The Reclamation Initiative | The Coaching Career of Nico Augustine

YaBoyRobRoy · Post by **YaBoyRobRoy** » 10 Apr 2026, 12:56

brutal loss in the chip braddah, looking forward to SMU battling the SEC giants.....unless......

Post by **Captain Canada** » 10 Apr 2026, 18:16

redsox907 wrote: ↑
10 Apr 2026, 11:00

"I'm the head coach of [school] until I'm not. That's all I have to say on that.

'It’s hard to see myself ever leaving [school] right now.'
Which one is Nico and which one is another coach who left his team in the dark

I know Coach Leon ain't talking about leaving a team in the dark :rg3:

YaBoyRobRoy wrote: ↑
10 Apr 2026, 12:56
brutal loss in the chip braddah, looking forward to SMU battling the SEC giants.....unless......

We at SMU until further notice, brodie :melo2:

Post by **Captain Canada** » 10 Apr 2026, 18:16

2030 SMU Mustangs Statistics & Accolades

New Records
ACC
Career
Passing Yards » Alonzo Cheeseman (14,824)
Receiving Yards » Marquis Avant (3,931)
Receptions » Marquis Avant (311)
Passing Touchdowns » Alonzo Cheeseman (147)

ACC
Single Game
Sacks » Davon Kamara (6)

SMU
Career
Passing Yards » Alonzo Cheeseman (14, 824 passing yards)
Passing Touchdowns » Alonzo Cheeseman (147 touchdowns)
Receptions » Marquis Avant (311)

Single Game
Sacks » Davon Kamara (6)

All-Americans
First Team
TE Dwayne Kasay (Rs Sr)
EDGE Davon Kamara (Rs So)
MIKE Keke Madden (Sr)
CB Jamerson Cotton (Rs Jr)
FS Esteban Brewer (Rs Sr)
SS Larry Tu'ikolovatu (Jr)

Freshman
HB Dwayne Sowells
CB Kaseem Boykins

All-ACC
First Team
TE Dwayne Kasay (Rs Sr)
EDGE Davon Kamara (Rs So)
DT Iosefa Funk (Jr)
MIKE Keke Madden (Sr)
CB Jamerson Cotton (Rs Jr)
FS Esteban Brewer (Rs Sr)
SS Larry Tu'ikolovatu (Jr)

Second Team
QB Alonzo Cheeseman (Rs Jr)
WR Marquis Avant (Rs Sr)
C Leati Higgins (Rs Sr)
OT Teryan Brisby (Rs So)
SAM Ben Stutz (Sr)
CB Isaiah Gumbs (Rs Jr)
FS Elijah Trewyn (Rs Jr)

Freshman Team
HB Dwayne Sowells
CB Kaseem Boykins

Team Statistics

Passing
QB Alonzo Cheeseman (Rs Jr) -- 335-433 (77%), 4,628 passing yards, 48 touchdowns, 8 interceptions, 200.0 QB RTG, sacked 29 times
QB Fredrick Cooper (Rs Jr) -- 22-41 (53%), 243 passing yards, 2 touchdowns, 2 interceptions, 109.7 QB RTG

Rushing
HB Dwayne Sowells (Fr) -- 138 carries, 880 rushing yards, 6.4 AVG, 9 touchdowns, 13 broken tackles, fumble
HB Cal McCalebb (Rs Jr) -- 145 carries, 784 rushing yards, 5.4 AVG, 5 touchdowns, 8 broken tackles
HB Brian Volson (So) -- 139 carries, 638 rushing yards, 4.6 AVG, 5 touchdowns, 18 broken tackles
QB Alonzo Cheeseman (Rs Jr) -- 108 carries, 519 rushing yards, 4.8 AVG, 8 touchdowns, 2 broken tackles, 2 fumbles
HB Justice Spielman (Jr) -- 81 carries, 348 rushing yards, 4.3 AVG, 6 touchdowns, broken tackle

