PonyFans.com

By Richard Cirminiello

Head coach: June Jones
Fifth year: 24-28
Returning Lettermen
Off. 10, Def. 22, ST 3
Lettermen Lost: 20
Ten Best SMU Players
1. RB Zach Line, Sr.
2. LB Ja’Gared Davis, Sr.
3. WR Darius Johnson, Sr.
4. LB Taylor Reed, Sr.
5. DE Margus Hunt, Sr.
6. QB Garrett Gilbert, Jr.
7. DT Torlan Pittman, Jr.
8. WR Der’rikk Thompson, Soph.
9. LB Cameron Rogers, Jr.
10. RG Blake McJunkin, Sr.
2012 Schedule

Sep. 2 at Baylor
Sep. 8 Stephen F. Austin
Sep. 15 Texas A&M
Sep. 22 OPEN DATE
Sep. 29 TCU
Oct. 6 at UTEP
Oct. 13 at Tulane
Oct. 18 Houston
Oct. 27 Memphis
Nov. 3 at UCF
Nov. 10 Southern Miss
Nov. 17 at Rice
Nov. 24 Tulsa
Now that the Mustangs have been to three straight bowl games for the first time in more than a quarter-century, the team is looking for new achievements and new heights to scale.

The price of success is always a higher bar. Head coach June Jones has done a miraculous job over the course of four years, breathing life into a squad that not long ago was being fitted for a toe tag. Now that SMU has reached a point that postseason games are the norm, and that quality recruits are no longer off limits, it can start shooting for goals that would have been off limits just a few seasons back.

From the first week of December to the first week of January, it was particularly evident that this was a very different Mustangs program. In the span of just five weeks, they held on to Jones, who darn near wound up in Tempe, joined the Big East Conference and whipped Pitt, 28-6, in the BBVA Compass Bowl in Birmingham. These are indeed heady times on the Hilltop.

SMU’s goal in 2012 will be to remain among Conference USA’s most competitive programs, while building a tailwind as it begins preparation for a new league. Reaching its goal, however, will hinge on the development of a quarterback, which has proved surprisingly elusive during Jones’ first four years. The 2011 starter, J.J. McDermott, has graduated, and wasn’t very especially crisp anyway. Potential successor Kyle Padron has since transferred to Eastern Washington. The Mustangs are staring at the possibility of employing a rookie under center. Or are they?

Headed north from Austin is Garrett Gilbert, the one-time five-star recruit of Texas who never quite made it as a Longhorn. If Gilbert is able to resuscitate his career, look out. Jones is having success at SMU without his usual support from behind center. Just imagine what he might be able to achieve if his quarterback is able to truly maximize all of the weapons in the coach’s Run & Shoot attack. It’s a thought plenty of Mustangs fans are having, as the quarterback prepares to compete for the job in the summer.

What to watch for on offense: Ton & Shoot. The Mustangs aren’t just balanced on offense. They’re powerful and downright assertive on the ground, testament to June Jones’ ability to adapt to the talent surrounding him. In Zach Line and Rishaad Wimbley, SMU has at its disposal nearly 500 pounds of muscle with which to soften defenses between the tackles. The pair is going to form an ideal counter to the quick-hitting passing style, keeping defenses off balance, and unable to target one specific segment of the offensive attack.

What to watch for on defense: The Hunt for notoriety. Prepare to get an earful regarding Mustangs DE Margus Hunt, who’s on the verge of becoming a household name at least in Conference USA circles. The Estonian product, who arrived in Dallas on a track & field scholarship, has done well since taking up football a few years ago. Now that the 6-8, 275-pound gifted athlete has mastered blocking kicks on special teams, he’s bucking to become a more productive pass rusher as well. If his bowl game performance versus Pitt, five tackles and three sacks, is a harbinger of things to come, Hunt could have NFL scouts flocking to SMU in the fall.

This team will be far better if … it improves its turnover margin: The sequel. For two consecutive years, the Mustangs have been able to survive on the field, despite being utterly careless with the ball. In 2010, the team was 111th nationally in turnover margin. In 2011, it slumped to dead last out of 120 programs, creating just 16 takeaways, yet coughing it up 32 times. Flipping those numbers would have a monumentally positive effect on a program that’s looking to break through barriers in 2012.

