Latest news with #SMUFootball
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2 days ago
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SMU Football Makes Underrated Hire After Playoff Season
SMU Football Makes Underrated Hire After Playoff Season originally appeared on Athlon Sports. Rhett Lashlee and SMU Football have added a former Texas high school offensive coordinator to his support staff. According to Mike Roach of 247Sports, former North Texas staffer Matthew McHugh has taken over as the Mustangs director of player personnel. Advertisement For SMU, this is an underrated hire in the Lone Star State. McHugh joins the Mustangs at the right time as well. SMU is coming off an 11-3 record in their ACC debut season, where they lost to Clemson in the conference title game. But ultimately took a spot in the 12-team College Football Playoff and suffered a 38-10 loss to Penn State in the first round. However, there is a lot to be excited about in Dallas. Lashlee's team has proven to be a contender as the upcoming season approaches. The Mustangs offense rolls through quarterback Kevin Jennings as he enters the season with some preseason Heisman buzz. While he is considered a dark horse, expect the junior passer to turn heads in SMU's 'run it back' year. Related: From death penalty to power play: SMU rebirth in college football The Mustangs also bring back their entire coaching staff with McHugh being the latest addition. This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 4, 2025, where it first appeared.
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2 days ago
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SEC Blue Blood Accused of Tampering With SMU QB Kevin Jennings
SEC Blue Blood Accused of Tampering With SMU QB Kevin Jennings originally appeared on Athlon Sports. In a college football world where player loyalty is under constant siege, the latest bombshell out of Dallas is hitting Mustang fans where it hurts. Advertisement According to On3's Billy Embody, the Alabama Crimson Tide, yes, that Alabama, allegedly tried to lure SMU quarterback Kevin Jennings into the transfer portal this offseason. The move, if true, would represent a stunning case of potential tampering by a national powerhouse targeting one of college football's most electric young quarterbacks. The speculation caught fire after Jennings' name was notably absent from the Manning Passing Academy list, despite his breakout 2024 season. Alabama's Ty Simpson wasincluded, a curious detail that Embody called out on social media. 'Alabama tried to recruit Kevin Jennings into the transfer portal to take over for Milroe, but sure, Ty Simpson deserves a notable mention over Kevin Jennings,' Embody wrote. Jennings, the 6-foot dual-threat phenom from Dallas, is coming off a jaw-dropping campaign in which he threw for 3,245 yards and 23 touchdowns while rushing for another 354 yards and five scores. More importantly, he led the Mustangs to an 11-3 record, an ACC Championship appearance, and their first-ever College Football Playoff berth. His return was expected to catapult SMU into the national conversation once again in 2025. Southern Methodist Mustangs quarterback Kevin Jennings (7) throws the ball during the first half against the Penn State Nittany Lions at Beaver Carchietta-Imagn Images Instead, fans are left wondering: Did Alabama try to take that future away? Advertisement While Jennings reaffirmed his commitment to SMU just days before their playoff loss to Penn State, questions now loom about how widespread these types of backdoor recruitment efforts truly are. Jennings has not directly commented on the report, but his actions speak volumes. Still, in today's Wild West of NIL deals and unchecked transfer portal manipulation, such stories are becoming all too common. Power programs like Alabama, equipped with deep-pocketed boosters and national brands can, and often do, turn Group of Five stars into targets. This isn't the first time Alabama has faced such accusations either. Just last year, the Tide were reportedly linked to Miami (OH) kicker Graham Nicholson before those whispers faded from the headlines. If these allegations hold water, the NCAA may soon find itself under renewed pressure to implement stricter tampering rules, though enforcement remains a pipe dream to many. Advertisement For SMU fans, the message is clear: Kevin Jennings stayed true. But the vultures are circling, and college football's transfer culture shows no signs of slowing down. Related: ESPN analyst has words for SMU Football's playoff credibility Related: SMU Football Makes Underrated Hire After Playoff Season This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 8, 2025, where it first appeared.
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2 days ago
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Explosive Edge Rusher Hudson Woods Commits to SMU Football
Explosive Edge Rusher Hudson Woods Commits to SMU Football originally appeared on Athlon Sports. The Hilltop just got a lot louder. When Smithson Valley edge rusher Hudson Woods announced his commitment to SMU, he didn't just add another name to the 2026 class, he lit a fire under a program already trending upward in the ACC. Woods, a disruptive force off the edge, tallied 13 sacks and 20 quarterback hurries in his junior high school season, and he's now poised to wreak havoc in red and blue. Advertisement 'I love everything,' Woods told On3 following his official visit. 'The culture, the environment, the opportunities. As soon as I stepped on campus for the first time, I knew that this place is my home.' For Mustang fans, it's a commitment that signals more than just a win on the recruiting trail, it's a reflection of SMU's growing momentum under head coach Rhett Lashlee and defensive staff who are building a modern contender with a ferocious defensive identity. SMU Mustangs head coach Rhett Lashlee© Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports Woods, a three-star recruit ranked No. 72 at his position nationally, drew offers and took official visits to Oklahoma State, Northwestern, and Wisconsin, but it was the culture in Dallas, and the connection with edge rushers coach Sam Dunnam that sealed it. Advertisement 'Coach Dunnam is an amazing coach. Someone I could definitely see coaching me,' Woods said. 'Practice was super entertaining. Looks like a lot of fun, and I had a bunch of great talks with all the coaches.' That connection isn't just talk, it's rooted in a coaching staff that emphasizes speed, aggression, and leadership on the defensive line. SMU's defense has been steadily climbing in performance and recruiting rankings, and Woods represents the next gear. SMU fans saw flashes of dominance from the defensive front last season. With Woods in the fold, there's now a clear blueprint for building a ACC-caliber pass rush. His commitment reinforces the idea that top Texas talent no longer sees SMU as a fallback, it's a destination. The Mustangs' push toward a national stage has become more believable with each high-profile pledge, and Woods' commitment gives fans one more reason to believe: this team isn't just recruiting well, they're recruiting the right kind of player. Advertisement With relentless pursuit, explosive first-step quickness, and Texas-sized ambition, Hudson Woods is the kind of edge rusher you build a defense around. And now, he's a Mustang. Related: ESPN analyst has words for SMU Football's playoff credibility Related: SEC Blue Blood Accused of Tampering With SMU QB Kevin Jennings This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 10, 2025, where it first appeared.
