The Reclamation Initiative | The Coaching Career of Nico Augustine

[Captain Canada]

Big win to start to season. These boys might be for real.

We gonna see, but its definitely good for the morale to knock off Alabama right off the bat. They are probably the best team top-to-bottom this year, on paper.

what a battle to kickoff the campaign

One of the best games I've ever played. Wish our run game was working a bit better, but really had to bear down for the victory.

[Soapy]

that was a big boy game, gotta respect it

[The JZA]

Shit, both QBs out there sniping it up

Big game from DeLuca. Could've used a TD to dot that stat line, but we'll take those numbers

[Captain Canada]

#97-ranked National recruit Elias Thrasher commits, Mustangs going for broke for 2031
By Cheryl Smith

DALLAS -- If you thought the 2030 SMU Recruiting Class - featuring the likes of five-star recruits like MIKE linebacker Eli Nall, wide receiver Kenyon Natson, and running back Avery Knowles - was impressive, head coach Nico Augustine and co. have something for you.

If all goes as expected, the 2031 class might be even better.

The Mustangs are certainly feeling the lack of Thomas McCariens and Josh Mingo from their less-than-stellar pas rush against the Alabama Crimson Tide, and are making sure to address it from the get-go. They have landed the commitment from four-star edge rusher Elias Thrasher, the 97th-ranked recruit in the country and the tenth-best edge rusher out of Lewisville, TX.

Thrasher, at 6-foot-6 and 232 lbs, is known for his absolutely game-breaking power and impressive burst off of the line. He's expected to take the Jameson Beckner-route and get immediate time in the Mustangs' edge rotation as a freshman if things pan out during training camp. He already has a college body type and has a relentless motor. Once defensive coordinator Griffin McCauley and his defensive staff gets his hands on him, the analysts are theorizing that skies may be the limit for Thrasher.

The team hopes to pair Thrasher with fellow four-star EDGE rusher T.J. Turner out of Concord, California, who may not present as strong as Thrasher., but his first step is even quicker. His technique is a lot more polished and he utilizes his slight frame at 6-foot-2 and 215 lbs to his advantage. He projects to be a bit more raw of a prospect that may need a year or two to fully flesh out his potential.

With the reigning Heisman Trophy winner in quarterback Alonzo Cheeseman projecting to declare at the end of the season, the Mustangs have been hard at work preparing their quarterback room. They added Raijon Boutte and Zack Wilkins in last year's cycle, with both taking redshirts to prepare for the future.

However, this hasn't stopped Coach Augustine from going big-game hunting, taking special interest in the number two player in the country in quarterback Alex Keyton out of Jones, Oklahoma.

Keyton is thought at the moment to be in a two-team race between SMU and Arkansas, with Florida and LSU thought to still be in the running but falling apart more and more as the days pass by. Keyton, at 6-foot-2 and 203 lbs is most creative when extending plays with his legs. He's not a game burner, but he manages his passes well and his arm is impressive for his frame. The Mustangs are also in on the number one recruit in the country in athlete big man Darrius Bland from Little Rock, Arkansas. He projects to stick on the offensive side of the ball at guard in college, but it isn't beyond the scope for him to flip and play defensive tackle.

The team will be welcoming four-star wide receiver D'Andre Griggs for their first recruit visit for their rivalry game against TCU next weekend.

SMU 2030 Football Recruiting Board

RECRUIT	POS	HOMETOWN	HT / WT	STARS RATING	NATL (POS)	STATUS
Elias Thrasher	EDGE	Lewisville, TX	6'6"/232		#97 (#10)
J.J. Rattay	QB	Starkville, MS	6'3"/193		#29 (#4)	Top 8
Alex Keyton	QB	Jones, OK	6'2"/203		#2 (#1)	Top 8
Shaq Thomas	HB	Arlington, TX	6'1"/189		#17 (#3)	Top 5
Derek McDaniel	WR	Tyler, TX	6'0"/189		#357 (#66)	Top 5
D'Andre Griggs	WR	Denton, TX	6'1"/190		#91 (#15)	Top 5
Tremayne Chancey	WR	Encino, CA	6'2"/170		#387 (#73)	Top 8
Elias Alfonso	TE	Dallas, TX	6'5"/196		#459 (#21)	Top 5
Denton Rehberg	TE	Norfolk, VA	6'4"/235		#391 (#17)	Top 5
Ramon Bynum	OT	Country Club Hills, IL	6'7"/290		#18 (#4)	Top 8
Jason Shaughnessy	OT	Carrollton, TX	6'8"/283		#257 (#18)	Top 5
Marquel Hillhouse	OG	Lubbock, TX	6'3"/295		#394 (#19)	Top 5
Finau Yanda	OG	Mansfield, TX	6'4"/317		#179 (#8)	Top 5
Edward Cook	OG	Philadelphia, PA	6'2"/292		#46 (#1)	Top 5
Darrius Bland	C	Little Rock, AR	6'3"/298		#1 (#1)	Top 8
P.J. Wilkins	C	Argyle, TX	6'1"/281		#104 (#2)	Top 5
T.J. Turner	EDGE	Concord, CA	6'2"/215		#255 (#23)	Top 5
Enrique Cumberland	DT	San Antonio, TX	6'4"/308		#69 (#5)	Top 5
J.R. Hester	OLB	San Juan Capistrano, CA	6'4"/217		#308 (#31)	Top 10
Craig Marvin	OLB	Rio Rancho, NM	6'4"/223		#16 (#1)	Top 8
Keegan Tabor	MIKE	New Orleans, LA	6'1"/224		#7 (#1)	Top 8
Matt Hawkinson	CB	McKinney, TX	6'2"/182		#241 (#18)	Top 5
Brenton Gholston	CB	Baton Rouge, LA	6'1"/180		#178 (#13)	Top 8
Damien Burns	FS	New Iberia, LA	6'0"/206		#144 (#2)	Top 8
Melo Briggs	SS	DeSoto, TX	6'0"/182		#87 (#1)	Top 5
Diego Rucci	K	Garland, TX	6'3"/184		#1196 (#19)	Top 10
Martin Nunez	P	New Caney, TX	6'2"/168		#1803 (#29)	Top 8