchell's size and speed, why wouldn't he make a moster defensive end? I know we're thin at the tackle spots, but if he can move a little bit and has a frame like that, he might be too much to handle coming off the edge.

PonyTales,

I knew we were after at least 2 TE's. I couldn't remember Pollard's name, but now that you mention his name, I know that SMU is extremely interested in him. We need Phillips and/or Pollard to fill some holes left by Hampton/Ford.

I have not seen either Phillips or Pollard play, but I know we are recruiting both and need one if not both.

let's not forget we have issues with the kicking game. If a quality PK is available and interested, I wouldn't be surprised to see another scholarship kicker on board. Also, do we have a back-up punter?

Hampton and Ford will be hard to replace, that's for sure. But the coaches are supposedly very high on Ryan Kennedy, and if he stays at tight end, Darrin Johnson is supposedly drawing rave reviews from the coaches, who think he could be a major college star with an NFL future. And of course, we also have Trent Hrncir coming back.

Which begs the question, how many tight ends do we need? Ford and Hrncir didn't get a whole lot of time and passes this year.

And I think Charleston is right, that if a quality placekicker is available, that might be another scholarship. Personally, I'd like to see the scholarships spent on other positions, and give McMurtray a full year to further develop his mechanics and to build some confidence. He's looked too good in practice to give up on him.

Charleston, we have two backup punters: Chris McMurtray and Ricky Joe Meeks, who averaged 40.7 yards per punt and was named all-state (3A) as a junior). He can do the job if called upon, and you know he can throw on a fake punt.

Hadn't thought about Meeks. I remember reading he also punted. I like the "threat" of the fake. That's why I like Wallis holding for FGs. It will be interesting to see what happens at the QB position and whether the new guys will be red-shirted or will earn playing time right away.