The Schedule: The Mustangs will know where they stand in the reloading process on offense early on with a trip to Baylor. And then comes the run with three home games in a road and five of the next seven at Ford Stadium. However, a 1-3 start is possible with Texas A&M and TCU to deal with. On the plus side, the West race doesn't look too bad with Houston and Tulsa - the only teams able to battle SMU for the division - at home. Playing UCF from the East is bad enough, and the game is on the road before getting another bad break by having to deal with Southern Miss the following week. However, getting Memphis from the East is a positive.

Best Offensive Player: Senior RB Zach Line. A most unlikely star for the Mustangs, Line has gone from a lightly-recruited linebacker from the state of Michigan to one of the country’s premier running backs. A 6-1, 230-pound downhill runner with just enough wiggle to dodge tacklers, he has motored for 2,907 yards and 34 touchdowns since beginning his career as a short-yardage specialist. When he suffered a season-ending toe injury last November, he was among the nation’s leading rushers, a role he’ll be looking to reprise in September.

Best Defensive Player: Senior LB Ja’Gared Davis. While Davis lines up at linebacker, he serves multiple functions for the Mustangs D. One of the program’s best combinations of size and speed, the 6-1, 235-pounder is especially dangerous cutting loose on the blitz. From his weakside position, he contributed 83 tackles, 12 tackles for loss, 5.5 sacks, two picks and eight pass breakups in 2011, en route to being named All-Conference USA for a second straight time. Davis’ range and ability to shed blockers put him in a position to impose his will all over the field.

Key player to a successful season: Junior QB Garrett Gilbert. Yeah, he’s yet to even matriculate, let alone throw a pass for his new team, but there’s no denying that Gilbert is capable of being a difference-maker for the program, the kind of player who helps carry a program to a new plateau of success. The Mustangs don’t often attract a player of Gilbert’s caliber or background. Heck, this is the same kid who almost willed Texas back as a rookie in the 2010 BCS National Championship Game loss to Alabama. He could be the shepherd who helps guide SMU into a new era of prosperity, beginning in 2012.

The season will be a success if ... the Mustangs win the West in their final year in Conference USA. Okay, so not copping the division won’t exactly qualify as a failure, but it is there for the taking. Houston won’t be as formidable as in recent years, and Tulsa must visit Ford Stadium in the regular season finale. Playing for a league title on the first weekend of December would give SMU the propulsion it needs before heading off to the Big East Conference.

Key game: Nov. 24 vs. Tulsa. While it would be premature to dismiss Houston in the West Division race, the regular season finale in Dallas is sure to go a long way to determining one-half of the dance card a week later versus the East winner. The Mustangs took it on the chin last Oct. 29 in Tulsa, 38-7, and will be looking to exact some revenge on their visitors. The game could also be an intriguing battle of former ballyhooed Big 12 recruits, former Texas QB Garrett Gilbert vs. one-time Nebraska blue-chip QB Cody Green.

2011 Fun Stats:
- Yards per catch: SMU 12.7 - Opponents 10.1
- Interceptions thrown: SMU 19 - Opponents 6
- Red-zone touchdowns: SMU 60% - Opponents 49%

What You Need To Know:Having gone sideways in the last two years, head coach June Jones needs to find a way to ignite his inconsistent Run & Shoot attack on the Hilltop. His first move was to hire former Houston assistant Jason Phillips to be his new co-offensive coordinator and wide receivers coach. His next will be to decide on a quarterback, particularly important in this system. As spring closed, redshirt freshman Conner Preston held a lead on the competition. However, all bets are off until Garrett Gilbert gets his chance to audition in the summer in front of the staff. The Texas transfer, with the cathedral ceiling, is almost at full strength following last September’s shoulder surgery. Speaking of recoveries, RB Zach Line is on the mend after undergoing foot surgery. The bruising 230-pounder played in pain throughout 2011, yet still rumbled for a Conference USA-high 1,224 yards rushing and 17 touchdowns. While depth will be a worry at wide receiver, the Mustangs are comfortable with their starting four. Speedy Darius Johnson is an all-star, and Der’rikk Thompson showed an awful lot of promise in his first season. All the skill position talent in the world, though, won’t make a difference if SMU is unable to navigate a perilous situation in the trenches. All five of last season’s starters have graduated, forcing the staff to completely reshuffle the deck with a blend of reserves and newcomers.

