SMU Adding Size

[Stallion]

Pretty impressed with some of the gains made by SMU atletes especially in the lines based on the updated info on the on-line Media Guide at SMUMUSTANGS.COM.- Clay Clockzin 6-4, 255, Austin Adami 6-4, 276, Brandon Bonds 6-2, 313, Desmond Jones 6-1, 294, Brent Karrington 6-3, 277, Ryan Kennedy 6-5, 264, Trent Hrncir 6-5, 242, Brad Kieschnick 6-3, 298, Townsend Hargis 6-4, 310, Dustin Morton 6-4, 286, Chris Urbanis 6-5, 320, Justin Boren 6-4, 308, Darrin Johnson 6-6, 292, Kennard Burley 6-5, 320, Chris Poulos 6-2, 322, Martin Guidry 6-4, 285. BTW Derrick Swofford is now listed as a FB at 6-3, 235. I'm especially excited about the size we can now put on the line at TE in Darrin Johnson, Trent Hrncir and Ryan Kennedy that should really help our running game and short yardage situations. I wouldn't be surprised that when we are in our short yardage situations that we'll see TE Darrin Johnson 6-6, 292, RT Sterling Harris 6-6, 310, RG Townsend Hargis 6-4, 310, C Steve Reindel 6-3, 290, LG Brad Kieschnick 6-3, 298, LG Chris Urbanis 6-5, 320 and TE Ryan Kennedy 6-5, 264. Starting to look more like a legitimate Division 1A offensive line.

[This message has been edited by Stallion (edited 08-09-2003).]

[This message has been edited by Stallion (edited 08-09-2003).]

[FloridaMustang]

Members of the 300lb. club

*Justin Boren OL 6-4 308 (up from 285)
Sterling Harris OT 6-6 310 (up from 300)
Townsend Hargis OG 6-4 310 (up from 280)
*Brandon Bonds DT 6-2 313 (up from 305)
*Kenard Burley OL 6-5 320 (up from 300)
Chris Urbanus OT 6-5 320 (up from 260!)
Chris Poulos OG 6-2 322 (up from 278!)


And two players that could be in there soon:
*Desmond Jones DT 6-1 294 (up from 274)
Brad Kieschnick OG 6-3 298 (up from 283)

*denotes incoming freshman

I especially like the potential of Kieschnick and incredibly impressed with the size of the linemen that Bennett has brought in thus far. Those boys have some HUGE frames. In the 300lb club, 5 of the 7 were recruited in the last two years by Bennett and 6 of the 7 were all under 300lbs. last season. The only person to drop in weight was Eric Neal, but it seems that he has shed a lot of fat and added some lean muscle. I'd rather have him at 295 and quick than sluggish at a higher weight.

This year is looking rosier. Keep bringin those linemen! Go Mustangs!

[Sam I Am]

The light at the end of the tunnel no longer sounds like a train. Let the good times roll.

[GoRedGoBlue]

Rossley had a line that was 2nd largest in the Nation

[KnuckleStang]

Much like female actesses tell me television cameras do, football media guides have also been known to "add ten pounds." But I'm sure they were "rounding up" last year as well, so this is indeed rockin' good news. Chuck Faucette has got something to show for himself.

The Mustang Lineman Year Round Menu should consist of: Velveeta, cold buttermilk (straight outa the carton), mayonnaise (generic brand is ok), vanilla moon-pies, beef, and Budweiser. And of course lots of Metamucil (regular, not sugar free), to keep everything in working order. If they need vegetables, there's nothing wrong with the occasional avocado, I suppose, but that's it. To tell the truth, they ought to work out some deal with Snuffer's, and have them eat half their meals there. Do they cater?

S-M-U spells SMU!!!

[Charleston Pony]

I remember reading a quote from Faucette shortly after he arrived. He does not favor guys taking any "supplements" to add bulk. His comment was that "2 peanut butter & jelly sandwiches just before bed" was what had worked for him. Ah, the memories of SMU cafeteria food. There was ALWAYS PB&J to make sure you didn't leave hungry or could fix a snack for later!

[KnuckleStang]

I still often wake up at night with visions of the corpulent cafeteria lady saying, "CHICKEN FINGERS? CHICKEN FINGERS?!" running through my head.

