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SMU Postgame Notes - November 26, 2011
at SMU 27, Rice 24
SMU (7-5, 5-3 C-USA), Rice (4-8, 3-5 C-USA)
Gerald J. Ford Stadium
Dallas, Texas

TEAM NOTES

Captains for today: #70 Kelvin Beachum (OT), #4 Bryce Lunday (RB), #64 Bryce Tennison (C), #8 Taylor Thompson (DE)

SMU is headed to a bowl for the third straight season, which ties the SMU record (1982-84). SMU has won at least 7 games for the third straight season, the first time since doing so five straight seasons from 1980 to 1984.

SMU is 5-1 at home this season and 4-0 in C-USA home games.

SMU is 11-1 in its last 12 C-USA home games and 14-4 in its last 18 regular season home games overall.

SMU is 7-0 this season when scoring first and 7-0 when scoring 21+ points.

20 SMU seniors in a ceremony following Saturday’s game - Chris Banjo, Kelvin Bea├é┬¡chum, Jr., Cole Beasley, J.T. Brooks, Chris Castro, Richard Crawford, Szymon Czerniak, Marquis Fra├é┬¡zier, Bradley Haynes, J.J. McDermott, Randy McKinnon, Brad Namdar, Josh LeRibeus, Bryce Lunday, Justin Sorrell, Matt Stone, Bryce Tennison, Taylor Thompson, Kelly Turner and Terrance Wilkerson.

SMU had a season-high 189 rushing yards (was 162 at Memphis)

Jared Williams’ 52-yard TD run is the longest rush of the season and second-longest for SMU under June Jones (58t by Shawnbrey McNeal vs. UTEP in 2009)

SMU running back Zach Line is out for the season. Line still leads C-USA in rushing and topped the 100-yard mark in eight of his 10 games in 2011. The junior back was one of 10 semifinalists for the Doak Walker Award.

SMU TEAM RECORDS

SMU Team Season Records
- 308 points, 7th at SMU
- 25.7 points per game, T-7th at SMU
- 4752 yards of total offense, 4th at SMU
- 396.0 total yards per game, 3rd at SMU
- 6.14 yards per play, 2nd at SMU
- 3334 passing yards, 3rd at SMU
- 277.8 passing yards per game, 3rd at SMU
- 16 passing TDs, T-9th at SMU
- 265 completions, 7th at SMU
- 232 first downs, 6th at SMU
- 153 passing first downs, 3rd at SMU

Cole Beasley and Darius Johnson have combined for 151 receptions and 1952 receiving yards this season
- That is 3rd for combined receptions (Beasley 79, Johnson 72)
- That is 5th for combined yards (Beasley 954, Johnson 998)

SMU RECORDS

Cole Beasley (#11, WR) (Biletnikoff Award watch list)
- Had 7 receptions for 58 yards
- Has 248 career receptions, which is 2nd at SMU (record - 285 by Emmanuel Sanders) and 7th in C-USA
- Has 2873 career receiving yards, which is 3rd at SMU and T-14th in C-USA
- His 79 receptions this season ranks 5th at SMU
- His 954 receiving yards this season ranks 10th at SMU

Darius Johnson (#3, WR) (Biletnikoff Award watch list)
- Had 8 receptions for 123 yards and 1 TD
- Has 5 100-yard games this season (T-4th at SMU), and 9 for his career (T-3rd at SMU)
- Had 1 receiving TD; has 7 this season and 14 for his career
- Has 161 career receptions, which is 8th at SMU
- Has 1947 career receiving yards, which is 9th at SMU
- His 998 receiving yards this season ranks 7th at SMU
- Has 72receptions this season, 8th at SMU


Zach Line (#48, RB) (Doak Walker semifinalist, Maxwell Award watch lists)
- DNP - out for season; foot injury
- Had 8 games with 100+ rushing yards this season (T-3rd at SMU); has 15 in his career (T-4th at SMU)
- His 1224 rushing yards this season ranks 8th at SMU; 5th player at SMU with multiple 1000-yard seasons (Reggie Dupard (3), Eric Dickerson (2), Keylon Kincade (2), Alvin Maxson (2))
- His 2907 career rushing yards rank 7th at SMU
- His 17 rushing TDs this season are tied for 2nd at SMU (Eric Dickerson 19 in 1981, Eric Dickerson 17 in 1982)
- His 34 career rushing TDs rank 3rd at SMU
- Has 102 points this season, which is tied for 3rd at SMU
- His 204 career points rank 8th at SMU

J.J. McDermott (#15, QB)
- Finished 16-25, 179 yds, 1 TD, 2 int
- Is 7-4 as the starting quarterback at SMU
- Had a TD pass. Has 16 TD passes this season, 8th at SMU
- Has 3182 passing yards this season, 2nd at SMU for a season
- Has 3081 yard of total offense this season, 3rd at SMU
- Has 256 completions this season, 4th at SMU