Returning Leaders
Passing: Stephen Kaiser
0-1, 0 yds, 0 TDs, 0 INTs
Rushing: Zach Line
208 carries, 1,224 yds, 17 TDs
Receiving: Darius Johnson
79 catches, 1,118 yds, 8 TDs
Star of the offense: Senior RB Zach Line
Player who has to step up and become a star:Junior QB Garrett Gilbert or redshirt freshman Conner Preston
Unsung star on the rise: Sophomore RB Rishaad Wimbley
Best pro prospect: Line
Top three all-star candidates: 1) Line, 2) Senior WR Darius Johnson, 3) Gilbert
Strength of the offense: The power ground game, potential of Gilbert, the passing game
Weakness of the offense: Inexperience at quarterback, depth at receiver, rebuilt O-line, turnovers

Quarterbacks

The transfer of Kyle Padron and graduation of J.J. McDermott has the Mustangs essentially starting from scratch at the most important position on the field. Coming out of spring, the leader in the clubhouse was 6-0, 200-pound redshirt freshman Conner Preston, the 83rd-ranked quarterback of the 2011 class. He has a quick trigger, good arm strength and an improving knowledge of what it takes to succeed in this offense. The rookie improved as spring camp evolved, a trend that the staff hopes will continue throughout the summer.

For the time being, 6-3, 230-pound redshirt freshman Garrett Krstich has nudged ahead in the race to be the backup. However, he’ll need to elevate his overall play and grasp of the system in the summer in order to remain No. 2. Lightly recruited out of La Costa Canyon (Calif.) High School, he’s among the brightest and biggest of the Mustang hurlers.

Watch Out For … how quickly ballyhooed Texas transfer Garrett Gilbert can scale the depth chart. Although he’ll be behind, and won’t matriculate until June, it seems to be a foregone conclusion that the 6-4, 220-pound former five-star recruit from the 2009 class will win this job. He’s recovering nicely from last September’s shoulder surgery, and took 27 credits in order to graduate in time to avoid sitting out the 2012 season.
Strength: Gilbert. Assuming he wins the job, and assuming that right arm has healed following surgery, head coach June Jones will have access to the most talented quarterback of his five-year tenure on the Hilltop. Gilbert has two years of eligibility left, meaning the Mustangs might not have to break in a new starting quarterback again until 2014.
Weakness: Inexperience in the system. The leading returning passer, sophomore Stephen Kaiser, attempted one throw all year, an incomplete in the bowl victory over Pitt. Even with the addition of Gilbert, the Mustangs are going to be raw under center, needing to quickly master the nuances of a complex Run & Shoot attack.
Outlook: If the Mustangs are forced to go with one of the untested underclassmen, the offense is going to suffer the consequences. The key, without question, will be Gilbert, who must prove that his shoulder is fine, and that he can digest the playbook as quickly as he did those spring classes in Austin. The junior is a potential game-changer for Jones, who has been pining for a player of Gilbert’s potential.
Unit Rating: 6

Running Backs

Zach is back, and all is right with the SMU ground game heading into 2012. After missing the final three games of 2011 to a toe injury, senior Zach Line is healthy again. The 6-1, 230-pound battering ram has rumbled for more than 2,700 yards on the ground over the past two seasons, while racking up 34 career touchdowns. He has a thick frame, particularly in the lower body, which he uses to shed tacklers en route to yards after contact. Like a smaller, quicker version of former Purdue great Mike Alstott, Line doesn’t make people miss often, but he hits the hole so quickly that he often doesn’t absorb contact until getting to the second level. If he can improve his pass-catching skills, there might be a job for him in the NFL.

It takes a big man to make Line look small. Sophomore Rishaad Wimbley is a very big man, especially as running backs go. The 6-0, 260-pound converted defensive tackle has actually slimmed down in the offseason in preparation for an increased workload this fall. He’s actually far nimble than his measurables might indicate, running for 178 yards and four scores on 40 carries in 2011.