[Roach]

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR><font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">Originally posted by GoRedGoBlue:
<B>Rossley had a line that was 2nd largest in the Nation</B></font><HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

With all due respect to the boys who battled on the line for Coach Rossley, many of them were a little more .... "rotund" than the boys Coach Bennett and Coach Faucette are throwing out there. Those guys battled their hearts out for Coach Rossley, and I'm not making light of their efforts, but we weren't exactly stealing offensive linemen back then who had offers from Texas A&M, Iowa, Iowa State and Arizona State, like we did with Justin Boren and his young linemates. Look at the guys from back then and look at the hosses suiting up today (Boren, Kenard Burley, etc.) and you'll see it's a completely different kind of "big." These guys are a different breed of animal from what we've had in the past.

[FloridaMustang]

Exactly. Rossley was a terrible recruiter. He thought, since he couldn't get an ounce of talent to the Hilltop, that he could just bring in all the overweight guys that were too slow for any legitimate D-1 program. Second largest line in the country, and DE's had a field day running right around them.

Bennett is the real deal.

As far as the media guide comment, I'm sorry, but the weights listed on the guide and on the site are exact. I'm confident of that, as I do know a little something about how it is done. Of course, by the time Aug. 30th rolls around, the guys will have lost a few lbs, with all the practice they will be going through. They probably sweat off 5lbs. alone. The weight will drop even more during the season, as the weight training program more or less turns into conditioning and endurance training. And during the offseason, that helps to bulk up even more when the heavy weights are brought back out.

The reason for such huge gains in weight I solely attribute to Bennett and his staff's recruiting. They recruited linemen that they knew had the frames to add 30-40lbs+. Cave-in just never had an eye.. for much of anything. We all know Faucette can do amazing work, and now that he has some kids that he can really transform, there's finally hope that at least our OL will soon be able to match up with the D-lines of BCS opponents (and esp. some of the D-lines in the WAC). We seem to have a good balance between speed and size on the OL. I'm looking to be impressed this year. The DL still needs work, and I'm afraid we're going to lose some key veterans before we land that prized DL recruit we need.

In any case, I feel good about this year. And I give so much credit to these players, both Cavan and Bennett's kids. They are SO dedicated to this football program and so dedicated to their new coach and the promise this program has. SMU Football is on the resurgence. For the first time in 5 years, I am actually GENUINELY optimistic. I don't have to qualify any of my feelings! I am ready to see the Mustangs play some incredible football!


[This message has been edited by UNFMustang06 (edited 08-09-2003).]

[M Street Stang]

Do we need Darrin Johnson at TE or on the defensive line more? Seems like the D-line has always had shortcomings.

[Roach]

I agree - I think he'd be a killer at defensive tackle, or even at offensive tackle. But I hear the coaches think he's an NFL-quality tight end, if he gets in there and works really hard for the next four years.

And he also gives them the ability to create serious mismatches at TE. How would you like to tackle this guy running upfield? Neither would I. And he's basically an extra offensive lineman in goal-line offensive sets.

[FloridaMustang]

Darrin Johnson is a TE, and will stay at that position. He has amazing hands, great blocking skills, and is amazingly speedy for his size. He's a monster! Hopefully he'll have a breakout year!

[PonyTales]

I haven't seen Darrin Johnson play TE. I did see videotape of him as a DE at North Dallas HS on the night Coach Bennett announced his signing a year ago, and for a DE, he looked enormous, but not overly quick. Despite Coach Faucette's program, I doubt he's a lot quicker at 292 pounds.

But what does lead me to believe he could be a sensational TE is his hands. They're huge. Enormous. He holds a football like a normal person holds a grapefruit. The guy who comes to mind as a comparison is Jeremy Shockey. Watch a highlight of Shockey catching a pass, and contentrate on his hands - it looks like he's playing with a child's miniature football. Johnson has the same size hands, and if he catches as well as he should be able to with those big mitts, he'll be a nightmare for defenses. Even if he's not a track star, he should catch a lot of balls and be real tough to bring down once he gets up a head of steam.

[Dement-ed]

Let's just hope he plays like Shockey without acting like Shockey.

[Ikus]

So if Johnson and Kennedy turn out to be as good as advertised, and if this Vincent Chase guy comes in and lights up the place, who gets moved to another position?