Receiving
WR Marquis Avant (Rs Sr) -- 104 catches, 1,225 receiving yards, 11.8 AVG, 12 touchdowns, 5 drops
TE Dwayne Kasay (Rs Sr) -- 57 catches, 892 receiving yards, 15.6 AVG, 16 touchdowns, 4 drops
WR Eric DeLuca (Jr) -- 46 catches, 796 receiving yards, 17.3 AVG, 7 touchdowns, 8 drops
WR Tomas Smoker (Rs Sr) -- 30 catches, 678 receiving yards, 22.6 AVG, 6 touchdowns, 5 drops
TE Lionel Davenport (So) -- 24 catches, 319 receiving yards, 13.3 AVG, 4 touchdowns, 5 drops
WR Kenyon Natson (Fr) -- 16 catches, 241 receiving yards, 15.1 AVG, 3 touchdowns, 3 drops
WR Bobby Goodspeed (So) -- 15 catches, 221 receiving yards, 14.7 AVG, 3 drops
HB Dwayne Sowells (Fr) -- 22 catches, 184 receiving yards, 8.4 AVG, 2 touchdowns, drop
HB Cal McCalebb (Rs Jr) -- 14 catches, 161 receiving yards, 11.5 AVG
HB Brian Volson (So) -- 18 catches, 140 receiving yards, 7.8 AVG, touchdown, drop
HB Justice Spielman (Jr) -- 9 catches, 75 receiving yards, 8.3 AVG, drop

Blocking
C Leati Higgins (Rs Sr) -- 889 snaps, 0 sacks allowed, 16 games played
RT Teryan Brisby (Rs So) -- 238 snaps, 0 sacks allowed, 16 games played
RG J.P. Terrell (Rs Jr) -- 368 snaps, 0 sacks allowed, 16 games played
C Kai Pettis (Sr) -- 113 snaps, 0 sacks allowed, 16 games played
RG Mitch Slater (Rs Sr) -- 802 snaps, 1 sack allowed, 16 games played
LT Ethan Whitehead (So) -- 224 snaps, 1 sack allowed, 11 games played
LG Jalen Dodge (Rs Jr) -- 116 snaps, 2 sacks allowed, 9 games played
C Miguel Patino (Rs Sr) -- 395 snaps, 3 sacks allowed, 14 games played
LT David Coco (Rs Sr) -- 857 snaps, 3 sacks allowed, 16 games played
RT Walter Loudermilk (Rs Jr) -- 794 snaps, 4 sacks allowed, 16 games played
LG Austin Jasmine (Sr) -- 1,033 snaps, 4 sacks allowed, 16 games played

Defense
MIKE Keke Madden (Sr) -- 116 tackles, 31 tackles for loss, 8.5 sacks, 3 interceptions, 11 pass breakups, 6 fumble recoveries, safety
FS Esteban Brewer (Rs Sr) -- 114 tackles, 12 tackles for loss, sack, interception, 12 pass breakups
CB Isaiah Gumbs (Rs Jr) -- 105 tackles, 15 tackles for loss, 5.5 sacks, 8 pass breakups, fumble recovery
SS Larry Tu'ikolovatu (Jr) -- 95 tackles, 8 tackles for loss, sack, 3 interceptions, 5 pass breakups, touchdown
FS Elijah Trewyn (Rs Jr) -- 83 tackles, 12 tackles for loss, 4.5 sacks, 4 pass breakups, fumble recovery, safety
SAM Ben Stutz (Sr) -- 75 tackles, 27 tackles for loss, 8.0 sacks, interception, pass breakup, 2 forced fumbles, 3 fumble recoveries, touchdown
CB Jamerson Cotton (Rs Jr) -- 72 tackles, 2 tackles for loss, 6 interceptions, 11 pass breakups, forced fumble, touchdown
CB Kaseem Boykins (Rs Fr) -- 59 tackles, tackle for loss, 2 interceptions, 10 pass breakups, fumble recovery, touchdown
CB Alonzo Hix (Rs Sr) -- 56 tackles, interception, 5 pass breakups
EDGE Davon Kamara (Rs So) -- 54 tackles, 35 tackles for loss, 23.5 sacks, interception, 3 forced fumbles, fumble recovery, , 2 safeties, 2 touchdowns
SS Jameron Pratt (Sr) -- 47 tackles, pass breakup
DT Iosefa Funk (Jr) -- 41 tackles, 20 tackles for loss, 7.0 sacks, 2 pass breakups, forced fumble
MIKE Eli Nall (fr) -- 33 tackles, 6 tackles for loss, 3.5 sacks
SAM Tyree Marks (Rs Sr) -- 24 tackles, 7 tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks, pass breakup
DT J.J. Kramer (Rs Jr) -- 22 tackles, 13 tackles for loss, 8.0 sacks, forced fumble, 2 fumble recoveries
WILL George Okoye (Rs Sr) -- 20 tackles, forced fumble
WILL Nathan Lester (Rs So) -- 18 tackles
EDGE Jameson Beckner (So) -- 14 tackles, 10 tackles for loss, 6.0 sacks, forced fumble
EDGE Kordell Reddick (Fr) -- 14 tackles, 3 tackles for loss
DT Adrian Fogg (Jr) -- 13 tackles, 2 tackles for loss, 0.5 sack
CB Ezekiel Holyfield (Rs Sr) -- 12 tackles, 2 interceptions, pass breakup, forced fumble
DT Dominick Benshaw (Sr) -- 5 tackles, 4 tackles for loss, 2.5 sacks