Watch Out For … Wimbley to visit an awful lot of pain on opposing defenders this season. Yes, this is Line’s running game, but the Mustangs are very intrigued by the potential and unique skill set of their super-sized sophomore. Not only will his number of touches increase, but he also has value as a blocker in pass protection.
Strength: Power backs. Line is an assertive 230-pounder who gets through the hole quickly, and is especially difficult to bring down when he gets a head of steam. Wimbley is even more of a load, giving the Mustangs two north-south backs who are almost impossible to turn back in short-yardage situations.
Weakness: A game-breaker. No disrespect to Line or Wimbley, but neither is going to unnerve opponents with their wiggle or wheels. A couple of bruisers, they can be caught from behind and strung out to the sidelines. Now that Jared Williams is unlikely to make it back from January’s gruesome broken leg, SMU lacks a homerun hitter out of the backfield, who can get to the edge and really do damage on dump-offs in the passing game.
Outlook: Line is more than just a very good Conference USA back, as some would have you believe. The senior is a terrific offensive weapon, regardless of the league. He keeps the chains moving, and keeps defenses guessing by exploiting wide running lanes when the Mustangs spread things out. Sprinkle in a little Wimbley, and SMU has a powerful running game that nicely complements the quick-hitting passing game.
Unit Rating: 8

Receivers

The graduations of two of last season’s top three pass-catchers will force the Mustangs to do some quick rebuilding in the receiving corps. The quarterbacks will, however, take solace in the return of senior Darius Johnson, the star at "H", one of the slot positions. He followed up a breakout sophomore season with an even better junior campaign, catching 79 passes for 1,118 yards and eight touchdowns to earn a spot on the All-Conference USA First Team. Speedy and elusive in the open field, the two-time bowl MVP also has the ball skills to turn an errant throw into an acrobatic and improbable catch.

Joining Johnson on the inside at "Y" will be 6-0, 175-pound junior Jeremy Johnson, who’ll be looking to build on his first season of action. He earned a letter in 2011, mostly off the bench, catching 16 balls for 146 yards and a game-winning touchdown against TCU. A quarterback in high school, he’s still learning the finer points of being on the other end of the passing game.

From "X" receiver, 5-11, 185-pound sophomore Der’rikk Thompson is working to become SMU’s most dangerous weapon on the outside. He was a very pleasant surprise in his first season of action, nudging his way into the rotation to make 30 receptions for 411 yards and three touchdowns. Fueled by track speed, he’ll be doubly tough to corral once he improves his route running, and eliminates his number of drops.

On the opposite flank will be 6-1, 185-pound junior Keenan Holman, a two-time letterwinner. He’s been a little slow to develop on the Hilltop, despite being given opportunities to make plays. He’s actually started seven games-and played in 22-over the last two seasons, but boasts just 14 career receptions for 210 yards and two touchdowns.

The staff is holding its collective breath that some of the untested kids, like sophomore Darius Joseph and redshirt freshmen Ronnell Sims and Arrius Holleman can give the offense some valuable reps off the bench.

Watch Out For … Thompson to gradually emerge into the deep threat that the Mustangs are seeking on the outside. He began to scratch the surface of his potential, feeling his way through an up-and down debut. However, now that he has that season in the vault, and the confidence of the staff, he’s liable to bust out with a 50-catch encore.
Strength: System retention. Now that the Run & Shoot has been in place for five years in Dallas, all of the receivers have been recruited to explicitly fit within the confines of it. All of the receivers should have the playbook and their responsibilities down to a science by now. Whoever doesn’t won’t get on the field.
Weakness: Inconsistency. Yes, the wide receivers have come a long way over the years at SMU, but they still drop too many passes and need to keep improving on their route-running. A lack of consistency was a problem a year ago, but it’s even worse now that the unit sports such a dearth of experience on the two-deep.
Outlook: While Johnson is a sure-thing, this offense requires a lot more than just one receiver to deliver on a consistent basis. The Mustangs will need at least two other pass-catchers to step up, make plays and take some of the pressure off the headliner. Cole Beasley and Terrance Wilkerson served that role a year ago, but neither has any eligibility left. Since SMU is also breaking in a new quarterback as well, chemistry in the passing game might be elusive in the early stages of the season.
Unit Rating: 5.5

