ESPN Insider/Blue Ribbon Preview of the 2006 Mustangs

[dcpony]

I've got a Rice buddy with an insider subscription who hooked me up with this so I thought I'd share with the Mustang faithful.



ESPN.com: College Football
Friday, July 14, 2006
Updated: July 19, 9:02 AM ET
Team Preview: SMU

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Blue Ribbon Yearbook



COACH AND PROGRAM

Finally, there is evidence of life after death ... or at least life after the death penalty.
SMU football, a once-proud program that has been floundering since being shut down in 1987 and 1988 for NCAA recruiting violationsthe only major program ever hit by the so-called NCAA death penaltyappears to be on the verge of regaining its ancient excellence.

In the last three seasons, coach Phil Bennett's Mustangs have improved from 0-12 to 3-8 to 5-6. And with 20 players returning with starting experience, Bennett is talking about taking the next step and making a run at the Conference USA title.

After four seasons, Bennett has the program looking to the future instead of the past.

"Has it taken longer than what I expected?" Bennett asked himself. "Yes! But we have a sign in our locker room: 'Those who stay will be champions.' If you look at the league right now, we're right up there."

That's a far cry from the struggling program Bennett inherited. The former Texas A&M linebacker was the defensive coordinator for Bill Snyder at Kansas State when he was hired after the 2001 season to revive a program that had enjoyed just one winning season since the program was restarted in 1989.

Starting from scratch, Bennett endured that 0-12 season in 2003, when he force-fed a number of young players who are at the heart of SMU's revival.

"These guys, many of them played before they were ready," Bennett said. "That's changed. Last year, we had 19 kids on scholarship and just two played. This year, we might have only one. When I look at the roster today and compare it to our roster three years ago, I think this is the year for this program to make a big improvement."

SMU was almost there last season, winning five times, including the last three. The Mustangs beat three bowl teams and upset a ranked opponent (No. 22 TCU) for the first time since 1986.

"People who saw us beat TCU know that wasn't a joke," Bennett said.

The frustrating thing for Bennett is how close it came to being an even better year. The Mustangs lost four times by a touchdown or less. In Conference USA play, SMU lost to Marshall by a field goal and to East Carolina and Tulsa by a single touchdown.

"Four times we lost after being ahead or tied in the fourth quarter," Bennett said. "I think we're on the verge. If you look at how close we were last season, it's clear that we're improving as a football team. Now we just have to take the next step."

And what's that step?

"I don't think you can say the program has turned the corner until we win a championship or play in a bowl game," Bennett said. It's a measure of the progress SMU has made under Bennett that those no longer sound like impossible goals.


QUARTERBACKS

SMU has experienced personnel back to man almost every position on the team, except one: the most important position of all.
Seniors Jerad Romo and Tony Eckert, who took every snap at quarterback last season, are gone. Junior Chris Phillips (6-3, 230), who started the final five games in 2003 and the first three in 2004, never recovered from the rotator cuff injury that ended his sophomore season prematurely and has been shifted to a receiver spot.

That leaves the quarterbacking job to redshirt freshman Justin Willis (6-1, 197), who beat out two other newcomers with an impressive spring performance.

"Justin Willis has a chance to be a special quarterback," Bennett said. "In fact, the three quarterbacks we have are as talented as anybody we've had there since I've been here."

Willis, one of the top recruits Bennett has landed at SMU, was rated one of the nation's top dual-threat quarterbacks when he came out of Ryan High in Denton, Texas. As a prep senior, Willis passed for 3,000 yards and 32 touchdowns, while rushing for another 1,080 yards and 13 more touchdowns.

"He gives us another dimension [with his legs]," Bennett said. "He has the wheels to take a bad play and make it a good one."

Willis was challenged in the spring by redshirt freshman Eric Johnson (6-1, 210) and junior college transfer Corey Slater (6-2, 220). But he solidified his hold on the starting job in the spring scrimmage by hitting 16-of-21 passes for 160 yards and running for a touchdown.

Bennett is confident that his young signal caller can get the job done.

"The reason we can win with him is his supporting cast," the SMU coach said. "He's surrounded by a veteran line and a strong group of runners and receivers. That's like body armor for a young quarterback."