Kicking
K Miguel Benitez (Rs Sr) -- 20/28, 46 FG long, 100% XP

Punting
P Dakota Odrick (Rs Sr) -- 34 punts, 33.2 Net Avg, 8 inside the 20, 5 touchbacks, 51 long

Returning
WR Tomas Smoker (Rs Sr) -- 27 KR, 540 yards, 20.0 AVG, 45 PR, 450 yards, 10.0 AVG, 2 touchdowns
CB Kaseem Boykins (Rs Fr) -- 16 KR, 271 yards, 16.9 AVG,
WR Kenyon Natson (Fr) -- 10 KR, 153 yards, 15.3 AVG, 12 PR, 130 yards, 10.8 AVG

Team Stats
Scoring Offense: 44.8 PPG
Passing Yards Per Game: 310.8
Rushing Yards Per Game: 205.4
Third Down Conversion: 50%
Fourth Down Conversion: 67%
Red Zone Efficiency: 51%
Scoring Defense: 17.6 DPPG
Yards Per Game Against: 330.1
Pass Yards Per Game Against: 297.4
Rush Yards Per Game Against: 32.8

Post by **Captain Canada** » 11 Apr 2026, 01:57

SMU taps Oklahoma State offensive coordinator Jeff Traylor as new OC
By Veronica Downs | SMU Daily

DALLAS -- Change was inevitable in Dallas. Now, it’s official.

The SMU Mustangs have hired Jeff Traylor as their new offensive coordinator, replacing Kwame Aguyei, who departs for the same role with Florida State

It’s a move that not only fills a key vacancy - it signals a philosophical shift.

Traylor comes to SMU after a highly productive run with Oklahoma State where he helped guide the program to a College Football Playoff berth and a number five national ranking under head coach Kalani Sitake.

The Cowboys were one of the most explosive offenses in the country, averaging the fourth-most yards per game in the Big 12, trailing only TCU, Arizona State, and Kansas State.

Before Oklahoma State, Traylor built a reputation as a program architect during his time as head coach at UTSA, compiling an impressive 104-41 career record across his collegiate coaching stops.

He also drew serious interest this cycle, interviewing for the head coaching vacancy at Ole Miss before the Rebels ultimately hired former SMU offensive coordinator and current San Jose State head coach Tony Sanchez.

Traylor is widely known for his power spread offense, a system that blends physical run concepts with explosive play-action passing - a departure from the more wide-open, tempo-driven approach previously run under Aguyei.

The hire comes at a pivotal moment for SMU.

With superstar quarterback Alonzo Cheeseman expected to head to the NFL, the Mustangs are entering a transition period at the most important position on the field.

Traylor’s system could provide stability - and a new identity - as SMU reshapes its offense around a likely younger, less proven quarterback.

