SMU’s first spring under new head coach Rhett Lashlee is in the books. What did we learn from the initial glimpse at next year’s Mustangs? It’s time for another position-by-position look. Up next: the wide receivers and tight ends...
Wide receivers
Notable going: Danny Gray (NFL), Reggie Roberson Jr. (NFL),
Notable coming: Beau Corrales (UNC transfer), Teddy Knox (Miss. State transfer), Kelvontay Dixon (Texas transfer), Jake Bailey (Rice transfer)
Tight ends
Notable going: Grant Calcaterra (NFL), Tommy McIntyre (graduation)
Notable coming: Kam Allen (Michigan State transfer), RJ Maryland (Southlake Carroll)
What we learned: The big takeaway from spring was Rashee Rice is, well, big. SMU’s leading returning receiver looked ready to take over as the team’s No. 1. He made contested catches and looked physical in his route running against SMU’s defensive backs from the first day of spring to the last.
The Mustangs will need to replace a lot of production from the loss of Danny Gray and Reggie Roberson Jr. — 1,428 yards and 15 touchdowns, to be exact — but good news: the receiving room can boast a ton of depth. Senior Austin Upshaw had an impressive spring, including an over-the-shoulder toe-tap touchdown grab in the spring game. Dylan Goffney had a 10-catch game as a true freshman, and fellow freshman Roderick Daniels Jr. had plenty of playing time last season. Jordan Kerley, when healthy, got open often.
In addition, SMU also brought in three transfer wide receivers. Former North Carolina wide receiver Beau Corrales was the only one at SMU for spring practice. He’ll have to stay healthy, but if he can, the 6-foot-3 receiver will bring a height element to SMU’s passing game that didn’t exist on the outside last season. Dixon, Bailey and Knox should join the team for fall camp.
The tight end position, however, is more of an unknown. Senior Ben Redding is back for another year and got the start in the spring game. In that showcase, Redding moved all over — akin to what Calcaterra did a year ago.
Former Arizona State tight end Nolan Matthews-Harris showed promise last season with two touchdown catches, but injuries sidelined him for a major chunk of the year. He’s got a lot of upside.
Former Southlake Carroll pass catcher RJ Maryland was the Mustangs’ highest-rated signee in the Class of 2022 and a top 50 recruit in the state. The 6-foot-3 prospect could line up at tight end or off the ball at receiver, offering some flexibility to SMU’s offense next year and in the future.
One thing we also learned: Former Texas wide receiver Joshua Moore will not come to SMU, multiple sources told The Dallas Morning News. SMU was excited to add Moore, but once it looked like that couldn’t happen, the Mustangs turned and added three more receivers in Dixon, Bailey and Knox.
What we still need to learn: There’s a lot of depth among SMU pass catchers, but there are some questions, too. Rice looks prepared to take on a bigger role, but what other returning receivers will take the next step? Goffney, Kerley and Daniels Jr. showed potential to do so a year ago. Speaking of potential: What kind of impact will Knox and Dixon, both four-star recruits out of high school, have for the Mustangs? Same goes with Bailey, who had 714 yards receiving at Rice last season. And finally: can Corrales stay healthy? Coaches and players spoke highly of the former UNC receiver in spring. He missed multiple seasons due to surgery but he feels ready to go for his final season.
One word, plus analysis: Tempo
Lashlee’s offense is based on tempo. A requirement for that offense: a lot of weapons. The Mustangs believe they have that with the amount of depth they can boast heading into fall.
Position outlooks
QB | RB | WR | OL | DL | LB | DB | More to come...
+++
Find more SMU coverage from The Dallas Morning News here.
Find more college sports coverage from The Dallas Morning News here.