RUNNING BACKS

When Bennett looks at SMU's 5-6 record in 2005, he can't help thinking about the team's 28-23 loss to Baylor in the opener and wondering whether his decision to bench running back DeMyron Martin (6-2, 215) might have cost the Mustangs a winning season.
"I made a mistake," Bennett said. "DeMyron fumbled three times in practice that Thursday and I decided to bench him. The next week, I decided to start him no matter what he did on Thursday. He rushed for 170 yards [in the upset victory over] TCU."

Martin went on to earn freshman All-America honors as he rushed for 854 yards (at 4.6 a carry) and seven touchdowns. He also caught eight passes for 53 more yards and two more touchdowns.

"After watching the [game tapes], DeMyron was probably even better last season than I thought he was," Bennett said. "He has very deceptive speed and carriage. And he's still working -- he just gets better and better."

Bennett has plenty of options behind Martin, including 2004 starter Cedrick Dorsey (5-11, 200), a junior who rushed for 431 yards and 5.0 a carry as a freshman and added another 212 yards on the ground last season. Sophomores Rich Massey (5-11, 215) and Fred Turner (5-10, 185) are experienced, capable backs.

But it is another newcomer who has Bennett excited. He compared redshirt freshman James Mapps (5-9, 175), a former option quarterback from Royce City, Texas, with Kansas State All-American Darren Sproles.

"He has that same change-of-direction [ability]," Bennett said.

While SMU's basic offense is a spread attack with just one running back on the field at a time, the depth at the position has allowed Bennett to experiment with some two-back sets.

"We've got a lot of talented guys back there and the guys who produce are going to be the guys who play," Bennett said.


WIDE RECEIVERS/TIGHT ENDS

As strong and as deep as the Mustangs are at running back, the depth -- and the talent -- may be even better at the wide receiver positions.
It starts with senior Bobby Chase (6-4, 205), last year's top pass catcher, who hauled in 39 passes for 625 yards and four touchdowns. Although he doesn't have game-breaking speed, the Irving, Texas, product used his size and strength to average a team-best 16.0 yards a catch.

"He will body up on you," Bennett said. "And he's so good in the air. He's a playmaker."

Chase will share the receiving spotlight with proven wide-outs such as senior Blake Warren (5-7, 180), senior Jay'Mond Cleveland (5-11, 185) and senior Reynaldo Pellerin (6-3, 190). Cleveland battled injuries last season, but Warren, also a kick returner extraordinaire, caught 15 passes for 148 yards last season and Pellerin caught 30 for 346 yards and two touchdowns.

Junior Zack Sledge (5-11, 185) caught 25 passes for 215 yards but could do much better than that.

"He's the guy I think could have a breakout year," Bennett said.

The SMU coach is also hoping for big things from sophomore Columbus Givens (6-1, 185) and redshirt freshman Emmanuel Sanders (6-1, 170).

"One of the things we haven't had [at wide receiver] is the guy with consistent big play ability," Bennett said. "Columbus and Emmanuel could give us that."

It could also come from sophomore Jessie Henderson (5-9, 175), a speedster who earned freshman All-America honors last season as a kickoff returner, but hopes to make a mark as an every down player after switching from running back to slot receiver.

The depth at wide-out is matched at tight end, where senior Ryan Kennedy (6-6, 265) returns after earning all-conference honors last season when he caught 14 passes for 167 yards and a touchdown. He's backed up by sophomore Vincent Chase (6-5, 255), one of the most highly touted players ever signed by Bennett, and by redshirt freshman Jeff Brock (6-5, 235).

"Getting the ball to our tight ends more is a must," Bennett said. "Ryan and Vincent are too good not to utilize them. We've got to find ways to get them the ball."


OFFENSIVE LINE

Nowhere are Bennett's rebuilding efforts more evident than on the offensive line. Two years ago, the Mustangs started four redshirt freshmen and a sophomore up front.
This year's projected starting line includes three fourth-year juniors, a fifth-year senior and a third-year sophomore. Three are returning starters and the other two saw extensive duty in backup roles.

