CFN First Look Rankings: SMU #79

[Harry0569]

http://cfn.scout.com/2/1261936.html

79. SMU (7-6)

Welcome to the Big East, now keep the momentum rolling. June Jones and the Mustangs close out 2012 with three wins in the final four games, highlighted by a blowout over Fresno State in the Hawaii Bowl. However, the offense didn’t work as well as expected for a Jones coached team, but the defense picked up the slack.

Bowl game star Margus Hunt is gone at one end, as are Torlan Pittman and Kevin Grenier off a front three that helped the team finish 15th in the nation against the run. Ja’Gared Davis and Taylor Reed are gone from the strong linebacking corps, but the secondary that struggled - allowing 278 yards per game - gets back all four starters.

The passing game that was so painfully inefficient needs Garrett Gilbert to be better. The former superstar Texas recruit put up yards at times, but he made way too many mistakes. Without Zach Line to carry the ground game, Gilbert needs more out of a receiving corps that loses top target Darius Johnson. Only two starters are back up front from a line that had a nightmare of a time in pass protection.