Garrett Gilbert visits SMU practice

[PonyPride]

Former University of Texas quarterback Garrett Gilbert visited SMU's practice Monday and reaffirmed his intention to graduate this spring from UT and enroll at SMU to play for the Mustangs in 2012.

Gilbert will graduate in May with a degree in sports management, and said he plans to "come (to Dallas) at the start of the summer, whenever I'm invited" so he can get started learning the SMU offense and working with his future teammates.

Gilbert - who wore a grey t-shirt Monday morning with a blue and white "SMU" across the chest - said he contemplated leaving UT after the fall semester, but is glad he made the decision to remain in Austin and finish his degree.

"It was a tough decision to stay, but I really think it will work out for the best," he said. "It will be great to have a degree, but I'm also really excited to get (to SMU) and get started."

In order to finish his degree this spring, Gilbert is taking 27 academic hours, with six classes he attends in person and three more courses he is taking on-line.

"Well, I don't have football to worry about now," he said, laughing, when asked about the unusually heavy course load (most students take 15 hours in a semester), "so I guess it's not as terrible as it sounds."

Gilbert was one of three future Mustangs in attendance at Monday's practice, joining slot receiver Collin Lagasse, who rode up with him from Austin (Lagasse played at Lake Travis High School with Gilbert's brother, Griffin), and fellow quarterback Neal Burcham. Gilbert said he is not on an extended visit to Dallas; he had a morning without classes and drove up to see his future team practice. He said he doesn't know if he'll get back to Dallas this spring, but added that he hopes to be in attendance for the team's final practice April 28.

"I can't get in with the coaches and watch film," he said, "but I wanted to get here and see how they do things. I wanted to watch practice and see what I could pick up. I wanted to see the offense on the field."

Gilbert declined to discuss specifics of how he'll fit in with the SMU offense. His priority, he said, is simply learning a new system.

"For me, the main goal (upon arrival in Dallas) is learning everything," he said. "I have to master the offense first."

Without getting in any meetings with the quarterbacks or the offense, Gilbert has limited knowledge of the way head coach June Jones and assistant head coach/offense Dan Morrison coach, but he said that he likes what he has seen so far.

"All coaches have different styles, and they do some things different than we did at Texas," Gilbert said. "But they throw it around a lot at practice. That's good to see."

Between now and his arrival in Dallas this summer, Gilbert said his two main areas of focus are finishing his academic work and continuing to rehabilitate from the shoulder surgery he had Sept. 20.

"You definitely have to take care of it between practices," he said. "I try to throw four or five times a week. It's almost back to being healthy. It's getting stronger every day.

"It feels great. I feel strong again. I've got to get the volume (of throws) up to handle a practice like this. But right now, it feels great. I'm happy with where it's at."

[HorsePower]

Good stuff. Thanks, PP.
If Gilbert can handle that kind of course load, maybe he can learn the offense quickly, too. I have read where it's more complex than what they run at Texas, but starting from scratch in the summer is a lot to ask.

[PonyPower]

I'll get excited when he is actually enrolled, but this report sure is encouraging.

[Bergermeister]

Good stuff. Thanks, PP.
If Gilbert can handle that kind of course load, maybe he can learn the offense quickly, too. I have read where it's more complex than what they run at Texas, but starting from scratch in the summer is a lot to ask.

I agree with Lee Corso - "he'll get better coaching at SMU."

[Oldmins]

What does it say about academics at the U of Texas when a student can take 27 hours crammed up to finish a degree? They usually figure a student needs to spend another two hours a week studying for each semester hour taken, so let's see, 3 times 27 equals 81 hours a week this fellow is putting in. So much for high Teasip standards.

[ojaipony]

I remember an interview Jones gave during the 2012 recruit announcement press conference about Colt Brenann not knowing anything about the offense and still went out and had a record breaking year.

VERY excited about this coming year! I say we beat TCwho AND aTm but not Baylor and finish the year top 25 and CUSA champs. (hey, it's possible).

[jtoutloud]

Looks good. Can't wait to see him wearing SMU jersey

[BIGHORSE]

Looks good. Can't wait to see him wearing SMU jersey

I hope he burns all his nasty looking, vomit colored, cow crap!!!

[Mustangs_Maroons]

Looks good. Can't wait to see him wearing SMU jersey

I hope he burns all his nasty looking, vomit colored, cow crap!!!

Haha. Well said. One of the few benefits of leaving in NYC is not having to see that color on every street.

[goldenstang]

What does it say about academics at the U of Texas when a student can take 27 hours crammed up to finish a degree? They usually figure a student needs to spend another two hours a week studying for each semester hour taken, so let's see, 3 times 27 equals 81 hours a week this fellow is putting in. So much for high Teasip standards.

I think he is taking some classes online from elsewhere