"The thing is, last year we played a lot of linemen," Bennett said. "[New starter Kenard] Burley averaged 25 plays a game. I think we'll be able to play two lines this year. I think it keeps your backups working hard, knowing they are going to play, and it keeps your starters fresh."

Playing so many linemen also maintains continuity in the program. Both of this year's new starters -- junior tackle Burley (6-5, 305) and sophomore guard Tommy Poynter (6-4, 285) are already battle-tested players.

They'll be joining three holdovers with a combined 49 career starts to their credit: tackle Darrin Johnson (6-6, 295), a senior with 18 career starts; guard Caleb Peveto (6-4, 295), a junior with 15 career starts; and center Ben Poynter (6-4, 285), a junior with 16 career starts.

Ben Poynter, the cousin of Tommy Poynter, was originally a walk-on at SMU, but he developed to the point where he was voted the team's top offensive lineman a year ago. Now he'll team with Johnson and Peveto to anchor what should be a talented starting line.

Their experience will give Bennett the opportunity to spot his inexperienced backups. With the exception of junior college center Joe Holmes (6-2, 300), almost all the second- and third-teamers up front are redshirt freshmen. But they are the jewels of a highly rated recruiting class two years ago and Bennett is confident that in time, players such as tackles Brad Lankford (6-4, 280), Ross Nigh (6-5, 265), David Allison (6-5, 295) and Lucky DeLay (6-4, 270) and guards Sean Lobo (6-3, 300), Chase Smith (6-4, 280), Mitch Enright (6-2, 280) and Josh Hickman (6-4, 285) will be as good or better than the veterans they'll be backing up this season.

"We've got some depth there that we've never had to play," Bennett said. "We've got some guys we haven't had to play before they're ready and they've gotten better and better."


KICKERS

Bennett knew that he was going to have to replace senior place-kicker Chris McMurtray after last season, and he had sophomore Thomas Morstead (6-4, 210) waiting in the wings.
"I think that Thomas Morstead is a lot like McMurtray," Bennett said. "He has a very strong leg."

Still, McMurtray was a four-year starter and Bennett admits he's nervous about going with a newcomer -- more nervous, in fact, than he is about using an untested quarterback.

Sophomore Ryan Wolcott (5-9, 170), the grandson of SMU legend Doak Walker, and freshman Brayden Harris (5-11, 180) are available if McMurtray falters.

Bennett also plans to give incoming freshman Kellis Cunningham (5-11, 180) a long look in preseason practice. The Carrollton, Texas, product was a premier recruit after finishing third out of 160 kickers at the Texas All-State Kicking Competition.


DEFENSIVE LINE

Senior end Justin Rogers (6-4, 265) and senior tackle Adrian Haywood (6-3, 280) claimed the honors on SMU's defensive line last season, but as far as Bennett is concerned, junior end Cory Muse (6-3, 240) and senior nose tackle Brandon Bonds (6-1, 300) were just as responsible for the team's strength up front.
"Our front four is very experienced," Bennett said. "Two of those guys made all conference, but the other two guys are just as good. Cory and Brandon made it easier on those guys. Last year, our front four was about as good as anybody in the conference." Rogers and Haywood put up the big numbers.

Rogers, a starter since his freshman season in Dallas, was a second-team All-Conference USA pick after picking up 64 hits last season, including 10.5 tackles for loss and seven sacks. He also blocked a kick against TCU and forced three fumbles.

Haywood, in his first season after transferring from Tyler Junior College in Mesquite, Texas, was a third-team all-league pick after recording a conference high 11 tackles for loss, all coming in the last five games of the season.

The two all-stars obviously provide a strong anchor for the line, but Muse, who came back from an early season injury in 2005 to record 32 hits, 4.5 tackles for loss and 2.5 sacks, is also a threat on the outside. Bonds, who emerged as a stopper in the middle last season after two years as a top backup, had 28 hits and 3.5 tackles for loss.

Bennett is pretty happy about his depth in the middle, where seniors Charlie Berry (6-3, 280) and Randy Denman (6-2, 285) have plenty of experience. But he can only hope that little-used sophomore Patrick Handy (6-2, 250) and senior Troy Therien (6-4, 245), a second-year Mustang who was rated a top junior college prospect out of Sierra (Calif.) Junior College, can provide dependable relief at defensive end.


