Practice observations (8/2/25)

[PonyPride]

ΓÇó There has been a lot of talk in recent years about how much bigger the offensive line is getting, and that inarguably has been the trend in recent years. This season, it is as clear as ever, both in physique ΓÇö guys like OT Paris Patterson look leaner and are moving better, while others, like OT Andrew Chamblee, look like they have added bulk and strength ΓÇö and in sheer numbers. The Mustangs have had linemen with legitimate D-I (or even NFL) size for years, but not that many. Now, there are 15 who are listed on the roster at 300 or more pounds, and none looks like it has taken massive eating and lifting to get there. These are athletes who carry the weight fairly naturally and move well. Does that all mean they'll be great players? Of course not, but head coach Rhett Lashlee and offensive coordinator Casey Woods and offensive line coach Garin Justice talk frequently about the need for not just big starters, but a big group ... and now the Mustangs have it. This group has the potential, and theoretically the ability, to overcome injuries and still have enough size and power in the depth to wear teams down.

ΓÇó Spring ball included talk about freshman wide receivers Jalen Cooper and Daylon Singleton, but the other two freshmen ΓÇö Isaiah Robertson and Carterrious Brown ΓÇö have shown flashes, too. Robertson appears to be a pretty polished route runner with good hands, much like Cooper, while Brown looks bigger than his listed 6-2 and 190 pounds, and appears comfortable using his body to shield the ball from DBs trying to climb over his back. His size and leaping ability make him an intriguing jump ball target.

ΓÇó As good as the defense was in 2024, coaches talked repeatedly about wanting to generate more takeaways, and that clearly remains an area of focus. A year ago, the Mustangs intercepted 16 passes, but recovered just six of 23 fumbles forced. In a short stretch of team (11 on 11) drills toward the end of practice, the Mustangs generated three turnovers: LB Brandon Booker did a nice job of hiding behind a defensive lineman and sneaking across the middle of the field to make an interception, and a few plays later, CB Zadian Gentry jumped a route on the perimeter and took it back for a would-be touchdown. Maybe most impressively, CB Kyron Chambers chased down WR Romello Brinson after a short screen pass, and rather than simply shoving him out of bounds, held Brinson up and reached around him to punch the ball free for a fumble.

ΓÇó QB Kein Jennings looked sharp Saturday (he also looks physically stronger). It's no secret that he has a strong arm and can run, but several times Saturday he showed a nice touch on intermedia and deeper passes, dropping the ball over the top to the the receiver's outside shoulder, where the receiver would catch it or it would fall incomplete. Quarterbacks are taught that an incomplete pass is not always a bad thing, but part of what makes Jennings successful is his ability to make plays by scrambling out of trouble, eluding the rush and throwing on the run. Many can't do what he can do in those aspects of the game, but that improvisational style brings with it the risk of turnovers. He always has seemed to have a pretty short memory, and if he can reduce the turnovers ΓÇö he threw 11 interceptions in 2024 ΓÇö that can make him even more dangerous than he already is.

ΓÇó DTs Terry Webb (6-3 / 313) and Jeffrey M'ba (6-6 / 312) are different body types, but they're standing outing early. They both are pretty mobile for bigger players, and their strength is impressive: on one play, M'ba absorbed a double-team block and didn't budge an inch, while Webb circled around the traffic to get a clear path into the backfield.

ΓÇó Among those in a no-contact jersey: TE R.J. Maryland. The defense isn't allowed to hit him, but he looks to be moving pretty well, and Lashlee saidthat the coaches and medical staff have a plan to integrate him back into the offense and have been pleased with rehab.

ΓÇó Transfer RB T.J. Harden is quicker than advertised. At 6-2 and 220, the former UCLA star has been billed as the team's short-yardage and power back, and rightly so, as he has more than 30 pounds on Derrick McFall and CJ Johnson, and nearly a 20-pound edge on freshman Dramekco Green. It's a little difficult to judge pure power in preseason camp, when teams are implementing their systems (especially for newcomers) but not hitting at 100 percent, but in running back drills, Harden showed impressive acceleration, deceleration and change of direction for a larger back.

ΓÇó How the defense will replace Tampa Bay Buccaneers draftee Elijah Roberts likely will be a matter of production by committee, but the Mustangs have some intriguing pieces in place. Isaiah Smith and Cam Robertson are the most experienced returning defensive ends, transfer D.J. Warner jumps out for his quickness around the edge, and the body type most similar to Roberts might be Baylor transfer Trey Wilson (6-3 / 275), who seems to have a lot of power, which is key against the run.

[highlander]

I'm not worried about KJ throwing INTs. Yeah he had 11 last year, but 6 of those came in 2 games.

[PonyPride]

True ... and an argument can be made that the Duke game, in which he threw three, was one of his more impressive performances of the year. Yes, he threw a trio of picks ΓÇö every one of us has days when things don't go right ΓÇö but he kept his composure and directed the offense to what turned into a hard-fought win. It doesn't happen without Jahfari Harvey doing his Superman impression and jumping over the blocker to block a field goal, but it's like a pitcher who figures out a way to win when he can't get a breaking ball over the plate or Steph Curry helping his team when his 3-pointer isn't falling. I thought that Duke game was a milestone in Jennings' development and maturity as a leader.

[Charleston Pony]

I'm still amazed we won that Duke game and hopefully Kevin learns from the mistakes he made in the 3 games we lost. We have to remember he wasn't even our QB1 until AFTER the early season loss to BYU. I was 0-2 last season having attended both that BYU game and the ACC Championship Game loss to Clemson. Even though we lost both of those games they were really exciting games that went down to the wire.

[Dark Horse]

At least 2 of those freshman WRs need to make a legit impact right away.

[PNW_Stang]

Bandit - Do you think DJ Warner is ahead of Billy Walton?

On the other side - Do you think Wilson is behind Cam R? I guess I had assumed Jakai Lang would be running 2nd team there.

Assuming our Starting LBs are Z. Barker and A Kilgore - Who do you think is behind them? Miyazono and Booker? Maybe K. Fern?

[PonyPride]

Bandit - Do you think DJ Warner is ahead of Billy Walton?

On the other side - Do you think Wilson is behind Cam R? I guess I had assumed Jakai Lang would be running 2nd team there.

Too early to say. Saw all four take different reps with the group that seems like the first unit ... but they, like players at a lot of positions, are rotating in and out at this point.

Wilson will be an interesting wild card kind of player. He has an extremely strong lower body, and when he gets low, which he regularly does, he can really drive blockers backward. At one point Saturday, he got low and exploded up "through" a blocker (couldn't tell who it was) and drove him back, almost lifting him up as if he was going to body slam him. With power like that, it will be interesting to see if they move him inside on certain downs, to add another pass rusher to the defensive front.

Assuming our Starting LBs are Z. Barker and A Kilgore - Who do you think is behind them? Miyazono and Booker? Maybe K. Fern?

Again, they're mixing and matching players in a lot of positions, trying all kinds of combinations to see what works. But Kilgore has played the most (at SMU, anyway) of any of the linebackers, and he and Barker got a ton of reps in the spring, so it would be an educated guess to suggest they're leading, at least for now.