For head coach Nico Augustine, the hire reflects both adaptability and intent.

After losing a key assistant in Aguyei and coming off a national championship loss, Augustine has opted not to replicate the same offensive formula, but instead evolve - bringing in a coach with a track record of building physical, balanced attacks.

SMU’s offense won’t look the same in 2031. It won’t have Cheeseman. It won’t have Aguyei’s system. But with Traylor now in Dallas, it may not need to.

Instead, the Mustangs appear poised to enter a new phase - one built on balance, physicality, and a continued expectation of elite production.

And in a program that has quickly learned how to reload, not rebuild, that may be exactly the point.

Post by **redsox907** » 11 Apr 2026, 02:55

I hate the coaching cycle later in a chise because it becomes either retreads or CPU Gen you gotta try and find a RL person for, if you're so inclined.

Coulda done worse than Traylor. Be interesting how the offense looks without Aguyei and Cheesus

Post by **djp73** » 11 Apr 2026, 07:11

Power spread will be fun

Post by **Captain Canada** » 12 Apr 2026, 09:42

redsox907 wrote: ↑
11 Apr 2026, 02:55
I hate the coaching cycle later in a chise because it becomes either retreads or CPU Gen you gotta try and find a RL person for, if you're so inclined.

Coulda done worse than Traylor. Be interesting how the offense looks without Aguyei and Cheesus

Yeah, its getting a little worse for wear nowadays. I hate that CPU teams are scalping promising coordinators from teams.

I'm happy with Traylor, going to be a deep adjustment regardless of whose running the offense, to tell the truth.

djp73 wrote: ↑
11 Apr 2026, 07:11
Power spread will be fun

Going to be an adjustment, but we'll keep trying to run up the score.

Post by **Captain Canada** » 12 Apr 2026, 10:00

Changing of the Guard: Cheeseman and co. head to the league, lose Knowles to transfer portal
By Veronica Downs | SMU Daily

It was the seismic move the College Football world knew was going to happen. That doesn't mean the sting doesn't hurt any less.

Quarterback Alonzo Cheeseman, the second-ranked quarterback on the NFL's Big Board for the upcoming draft behind Clemson's Ben Baity, was drafted 12th overall by the Minnesota Vikings, officially ending his career with the SMU Mustangs. He was taken three picks after another Mustang legend, in three-time Mackey Award winner, tight end Dwayne Kasay was selected by the Cleveland Browns.

Three other Mustangs heard their names called - two offensive lineman in Leati Higgins and David Coco - while defensive captain and All-ACC MIKE linebacker Keke Madden became the newest addition to the Tennessee Titans. Graduates Marquis Avant - SMU's all-time leading receiver and All-American free safety Esteban Brewer, along with offensive guard Miguel Patino, wide receiver Tomas Smoker, and SAM linebacker Ben Stutz are among the highest-ranked undrafted free agent options for the NFL in this cycle. Offensive lineman Austin Jasmine and Mitch Slater were slated to be NFL drafrees as well, but both opted to medically retire instead.

The transfer portal has proven to be unforgiving, hitting the Mustangs where it hurt. The most expected was former five-star running back Avery Knowles, who hopped in the portal immediately. Knowles was the odd-man out of the rotation after the breakout of four-star recruit Dwayne Sowells. Figuring the situation will only get worse with five-star recruit Shaq Thomas coming in and no running backs graduating, Knowles has opted out.

More surprising was defensive captain and strong safety Larry Tu'ikolovatu decided to transfer as well. Tu'ikolovatu was an integral part of SMU's defensive brass since joining the team three years ago, avoiding the redshirt tag when he was first came onto campus as a four-star recruit. He made the transition of losing safeties such as Jaylen Moses and Armani Medlock more palatable. Knowing Esteban Brewer was also graduating figured to make Tu'ikolovatu a bigger fish in the SMU secondary, but he has decided to walk. Redshirt freshman Taylor Stick and Alex Longoria figure to shift into the starting slots next year.