LINEBACKERS

Bennett has to replace two-thirds of his linebacking corps after the graduation loss of D.D. Lee and Alvin Nnabuife, two players who combined for 132 hits last season.
Luckily, the Mustangs return two-year starter Wilton McCray (6-0, 205) at Will (weakside outside) linebacker and experienced junior Reggie Carrington (6-2, 230) at Mike (middle) linebacker.

"We've thought Reggie Carrington could be an all-conference player ever since he got here," Bennett said. "He's a heck of a playmaker, but does have some big shoes to fill."

McCray is a junior who finished third on the team in tackles last year with 71 hits. He had 63 stops as a freshman, when he was forced into the starting lineup when both Lee and Carrington were hurt.

The Mustangs have struggled to fill the vacant starting job at the Sam (strongside outside) linebacker spot. Sophomore Paul Hiemenz (6-2, 225), who hasn't seen action in two seasons at SMU, and freshman Pete Fleps (6-2, 220), an early enrollee who was on hand for spring practice, got the first shot at the job.

But much-traveled junior Tony Hawkins (6-1, 205) loomed as the starter going into preseason practice. Hawkins began his career at SMU as a wide receiver in 2004, saw most of his action as a special teams performer in 2005, then switched to strong safety in the spring before moving to the linebacker spot. He brings a lot of speed to the position.

"We've changed our approach," Bennett said of his new defensive philosophy. "We're going to put our faster guys on the field." Hiemenz and Fleps will still see action as will junior college transfer Damon Hurst (5-11, 215), who boasts 4.5 speed in the 40. He had 93 tackles last season at Navarro Junior College. Sophomores Trent Sawyer (6-0, 215) and Will Bonilla (5-11, 200) will be vying for playing time.


DEFENSIVE BACKS

Normally, it's not a good sign when a safety is a team's leading tackler, but SMU strong safety Joe Sturdivant (6-2, 210) proved the exception to that rule.
"He became a playmaker for us," Bennett said. "He's a guy who always seems to be in the right place at the right time. He's not physically intimidating, but he's very smart. He won the UAB game for us by reading routes and picking off two passes."

The senior from Lilburn, Ga., recorded a team-high 112 tackles last season and added three interceptions and 11 passes broken up. He also recovered three fumbles.

The other safety spot will be filled by senior Randall Goode (5-11, 190), a former star at Navarro Junior College who spent most of his first season at SMU contributing on special teams. He'll be backed up by redshirt freshman Bryce Hudman (6-2, 200), a very athletic player who played briefly last season before suffering an injury that earned him a medical hardship year.

Bennett has to replace both his starting cornerbacks after graduating Jamey Harper and Rolando Humphrey.

Junior Jonathan Lindley (6-0, 185) appears ready to move up from his role as the team's nickel back in 2005. Junior Cortley Blackmon (5-10, 185), who started his career at SMU at wide receiver, also moves into the starting lineup after a year as a backup.

Junior Devin Lowery (5-11, 175), another converted wide receiver, is challenging for playing time at cornerback, along with sophomores L.J. Johnson (5-9, 175) and David Haynes (5-9, 190) and redshirt freshman Emmerson Settle (5-11, 190). "I think we have some athletes there," Bennett said.

SMU uses a scheme that puts less pressure on the corners.

"We got away from playing man-to-man," Bennett said. "We're still a pressure team, but we do more zone press. We see so many spread offenses in our conference that it's hard to match up."

The switch from man to zone coverages paid off last season.

"We found our niche and we got better," he said. "We became a team that gave up very few big plays. We made people earn what they got."


PUNTERS

Ryan Mentzel was SMU's starting punter from the day he arrived in Dallas. For four seasons, he handled the punting duties and did it at a high level. Now he's gone and the Mustangs have to find a new punter.
But this time SMU won't be starting with a kid coming straight out of high school. Thomas Morstead, who is also vying for placekicking duties, has been on campus two years, working behind Mentzel and waiting for his chance. He's being challenged by sophomore Andrew Galloway (6-4, 215).

"That's one of things that's different about our program now," Bennett said. "These guys have been waiting their turn, when in the past, they had to play from the minute they got on campus."