Offensive Line

Five up. Five down. If the SMU offense is going to move forward without a hitch, it’ll need to successfully replace each of last year’s starters up front, including two NFL Drafty picks, a daunting task for new assistant Bob Palcic. The coach will have a few veterans with which to work, especially on the right side. RG Blake McJunkin is going to be a very important cog in the rebuilt unit, a three-time letterman, and a veteran of more than two dozen starts. The hard-working 6-2, 300-pounder, though, has a new zip after moving out from center, and must shake off a layer of rust after missing most of 2011 to an ankle injury.

The group’s other three-time letterwinner is RT Bryan Collins, a steady presence off the bench throughout his career. The 6-3, 313-pound senior has started at least two games in each of the last three seasons, showing off the footwork of a quality all-around athlete.

So far, the staff has felt comfortable enough with 6-3, 296-pound redshirt freshman Tyler Lasecki at the pivot to relocate McJunkin, an attempt to get the five best Mustangs on the field. The key recruit from the 2011 class is nasty at the point of contact, adding weight and strength during the offseason to prepare for his promotion.

To the left of Lasecki will be a tale of two very different experience levels. Guard Jordan Free is a senior, and no stranger to the huddle. He’s appeared in 25 games, starting for the first time in 2010 versus Tulane. However, the 6-2, 302-pounder will be asked to do far more this season than at any point in his career.

Left tackle, on the other hand, looks as if it’ll be the responsibility of a youngster, 6-5, 285-pound redshirt freshman Kris Weeks. He’s one of those Mustangs who has a considerable ceiling, but needs someone, like Palcic, to make sure that he reaches it as early in his career as possible.

Off the bench, the only Mustangs with any game experience are 6-4, 275-pound sophomore Ben Hughes and 6-2, 280-pound Jordan Favreau, a converted defensive lineman. Neither player, however, was in on a snap in 2011.

Watch Out For … Lasecki’s snaps. Considering the amount of time that SMU spends in the shotgun formation, the exchange from the center to the quarterback is going to be an underrated component of each play during the season. This process must go smoothly or else the Mustangs’ quest to reverse their turnover woes could go up in smoke.
Strength: The right side. In McJunkin and Collins, SMU can rally around its two seniors up front, both of whom have played a fair amount of football at this level. The Mustangs need a steady hand and veteran leadership from their upperclassmen, and McJunkin and Collins are poised to provide it.
Weakness: Overall talent and experience. No returning starters. No obvious all-star candidates. And no chance that the Mustangs can approach last year’s level of consistency in the trenches. It looks as if SMU will be starting a pair of rookies, which is exciting for the future, but more than a little distressing for the season at hand.
Outlook: Palcic isn’t as important as June Jones this season, but it’s awfully close. The O-line coach was brought over from UCLA to restore some order to a unit that shapes up as the Achilles’ heel of the entire offense. A decline in performance here is inevitable, especially after losing five longtime starters. Plus, depth is a worry that could crop up if injuries begin to mount. The Mustangs will need McJunkin and Collins to provide the leadership as the young kids gradually get comfortable in their new roles.
Unit Rating: 4.5

What You Need To Know: Before even getting to the perennial need to plug certain holes on the depth chart, SMU must find a way to shift the turnover pendulum this season. The Mustangs were dead last nationally in turnover margin in 2011. In June Jones’ first couple of seasons in Dallas, his D was an attacking one that created chances for the offense. Last year, however, they had just 16 takeaways, lacking the tenacity or the ability to change the tenor of a game. Lining up from its usual 3-4, the team feels confident about its front seven. Yes, two terrific ends have graduated, but Torlan Pittman is an active plugger at the nose, and enormous DE Margus Hunt, the Estonia native, will be a hidden gem no longer. The foundation of the defense is clearly built around the linebackers. All but one full-time starter is back in the mix, headed by Second Team All-Conference USA seniors Taylor Reed and Ja’Gared Davis. Reed is the prototypical inside defender, manning running lanes to make a team-high 101 tackles. Davis is at his best flying off the edge, as his 30 career tackles for loss and 16.5 sacks will attest. Now that CB Richard Crawford and FS Chris Banjo are gone, the secondary that produced just three picks in 2011 is an even bigger worry now. Kenneth Acker returns at one cornerback spot, but second-year James Richardson could spend much of the fall on an island.