The quarterback situation figures to get murkier, with redshirt freshman quarterback Lee Mayweather - overall, the highest-ranked of the quarterbacks remaining after Cheeseman's departure - also deciding to leave. Backup quarterback Fredrick Cooper, long expected to be taking his talents elsewhere, has entered the portal as well.

NFL Draftees
Quarterback Alonzo Cheeseman (12th overall - Minnesota Vikings)
Center Leati Higgins (51st overall - Pittsburgh Steelers)
Left tackle David Coco (169th overall - Las Vegas Raiders)
MIKE Keke Madden (142nd overall - Tennessee Titans)
TE Dwayne Kasay (9th overall - Cleveland Browns)

Transfer Portal
HB Avery Knowles
SS Larry Tu'ikolovatu
DT Adrian Fogg
QB Fredrick Cooper
QB Lee Mayweather

Graduations
WR Marquis Avant
FS Esteban Brewer
CB Alonzo Hix
CB Ezekiel Holyfield
K Miguel Benitez
P Dakota Odrick
SAM Ben Stutz
SS Jamerson Pratt
SAM Tyree Marks
LG Austin Jasmine
WR Tomas Smoker
FS Nolan Simms
RG Mitch Slater
DT Dominick Benshaw
C Miguel Patino
C Kai Pettis
WILL George Okoye
CB Dominck Jackson

Post by **Captain Canada** » 12 Apr 2026, 15:06

Mustangs strike out on old foe Ify Cashman in Transfer Portal, land No. 2 recruiting class
By Cheryl Smith

DALLAS -- If news broke that former SMU foe and star quarterback Ify Cashman had decided to transfer from Oregon to the Mustangs, would you believe it?

Well, it almost happened.

After spending a year in Eugene, losing the quarterback battle to Ben Brown and spending most of the season on the bench, the former Heisman candidate almost made his way to Dallas to take over for Alonzo Cheeseman - the quarterback he lost the Heisman and a National Championship berth to - at SMU. Cashman instead opted to join head coach Shane Beamer at Indiana.

"I was damn close to going to Dallas," said Cashman to local reports after announcing his decision on his Instagram account. "I was down to join them last year when I was leaving [Pittsburgh], but they decided to go in a different direction. I'm glad to be a Hoosier though."

Cashman has ended up being the third quarterback recruit to shirk the Mustangs, joining number one quarterback Alex Keyton and J.J. Rattay. The one who ended up ultimately choosing SMU? Five-star quarterback and number two in the nation Steven Bequette out of Needham, MA chose SMU over Boston College and Ohio State. Bequette has one of the nicest, college-ready arms of the glass and enough athleticism to stretch plays. His ability to bomb the ball downfield is also noted.

The Mustangs continued to build their offensive line, seeing the most impactful loss this off-season with the departures of starters David Coco, Miguel Patino, Austin Jasmine, and Mitch Slater. Tackles Ramon Bynum and Johnny Terrell both stand at 6-foot-7 to anchor the outside. Jarrad Labelle, Nyles Dahmania, and Anthony Esposito all come in as three-star recruits that can play anywhere on the interior of the line, with the expectation that one or two slide to center to provide depth, joining presumptive new starter, four-star recruit P.J. Wilkins and transfer from USC, Nick Valerio.

On the defensive side of things, five-star recruit WILL linebacker Craig Marvin and four-star safety Melo Briggs are the jewels out of high school, with Briggs seeing a reasonable shot to avoid the redshirt and play a valuable roll right away after the team struck out on bringing former All-American Larry Tu'ikolovatu back after he signed with Notre Dame. Transfer Cole Crews, a sophomore from Texas A&M, comes to shell out the secondary, joining incumbent starter Jamerson Cotton to keep the team's top flight secondary going with Alonzo Hix and Ezekiel Holyfield moving on.

Head coach Nico Augustine did what he always does - quietly reload on the promise of being transparent and letting the best guy see the field. But, with the losses suffered this far - namely at the quarterback position - can these SMU Mustangs continue to contend amongst the fallout?