INDIVIDUAL NOTES

Kenneth Acker (#21 DB) - Had a team-high and season-high tying 8 tackles (6 solo)

Chris Banjo (#23, FS) - Had 5 tackles (all solo) and a pass breakup

Kelvin Beachum (#70, OT) (watch lists for: Outland Trophy, Rotary Lombardi Award)
- Started his 51st consecutive game at SMU

Cole Beasley (#11, WR) - See SMU Records

Richard Crawford (#6, DB)
- Had an interception (22 yards); has 2 for the season and 6 for his career
- Had 3 tackles (2 solo)

Ja’Gared Davis (#56, LB)
- Had 7 tackles (4 solo)
- Had a sack, now has 4.5 for the season and 15.5 for his career
- Had 2.0 TFLs (20 yards), now has 11.0 for the season and 29.0 for his career

Margus Hunt (#92 DE)
- Had 3 tackles (all solo)
- Had a TFL, now has 4.5 for the season and 13.5 for his career

Darius Johnson (#3, WR) - See SMU Records

Zach Line (#48, RB) - See SMU Records

J.J. McDermott (#15, QB) - See SMU Records

Brad Namdar (#34 K) - Had 3 PATs, his first career points

Taylor Reed (#44, LB)
- Had a team-high 8 tackles (all solo);
- Has 191 career solo tackles and 295 career total tackles
- Had 1.0 TFL, has 7.5 TFL for the season and 16.5 TFL for his career

J.R. Richardson (#24, KR)
- Had 1 kickoff returns for 21 yards
- Has 553 KOR yards for the season (26 attempts), 16th at SMU

Stephon Sanders (#51 LB)
- Had 1 sack and now has 3 for the season
- Had a career-high 2 TFLs, now has 5.5 for the season
- Had 3 tackles (all solo)
- Had 2 pass breakups and 2 QB hurries

Taylor Thompson (#8, DE) (watch lists: Bronko Nagurski Award, Rotary Lombardi Award, Pony Express Award)
- Had a QB hurry

Jared Williams (#22 RB)
- Was 11-80, TD rushing
- Career-long 52-yard TD run was the longest for SMU since 2009 (58t by Shawnbrey McNeal vs. UTEP in 2009)
- First career rushing TD

Rishaad Wimbley (#29 RB)
- Was 20-115, 2TDs rushing
- First 2 career rushing TDs
- Had a career-long 39-yard TD run
- First career 100-yard game

Still curious about the status of McJunkin. He is a senior who played in a few games early and got hurt. He dresses every game and appears to be in playing condition, yet rumor remains he is requesting medical hardship. Can anyone with any knowledge give any information including why he was not included in senior day? Hardship cases are heard later so if he were to be denied it appears he missed his senior day ceremony. It was said that McKinnon may file for hardship and he was announced.

Definitely the D's game and the running game saved us on O

mrydel wrote:Still curious about the status of McJunkin. He is a senior who played in a few games early and got hurt. He dresses every game and appears to be in playing condition, yet rumor remains he is requesting medical hardship. Can anyone with any knowledge give any information including why he was not included in senior day? Hardship cases are heard later so if he were to be denied it appears he missed his senior day ceremony. It was said that McKinnon may file for hardship and he was announced.

I sit by some people who apparently talked with his Dad at the half of the Rice game. Apparently, the medical hardship has been approved. They decided to do it after the Tulsa game. Just passing along what I was told.

Good to hear

What is his injury? I find it odd that a player out for the year would dress every game in full uniform. I am happy if he is coming back. Center was my only OL concern for next year due to the play calling knowledge needed, but it just seems a little odd to me.

mrydel wrote:What is his injury? I find it odd that a player out for the year would dress every game in full uniform. I am happy if he is coming back. Center was my only OL concern for next year due to the play calling knowledge needed, but it just seems a little odd to me.

Ankle

mrydel wrote:Still curious about the status of McJunkin. He is a senior who played in a few games early and got hurt. He dresses every game and appears to be in playing condition, yet rumor remains he is requesting medical hardship. Can anyone with any knowledge give any information including why he was not included in senior day? Hardship cases are heard later so if he were to be denied it appears he missed his senior day ceremony. It was said that McKinnon may file for hardship and he was announced.

Hey Mrydel, it became apparent to me that he will at least attempt to go for the medical hardship after I noticed he wasn't part of the senior walk. That's why he wasn't included, it's not like he did anything wrong and was shunned by the team or anything like that I hope he'll get it, he'd bring some much needed leadership on a young out of necessity OL next year

It sure seemed to work fine when he chased the Tulane player up the ramp at halftime after the big hit on JJM. I hope I get to hear the whole story someday because this sure seems to contridict all the rules of a medical hardship without more to the tale.

i have also heard this is done already.

Good for Blake. Good kid. Hope he has a great year next year.