How an influx of talent since spring presents a unique challenge for SMU’s coaching staff

UNIVERSITY PARK — Kevaris Hall, a Red Oak alum and a Tulane transfer, lined up at corner with SMU’s starting defense during the second day of fall practices on Thursday.

Moochie Dixon, a state champion from Carthage and a Texas transfer, showed his speed and leaping ability with a deep catch in tough coverage.

Camar Wheaton, a five-star recruit from Garland Lakeview Centennial and a redshirt freshman transfer from powerhouse Alabama, took a handoff and went right toward the Mustangs’ defense, only to appear moments later sprinting toward the end zone.

After Wheaton’s run in team period, a couple of coaches shot impressed glances at each other. Another coach audibly made his feelings known, offering a few excited words of approval at the Mustangs’ new backfield toy. Wheaton, wearing a red no-contact jersey on Thursday, is still acclimating to his new team, but first impressions can be noteworthy, even for the cynical.

“He flashes, certainly, but we’ve got a lot of guys who flash,” said SMU offensive coordinator Casey Woods.

“We’ve got to make sure we’re not just flashes, but developed flashes.”

And they have to do so in a flash, so to speak.

This year’s fall camp marks an interesting window of time for the SMU Mustangs. A new coaching staff is in town. In addition, there are over 50 newcomers on this year’s roster — a good chunk of which weren’t here the last time they put the pads on. It’s the way of college football in the transfer portal era, and though SMU is excited to have a noticeable increase in talent from spring’s showing, there’s also a unique challenge ahead for the team’s coaching staff: Week 1 against North Texas is less than a month away, and SMU has to figure out who its starters will be.

Time is of the essence.

“It’s as urgent as can be,” Woods said.

Woods said the coaches had to remind the team of that urgency after Wednesday’s first practice of fall camp. The reason, the coaches shared, is because there’s plenty of competition for playing time, especially because of the influx of newcomers that weren’t here in the spring. All the freshman scholarship players weren’t practicing then, and 12 of the 15 transfers didn’t either.

They’re here now, and the position battles are on.

In the secondary, cornerbacks coach Rickey Hunley Jr. told his players everyone is a starter right now.

“All the things will shake out, but everyone needs to understand we’re competing against me more than competing with the other guys in that group,” Hunley said.

Rob Likens, the team’s new wide receivers coach, might be coaching the position with the best combination of depth and unique talent. He’s got three new transfers that weren’t here in the spring, including Dixon, Teddy Knox (Mississippi State) and Jake Bailey (Rice), to go with an already deep returning group. He’s on the lookout for guys that stand out, and after a short time of evaluation, he hopes to find a group he can prepare for Week 1.

“You’ve got to narrow it down and get those guys the most reps and start developing them to play and win for you in the first game,” Likens said.

The timeliness makes it challenging. The vast number of transfers since the end of spring is another new wrinkle, as well. But ultimately it’s a challenge SMU and this new coaching staff is happy to take on.

“We’re definitely a lot further than we were Day 2 of spring,” defensive coordinator Scott Symons said.

SMU will have more answers soon. Tuesday will be the first time they practice with pads on. They’re currently in the NCAA’s acclimation period with shells – shoulder pads and helmets – up next.

“That generally separates the guys who you think are flashing from the guys that are actually going to contribute and help this fall,” Woods said.

Those would be players with developed flashes, if you will.

Briefly: There’s still no timetable on a quarterback decision in the battle between record-breaking incumbent Tanner Mordecai and All-American recruit Preston Stone, according to Woods. Mordecai worked with the starters on Thursday.

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