Returning Leaders
Tackles: Taylor Reed, 101
Sacks: Ja’Gared Davis, 5.5
Interceptions: Ja’Gared Davis, 2
Star of the defense: Senior LB Ja’Gared Davis
Player who has to step up and become a star:Sophomore CB J.R. Richardson
Unsung star on the rise: Sophomore LB Stephon Sanders
Best pro prospect: Senior DE Margus Hunt
Top three all-star candidates: 1) Davis, 2) Senior LB Taylor Reed, 3) Hunt
Strength of the defense: The D-line, run defense, the linebackers, team speed, stiffening in the red zone
Weakness of the defense: Proven edge rushers, takeaways

Defensive Line

The top priority for the Mustangs’ three-man front will be to replace last year’s starting defensive ends, all-stars Taylor Thompson and Marquis Frazier. The reclamation project begins with budding junior DE Margus Hunt, who is liable to follow Thompson into the NFL next season. The enormous 6-8, 275-pounder from Estonia is still raw at the sport, which he took up just a few years ago, but has an uncommon mix of physical ability that’s going to attract the interest of professional scout. The former shot putter and discus thrower is strong like bull, yet is also very fast, and surprisingly agile. Although his production dipped in 2011 to 28 tackles, 7.5 stops for loss and three sacks, all in the bowl, the staff feels he’s set to erupt this fall.

Flanking Hunt at left defensive end will be 6-5, 280-pound senior Kevin Grenier. The former high school quarterback has packed on the weight in Dallas, affording him the strength and power to withstand against the run. Before being limited by injuries last fall, he played plenty of defense and special teams in 2009 and 2010.

The successors on the outside are a pair of sophomores, 6-5, 238-pound Beau Barnes and 6-2, 265-pound Cameron Smith. Both players lettered as rookies in 2011, getting their feet wet on defense and special teams.

At the nose, Torlan Pittman is back to reprise his role as the Mustangs’ starter in the middle. The 6-1, 295-pound junior is coming off a successful season that saw him earn honorable mention All-Conference USA after making 37 tackles and six stops for loss. Pittman has good get-off, and plays with the right pad level needed to get leverage on opposing blockers. He’ll again be ably backed up by 6-3, 290-pound senior Aaron Davis, the three-time letterwinner who made a career-best 26 stops, 3.5 tackles for loss and two sacks in 2011.

Watch Out For … Hunt to enter the national lexicon, blowing up into a folk hero around Dallas. He has all of the ingredients to emerge into one of the most talked about athletes in Conference USA this fall. The physical ability has always been in place, but once he improves his technique and flexibility, No. 92 is liable to become a nightmare for opposing quarterbacks.
Strength: Winning the line of scrimmage. From left to right, the SMU defensive linemen are big, physical and capable of shoving opposing linemen on to their backs. Plus, Hunt and Grenier have the wingspans on the outside to completely obstruct the vision of quarterbacks as they survey the field for open targets.
Weakness: Proven pass rushers. Led by Thompson, last year’s top four sackers have either graduated, or are linebackers. Beginning with Hunt, the Mustangs desperately need the defensive ends to create enough of a push that it allows the staff to choose its blitz options a little more judiciously.
Outlook: While new troops are needed along the front three, SMU remains in solid shape on the first line of defense. Hunt is set to blow up, Pittman is underrated on the inside and depth won’t be a major issue. If Grenier can contribute to the run D, and get into the backfield occasionally, the Mustangs could endure minimal drop-off from a year ago.
Unit Rating: 6

Linebackers

Rich in returning starters and a pair of all-stars, the corps of linebackers has the parts to become the backbone of the 2012 defense. The weakside playmaker is 6-1, 235-pound Ja’Gared Davis, a starter since the middle of his rookie year. He is a rare athlete at the position, with the closing speed and timing to be used like a defensive end on blitzes. One of the team’s most effective pass rushers in recent years, he made 83 tackles, 12 tackles for loss, 5.5 sacks, two picks and eight pass breakups in 2011. The two-time All-Conference USA selection can cover the field like a safety, one of the reasons he’s such an effective pass defender as well.

