(Photo Credit: Vladimir Cherry/SMU Athletics)
Key Players Returning:
RB Ulysses Bentley, RB Tyler Lavine, WR/KR Danny Gray, WR/PR Rashee Rice, WR Reggie Roberson, OC Alan Ali, OG Hayden Howerton, OG Justin Osborne, OT Beau Morris, OT Jaylon Thomas, DE Junior Aho, DE Elijah Chatman, DE Turner Coxe, LB Trevor Denbow, LB Shane Hailey, LB Nelson Paul, LB Delano Robinson, LB Gary Wiley, CB Brandon Crossley, CB Ar’mani Johnson, FS Chace Cromartie, SS Chevin Calloway, SS Chace Cromartie, and PT Matt Fraanje.
Key Players Departing:
QB Shane Buechele, WR Tyler Page, TE Kylen Granson, LB Richard McBryde, CB Brandon Stephens, and PK/PT Chris Naggar.
Top 10 Recruits:
4 Star Recruits: CB Jahari Rogers (Florida transfer), and QB Preston Stone (Dallas, Texas).
3 Star Recruits: QB Tanner Mordecai (Oklahoma transfer), OT Justin Osborne (Auburn transfer), S Isaiah Nwokobia (Dallas, Texas), WR Dylan Goffney (Cypress, Texas), TE Grant Calcaterra (Oklahoma transfer), TE Nolan Matthews (Arizona State transfer), DE Je’lin Samuels (Pasadena, Texas), and RB Montaye Dawson (Ft. Worth, Texas).
2020 Results
G01 at Texas State W 31-24
G02 at North Texas W 65-35
G03 STEPHEN F. AUSTIN W 50-7
G04 #25 MEMPHIS W 30-27
G05 at Tulane W 37-34
G06 #9 CINCINNATI L 13-42
G07 NAVY W 51-37
G08 at Temple W 47-23
G09 at Tulsa L 24-28
G10 at East Carolina L 38-52
Misc. Team Information:
2020 Record: 7-3 (4th in American)
Home: 3-1
Away: 4-2
Neutral: 0-0
AAC: 4-3
Non-AAC: 3-0
Head Coach: Sonny Dykes
SMU: 22-14
Career: 63-59
Bowls: 1-3
Returning Statistical Leaders:
Passing: Terrance Gipson (3-3, 30 yards, 100%, 10.0 avg., 0 TD, 0 INT)
Rushing: Ulysses Bentley (170 car., 913 yards, 5.4 avg., 11 TD)
Receiving: Rashee Rice (48 car., 683 yards, 14.2 avg., 5 TD)
TDs Scored: Ulysses Bentley (12)
Sacks: Nelson Paul (3.5)
Tackles: Delano Robinson (77)
Tackles For Loss: Elijah Chatman (7.5)
Interceptions: Brandon Crossley (4)
Pass Deflections: Brandon Crossley (5)
Forced Fumbles: Trevor Denbow (3)
Kick Returns: Danny Gray (9 ret., 180 yards, 20.0 avg., 0 TD)
Punt Returns: Danny Gray (2 ret., 26 yards, 13.0 avg., 0 TD)
Kicking: None
Punting: Matt Fraanje (5 punts, 162 yards, 32.4 avg., 2 in20)
Projected Offensive Starters
QB: 8 Tanner Mordecai (RS JR/TR)
RB: 26 Ulysses Bentley (RS SO)
WR: 21 Reggie Roberson (SR/TR)
WR: 5 Danny Gray (SR/TR)
WR: 11 Rashee Rice (JR)
TE: 88 Grant Calcaterra (GR/TR)
LT: 71 Jaylon Thomas (SR)
LG: 75 Hayden Howerton (SR)
OC: 77 Alan Ali (RS SR)
RG: 51 Justin Osborne (RS SO/TR)
RT: 78 Beau Morris (RS SR/TR)
KR: 5 Danny Gray (SR/TR)
PK: 00 Blake Mazza (GR/TR)
Projected Defensive Starters:
DE: 97 Turner Coxe (RS SR)
NT: 57 Mike Williams (GR/TR)
DE: 40 Elijah Chatman (JR)
LB: 38 Toby Ndukwe (RS SR)
LB: 3 Delano Robinson (SR)
LB: 16 Trevor Denbow (SR/TR)
LB: 55 Gary Wiley (SR)
CB: 5 Ar’mani Johnson (RS SR)
CB: 1 Brandon Crossley (JR/TR)
FS: 11 Chevin Calloway (RS SR/TR)
SS: 18 Chance Cromartie (JR)
PR: 5 Danny Gray (SR/TR)
PT: 7 Matt Fraanje (RS FR)
Team Grades:
Offense
Quarterbacks: C
Running Backs: A
Wide Receivers: C
Offensive Line: A
Defense
Defensive Line: C
Linebackers: B
Secondary: B
Special Teams
Kick Returners: C
Punt Returners: C
Kickers: C
Punters: C
Schedule:
09/04 ABILENE CHRISTIAN WILDCATS | SMU won (52-7) the only prior meeting between schools in 1925.
09/11 NORTH TEXAS MEAN GREEN | SMU leads the series 33-6-1. The Mustangs are 5-2 since renewing the series in 2014, and their last series loss (23-46) was in 2018.
09/18 at Louisiana Tech Bulldogs | SMU trails the series 1-4. The Mustangs lost (10-51) the last meeting between schools in 2017, and their only series win (37-34) was in 2002.
09/25 at TCU Horned Frogs | SMU trails the series 41-51-7. The Mustangs are 2-7 since 2011, and their last series loss (12-42) was in 2018.
10/02 USF BULLS | SMU trails the series 2-3. The Mustangs won (48-21) the last meeting between schools in 2019, and their last series loss (37-35) was in 2016.
10/09 at Navy Midshipmen | SMU trails the series 9-13. The Mustangs are 2-5 since 2011, and their last series loss (28-35) was in 2019.
10/21 TULANE GREEN WAVE | SMU leads the series 14-13. The Mustangs are 7-1 since 2011, and their last series loss (26-27) was in 2012.
10/30 at Houston Cougars | SMU trails the series 13-21-1. The Mustangs are 3-6 since 2011, and their last series loss (22-35) was in 2017.
11/06 at Memphis Tigers | SMU trails the series 4-9. The Mustangs are 4-6 since 2011, and their last series loss (48-54) was in 2019.
11/13 UCF KNIGHTS | SMU trails the series 1-8. The Mustangs are 1-5 since 2011, and their only series win (38-17) was in 2011.
11/20 at Cincinnati Bearcats | SMU trails the series 1-4. The Mustangs lost (13-42) last season’s meeting between schools, and their only series win (31-28 OT) was in 2017.
11/27 TULSA GOLDEN HURRICANE | SMU leads the series 15-12. The Mustangs are 3-6 since 2011, and their last series win (43-37 OT) was in 2019.
Predictions:
Home: 3-3
Road: 1-5
Neutral: 0-0
AAC: 2-6
Non-AAC: 2-2
Overall: 4-8 (9th in AAC)
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