SPECIAL TEAMS

SMU might be breaking in two new kickers, but few teams in college football can match the Mustangs when it comes to strength in the return game.
Jessie Henderson won freshman All-America honors last season as he averaged 27.6 yards on 24 kickoff returns to lead Conference USA. That includes an 88-yard return for the team's only touchdown against Tulane.

Blake Warren has been one of C-USA's top punt returners the last three seasons. He ranked third in the league with 206 yards on 21 punt returns last season, an average of 9.8 yards a return. As a freshman against Rice, he returned a punt 63 yards for a touchdown.

"Blake and Jessie are weapons," Bennett said. "I think Jessie will get better and better. We've got to get Blake more help this season. People didn't kick as much to Blake last year, so we're looking at putting two returners back, so they can't kick away from us."

Backup wide receiver Emmanuel Sanders is the most likely candidate to join Warren in the punt return slot. The speedy redshirt freshman will also get a shot at kickoff return duty, along with Henderson.

One advantage of SMU's improving depth is the availability of more good athletes to play on coverage teams. The Mustangs made major strides in that area last season. After allowing more than 500 yards on punt returns in 2004, SMU surrendered just 161 yards in that area last season. And the kickoff coverage team cut opponents' average return down from more than 23 yards a kick in 2004 to 19.4 yards in 2005.


BLUE RIBBON ANALYSIS

A year ago, SMU was entering the great unknown -- moving from its familiar home in the WAC to Conference USA.
If last season proved anything, it was that the Mustangs could compete in their new league. SMU finished 4-4 against its new conference foes and three of those losses were by a touchdown or less.

Grading the Mustangs
Unit Grade
Offense B+
Special teams B+
Defense A-
Intangibles A
Bennett is convinced he has a team that can challenge for the C-USA title.

"Why not us?" he asked skeptical reporters. "With the parity in our league, I think we can come out and compete with anyone out there."

It's a measure of how far Bennett has brought the SMU program in the last three years that he could ask that question and not get a laugh.

Yes, there's still some optimism involved -- it's tough to install a team with an untested quarterback as a conference title contender -- but Bennett's goal is not that unrealistic. He may have the best crop of runners and receivers in the league. His defensive line stacks up with anybody in Conference USA. His offensive line is solid and his secondary is anchored by one of the best safeties in the league.

If Willis performs as well as Bennett expects at quarterback, SMU could very well find itself in the Conference USA title game. And even if that doesn't happen this season, it's looking more and more like it will in the near future.




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[me@smu]

Will we be able to field a full team in 2007? It seemed that every starter is a senior and in alot of cases their back-ups are seniors also. This should be a recruits dream situation.

[GoRedGoBlue]

Will we be able to field a full team in 2007? It seemed that every starter is a senior and in alot of cases their back-ups are seniors also. This should be a recruits dream situation.

Negative Ghostrider, look at the 2-deep.

But, I grant you this: PB has this and next (which will be significantly harder with TCU/TECH/BAYLOR) to prove his worth, if he survives this year.

[PK]

Will we be able to field a full team in 2007? It seemed that every starter is a senior and in alot of cases their back-ups are seniors also. This should be a recruits dream situation.

We are finally reaching that point where we can redshirt the freshmen and fill the starting positions with fifth year seniors and fourth year juniors like most other teams do. There will always be some younger guys that are just too talented to not use early on, but the more mature guys we can get on the field the better.

[Kappas Are Yummy]

Wow, that's definitely the cheeriest appraisal of the team I've seen yet. I'd love to believe it, but I'm going to wait until I see some results.

MM1965 -- were you the primary source?

[Stallion]

....so Jessie Hendersom has been moved exclusively to a receiver position?

[smu diamond m]

Sophomore Ryan Wolcott (5-9, 170), the grandson of SMU legend Doak Walker, and freshman Brayden Harris (5-11, 180) are available if McMurtray falters.

Awwww, he slipped up.

[mrydel]

....so Jessie Hendersom has been moved exclusively to a receiver position?

They are probably practicing letting him run that end around that Turner usually does where there is a planned fumble at the end. At least I think it is planned since it happens every time.