Davis’ equivalent on the inside is 6-0, 240-pound senior Taylor Reed, who joined his classmate on the All-Conference USA Second Team last fall. Where Davis is a freelancer, Reed is more of a strict, disciplined run defender, sifting through the traffic before zeroing in on the man with the ball. A key cog in last year’s 23rd-ranked run defense, he led the Mustangs with 101 tackles, adding in 9.5 stops behind the line, four sacks and three passes broken up.

Returning to Buck, the other inside linebacker position, is 6-0, 230-pound junior Cameron Rogers, a seasoned veteran of three letters on the Hilltop. The one-time walk-on got his first chance to start in 2011, responding with a career-best 69 tackles. A try-hard type of player, he makes up for elite athleticism with a great motor and a blue-collar work ethic.

The newest member of the full-time lineup is sophomore Stephon Sanders, the favorite to handle strongside. He looks like a good one, based on his debut, which included five late starts and a crash course on being a top-flight outside linebacker. Ideally sized for the position at 6-3 and 235 pounds, he showed a knack for getting into the backfield with 26 tackles, 5.5 stops for loss and three sacks.

SMU will once again boast a pair of quality backups on the inside. Junior Kevin Pope, a 5-10, 225-pound converted running back, performed well in his first season on defense by making 40 tackles. Sophomore Randall Joyner added 43 stops, and will once again provided much-needed breathers for Rogers at Buck.

Watch Out For … Reed’s behavior away from the field. The Mustangs need their veteran in the middle, but he’s been a little sporadic with his behavior in the past. For the sake of his future in the sport, and for the good of the team, he has to remain focused on finishing his career without any incidents that land him in the coach’s doghouse.
Strength: Diversity. SMU is capable of doing a little bit of everything with this group of linebackers. From the outside, Davis and Sanders are assets to the pass defense, rushing the pocket, and seamlessly dropping back into coverage. Reed and Rogers, on the other hand, are the kind of rugged run stoppers needed to fill gaps and prevent yards after contact.
Weakness: Depth on the outside. The interior is well-fortified, but the Mustangs are going to be a little thin behind Davis and Sanders. Cody Worthen and Robert Seals are the likely reserves, but have just nine career tackles between them at this level.
Outlook: Provided it doesn’t have to dig too deep into the depth chart, SMU will boast arguably Conference USA’s best collection of linebackers. Reed and Davis form a terrific inside-outside combination, respectively. Sanders is the budding young star of the group. And Rogers is a steady and reliable veteran. It all adds up to a quartet that is going to make a ton of plays this fall.
Unit Rating: 6.5

Secondary

The secondary has improved in each of the last two seasons. Keeping that trend alive, though, will require replacing two of last year’s top performers, CB Richard Crawford and FS Chris Banjo. The new leader of the cornerbacks will be 6-0, 195-pound junior Kenneth Acker, who showed flashes in his first season in the starting lineup. A terrific all-around athlete, who’s not afraid to throw his body around, he finished sixth on the team with 63 tackles, adding five pass breakups. Acker needs to evolve into one of the emotional and physical leaders now that he’s an upperclassman.

Taking the lead at the spot vacated by Crawford is 5-9, 180-pound sophomore J.R. Richardson, who mostly contributed on special teams in his first season. While his size is certainly going to be a concern, speed and athleticism will not. Richardson is one of the program’s fastest players, allowing him to go stride-for-stride with opposing players.

SMU will not be without seasoned veterans coming off the bench at cornerback. Senior Keith Robinsonhas played in 33 career games, earning three letters as a Mustang. Junior Chris Parks has two letters to his name, and made a career-best nine tackles in 2011.