SMU 2031 Football Recruiting Board

RECRUIT	POS	HOMETOWN	HT / WT	NATL (POS)
Elias Thrasher	EDGE	Lewisville, TX	6'6"/232	#97 (#10)
D'Andre Griggs	WR	Denton, TX	6'2"/190	#91 (#15)
Shaq Thomas	HB	Arlington, TX	6'1"/189	#17 (#3)
P.J. Wilkins	C	Argyle, TX	6'1"/281	#104 (#2)
Tremayne Chancey	WR	Encino, CA	6'2"/170	#387 (#73)
Enrique Cumberland	DT	San Antonio, TX	6'4"/308	#69 (#5)
Melo Briggs	SS	DeSoto, TX	6'0"/182	#87 (#1)
Ramon Bynum	OT	Country Club Hills, IL	6'7"/290	#18 (#4)
Craig Marvin	OLB	Rio Rancho, NM	6'4"/223	#16 (#1)
Jarrad Labelle	OG	Mansfield, TX	6'4"/321	#980 (#46)
Martin Nunez	P	New Caney, TX	6'2"/168	#1803 (#29)
J.R. Hester	OLB	San Juan Capistrano, CA	6'4"/217	#308 (#31)
Diego Rucci	K	Garland, TX	6'3"/184	#1196 (#19)
Cesar Coronado	CB	Racine, WI	6'1"/202	#453 (#41)
Johnny Terrell	OT	San Antonio, TX	6'7"/294	#245 (#17)
Gill Adams	EDGE	Belmont, MA	6'3"/230	#176 (#15)
Miles Turbin	FS	Houston, TX	5'11"/185	#1463 (#49)
Nyles Dhamania	OG	Aliquippa, PA	6'1"/302	#1479 (#75)
Steven Bequette	QB	Needham, MA	6'3"/217	#6 (#2)
Cortney Arora	ATH	Wichita, KS	6'4"/296	#107 (#3)
Anthony Esposito	OG	Boston, MA	6'5"/320	#998 (#47)
Alex Keyton	QB	Jones, OK	6'2"/203	#2 (#1)
J.J. Rattay	QB	Starkville, MS	6'3"/193	#29 (#4)
Keegan Tabor	MIKE	New Orleans, LA	6'1"/224	#7 (#1)
Jalen Katula	MIKE	Harvest, AL	6'0"/226	#304 (#17)
Brenton Gholston	CB	Baton Rouge, LA	6'1"/180	#178 (#13)
Randy Charles	OT	New Orleans, LA	6'6"/280	#11 (#3)
Darrius Bland	C	Little Rock, AR	6'3"/298	#1 (#1)
Damien Burns	FS	New Iberia, LA	6'0"/206	#144 (#2)
Larry Tinoisamoa	TE	Philadelphia, PA	6'5"/220	#135 (#7)
Quinton Ekiyor	CB	Naples, FL	6'1"/177	#676 (#56)
David Harper	DT	Gillette, WY	6'4"/314	#136 (#11)
T.J. Turner	EDGE	Concord, CA	6'2"/215	#255 (#23)
Lloyd Moncrief	TE	Edmond, OK	6'5"/206	#44 (#1)
Edward Cook	OG	Philadelphia, PA	6'2"/292	#46 (#1)
Seth Cummins	DT	Clintwood, VA	6'5"/281	#171 (#14)
Kurtis Meadows	DT	Starkville, MS	6'2"/280	#32 (#2)
Jason Shaughnessy	OT	Carrollton, TX	6'8"/283	#257 (#18)
Marquel Hillhouse	OG	Lubbock, TX	6'3"/295	#394 (#19)
Elias Alfonso	TE	Dallas, TX	6'5"/196	#459 (#21)
Matt Hawkinson	CB	McKinney, TX	6'2"/182	#241 (#18)
Finau Yanda	OG	Mansfield, TX	6'4"/317	#179 (#8)
Derek McDaniel	WR	Tyler, TX	6'0"/189	#357 (#66)
Denton Rehberg	TE	Norfolk, VA	6'4"/235	#391 (#17)

Post by **redsox907** » 12 Apr 2026, 15:09

we don't want no Ify's round hurr anyways

losing a lot of talent but judging by that class, you're bringing in more than enough to replace it :melo2:

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