Loading the stable with big horses ΓÇö errr ... Mustangs
Posted: Thu Jun 26, 2025 11:39 pm
Coaches talk all the time about their preference, when constructing a roster, to prioritize the big guys at the line of scrimmage. Rhett Lashlee and the SMU staff certainly seem to be buying in to that theory.
Remember the past coaches who would recruit small, unheralded linemen and then insist "don't worry ΓÇö they'll grow"? Some of them did grow, and some flourished.
But the blockers being recruited now are in a different class ... and size. Consider the offensive linemen who will be sophomores or younger a year from now:
Already on the team
C Graham Uter (6-5 / 290)
G/T Abel Hoopii (6-5 / 330) ΓÇö Offers include Hawaii, Arizona State, Washington State
T King Large (6-5 / 301)
T Dramodd Odoms (6-5 / 300) ΓÇö Offers include Michigan, Florida State, LSU, Tennessee, Mississippi State, Purdue, Arkansas, Baylor, California, Oklahoma State, Ole Miss, Purdue, Texas A&M
G Drew Hill (6-3 / 270) ΓÇö Offers include Utah, Arizona State, Baylor, Boise State, Boston College
T/G Sione Ma'u (6-6 / 375)
2025 freshmen
T Devinn Farris (6-6 / 310) ΓÇö Offers include Mississippi State, Houston, Maryland, Oklahoma State, Pittsburgh, Boston College
G Jacob Maiava (6-2 / 290) ΓÇö Offers include North Carolina State, UNLV
2026 freshmen
G/T Drew Evers (6-4 / 300) ΓÇö Offers include Georgia, Ohio State, Oregon, Texas, Alabama, Michigan, Texas A&M, Tennessee
T/G Pupungatoa Katoa (6-3.5 / 365) ΓÇö Offers include Miami, Texas, Oregon, Tennessee, Oklahoma, Texas A&M, Arizona, Arizona State, Arkansas
Remember the past coaches who would recruit small, unheralded linemen and then insist "don't worry ΓÇö they'll grow"? Some of them did grow, and some flourished.
But the blockers being recruited now are in a different class ... and size. Consider the offensive linemen who will be sophomores or younger a year from now:
Already on the team
C Graham Uter (6-5 / 290)
G/T Abel Hoopii (6-5 / 330) ΓÇö Offers include Hawaii, Arizona State, Washington State
T King Large (6-5 / 301)
T Dramodd Odoms (6-5 / 300) ΓÇö Offers include Michigan, Florida State, LSU, Tennessee, Mississippi State, Purdue, Arkansas, Baylor, California, Oklahoma State, Ole Miss, Purdue, Texas A&M
G Drew Hill (6-3 / 270) ΓÇö Offers include Utah, Arizona State, Baylor, Boise State, Boston College
T/G Sione Ma'u (6-6 / 375)
2025 freshmen
T Devinn Farris (6-6 / 310) ΓÇö Offers include Mississippi State, Houston, Maryland, Oklahoma State, Pittsburgh, Boston College
G Jacob Maiava (6-2 / 290) ΓÇö Offers include North Carolina State, UNLV
2026 freshmen
G/T Drew Evers (6-4 / 300) ΓÇö Offers include Georgia, Ohio State, Oregon, Texas, Alabama, Michigan, Texas A&M, Tennessee
T/G Pupungatoa Katoa (6-3.5 / 365) ΓÇö Offers include Miami, Texas, Oregon, Tennessee, Oklahoma, Texas A&M, Arizona, Arizona State, Arkansas