The defensive backfield’s other returning starter is 5-11, 195-pound senior Ryan Smith, who is about to begin his third season in the lineup. He set a personal-high with 65 tackles in 2011, quickly filling the gaps on running plays. He still needs to improve in coverage, an area of vulnerability that opposing quarterbacks will look to exploit.

After caddying for upperclassmen in his first two seasons, 6-1, 210-pound junior Jay Scott is set to finally take over at free safety. The former high school quarterback has a nice blend of size and athleticism to go along with an improving comfort level at the position. He started a pair of games in 2011, making 21 tackles, and appears ready to blossom into a solid all-around defender for the Mustangs.

Watch Out For … Richardson to get picked on early and often by opposing quarterbacks. He’s unproven, undersized and lining up opposite the team’s best cover corner. In other words, he’s going to get a lot of attention from offensive coordinators who’ll want to find if the sophomore is ready for action or not.
Strength: Red-zone defense. Okay, there are no guarantees now that Crawford and Banjo have graduated , but the holdovers still had plenty to do with a defense that allowed just 15 touchdown passes in 13 games. Acker is an improving pass defender, and Scott and Smith are going to surprise many receivers with their physicality.
Weakness: Picks. This is an issue that’s on the verge of becoming a nasty trend. SMU, despite being targeted on a regular basis, has intercepted just 16 passes over the last two seasons. Last year was particularly feeble, with just six picks on 443 attempts to rank 107th in the country.
Outlook: Although the secondary has been surging ahead in the right direction in recent years, remaining on that path will require a quick recovery from the loss of two key defensive backs. The encouraging news is that the staff has done a solid job of recruiting and developing back end talent over the past few years. Acker and Smith will form the foundation, with Scott and Richardson looking to evolve into reliable playmakers.
Unit Rating: 5.5

Special Teams

SMU will continue to make special teams a priority, one of the trademarks during the June Jones era. One specialist returns, but another must be replaced. Junior PK Chase Hover made the most of his limited opportunities to showcase his leg strength, hitting 8-of-10 field goal attempts, yet none longer than 34 yards out. The Blinn (Tex.) College transfer was forced to sit out a pair of games after contracting mono.

Since P Matt Stone averaged a mere 37.7 yards a year ago, few are shedding tears over departure. Taking over will be sophomore Mike Loftus, who got his feet wet on last year’s kickoff team. He averaged a robust 64.5 yards on kickoffs, an indication of the pop that he can produce with his leg. He can also placekick, and will serve as Hover’s backup.

Taking over for the dangerous Richard Crawford on punt returns will be junior Kenneth Acker. Kickoffs will once again be the domain of shifty sophomore J.R. Richardson, who averaged 21.3 yards on 23 attempts last fall.

Watch Out For … the development of Loftus as a punter. He left Anaheim as a highly-regarded specialist, a technically-sound player with a strong leg. However, he was largely hailed for his ability as a placekicker. Now that he’s being given the punting job, the staff is cautiously optimistic that he can provide more support for the D than Stone did last fall.
Strength: Blocks. Over the last three seasons, the Mustangs have blocked an incredible 21 punts or kicks, more than any other program in the FBS. The main hero has been 6-8, 275-pound senior Margus Hunt, who has gotten his enormous paws on 14 of them to evolve into one of the more unique and unlikely weapons of this unit.
Weakness: Uncertainty at punter. Last season, SMU ranked 103rd nationally in net punting, putting extra pressure on the defense. Yeah, Stone was a big part of the problem, but if Loftus couldn’t beat out the kid with the 37-yard average, shouldn’t the Mustangs still be concerned about their situation in the punting game?
Outlook: While there’s a degree of uncertainty and inconsistency inherent to the special teams unit, it’s still going to produce the occasional momentum-changing play, either from a Hunt block or a Richardson return. Still, the group is going to eventually be judged by how Loftus evolves, and whether or not Hover can nail long-distance kicks in clutch situations.
Unit Rating: 5.5

A simple link with a couple lines would have been just fine. But thanks for posting.

Take out the language for the fans (rah, rah) and it is a pretty good writeup. Someone did their homework.

Pretty comprehensive. Thanks for posting.

Any word on K.C. Nlemchi?