The Reclamation Initiative | The Coaching Career of Nico Augustine

[Captain Canada]

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

It's definitely going to be a step back but we built a pretty good foundation in the last two recruiting classes. In the ACC, I wouldn't be sweating but the SEC? We'll see how we match up.

[Soapy]

boy went to the opps

desperate times

[djp73]

damn y'all lost some ballers, looks like a decent reload though, should be an interesting season

[Captain Canada]

Kenyon Natson Ready to Step Into Spotlight
By Veronica Downs | SMU Daily

DALLAS -- For the first time in years, the offense for the SMU Mustangs football won't revolve around a proven superstar.

With quarterback and former Heisman Trophy winner Alonzo Cheeseman off to his first NFL training camp and veteran playmakers Marquis Avant and three-time Mackey Trophy winner Dwayne Kasay no longer in SMU blue, the Mustangs enter a new era - one that will be defined by opportunity.

And no player stands to benefit more than sophomore wide receiver Kenyon Natson.

Natson flashes all the traits of a future star. As a freshman, he was used selectively in a loaded offense where he struggled to get on the field, finishing with 16 catches for 241 receiving yards and three touchdowns. But those numbers only tell part of the story. At 6-foot-4 with elite speed, Natson showed glimpses of game-breaking ability - the kid that turns limited touches into explosive moments.

Those flashes are expected to now become the foundation of a new era of SMU football.

SMU's receiver room is undergoing a major transition with Avant and Tomas Smoker having graduated. Eric DeLuca is back as the most experienced option, finishing last year with 46 catches, 796 receiving yards, and seven touchdowns. Bobby Goodspeed has made the transition to tight end, using his size to fill out a room with a Kasay-sized crater left in it. Him combining with Lionel Davenport might give SEC defenses fits.

That leaves Natson and DeLuca as the only proven wideouts with meaningful productions and positions Natson as the de facto number one option in a system that will need a new identify. Leading a new class of wide receivers as Hayden Presley, Mustafa Agude, and Fabian Marcus looking to carve new roles within the offense. The team also has a pair of four-star recruits coming in in Tremayne Chancey and D'Andre Griggs.

With Jeff Traylor stepping in as offensive coordinator, SMU is expected to lean more into a power spread approach, blending physiciality with explosive play-action - a system that could unlock Natson's vertical ability in a major way.

Head coach Nico Augustine has already taken notice of the sophomore's transformation. "He walked into spring camp looking like a Maserati,": Augustine said. "You can see it in his eyes - he wants it. He knows it's his time to step up and take over."

[djp73]

nasty natson

[Captain Canada]

2031 Season Preview - SMU Football

Head coach: Nico Augustine (5th year)
Offensive Coordinator: Jeff Traylor (1st year)
Defensive Coordinator: Griffin McCauley (2nd year)
2029 record: 15-1, 8-0 (1st in ACC)
Preseason Ranking: #4
Preseason All-Americans: None
Preseason All-SEC: None

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Who Will Take The Mantle of 'Lonzo?

Alonzo Cheeseman left the SMU Mustangs for the NFL as the leader in all of its important passing categories. He led them to a National Championship and won the 2029 Heisman Trophy as the nation's top player. That leaves immense shoes to fill for a quarterback room sorely unprepared to fill them. As the Mustangs begin their transition into the SEC, it will be the biggest storyline in Dallas: who will be under center come Week 1?

Gideon Akinmoladun is currently the most experience on the roster after Cheeseman declared for the draft and backup Fredrick Cooper opted to hop into the transfer portal. He's athletic enough to stretch plays when he needs to scramble out of the pocket, but he doesn't exactly possess the rocket arm to stretch the field like offensive coordinator Jeff Traylor is believed to want to do - a typical trait in any Nico Augustine offense.

Between the two quarterbacks left over in Raijon Boutte and Zack Wilkins - both freshman that took redshirts last year along with Lee Mayweather who also transferred out - are fascinating options to grow into the starting role. Wilkins is the fastest option in terms of foot speed and raw athleticism and has a much bigger arm than Akinmoladun. Wilkins has greatly shown improvement in pinpointing his passes compared to the more diminutive Boutte, who only stands at an even 6-foot-0.

That leaves true freshman Steven Bequette, who is easily the most naturally gifted. He doesn't possess the athletic traits that Wilkins and Akinmoladun have, but he has the perfect frame to step into Cheeseman's role. He has a sense of touch that is not typical of freshmen making the direct jump to college. He has the strongest arm of the bunch and can already make the tough throws that are going to be tasked of him from the jump. Though Coach Augustine has yet to name a starter, it's highly believed that Bequette will be given the keys to the offense right away.

The running back room presents as more or less the same, swapping out former five-star recruit Avery Knowles for new five-star recruit Shaq Thomas. As of right now, Thomas is presenting as much more prepared to take the nation by storm compared to Knowles, who saw his carries dry up quickly in a crowded running back room and handed a redshirt. Cal McCalebb comes back as the feature back for his final season as SMU's "do everything" running back. Justice Spielman also returns in a role that he has quietly accepted, running for short yardage and standing in the backfield to block in pass pro.

Brian Volson, last year's rushing leader Dwayne Sowells, and Thomas figure to fight for the remainder of the snaps, and its an intriguing battle. Volson is the team's knockout running back - quick to find lanes and get chunk yardage when the team sorely needs it. He's physical, scrappy, and has no problem lowering the shoulder after leading the team in broken tackles last year. Sowells has an impressive first step and is able to shake defenders out of their boots, rushing for 880 rushing yards and 6.4 yards per carry last year.

The most promising who can quickly take over the Lion's share of carries is Thomas, the youngest of the bunch. Thomas has been dicing up the defense all throughout Spring Camp, immediately arriving as one of the fastest players on the team. If he gets a lane and some daylight, he is prone to break out runs. Could he become SMU's first 1,000 yard rusher since Doak Walker Winner Jeremy Payne?

The best wide receiver of the bunch figures to be Kenyon Natson, who is primed to be a breakout member of the SMU's offense. He is physically dominant, and his 6-foot-4 frame figures to be a tough matchup down the field for SEC cornerbacks. The team's most veteran wide receiver is senior Eric DeLuca, who is projected to take over for Marquis Avant in the slot, trading reps with redshirt freshman Fabian Marcus - who is going to have a big role in the offense as the de facto speediest player in the room. Mustafa Agude has taken a seismic leap forward from last year and is expected to start on the opposite of Natson.

Hayden Presley figured to play the Natson role from last year, getting in when he can. He brings speed and beautiful breaks, proving to be one of the most effective route runners of the bunch. At 5-foot-11, he doesn't get open by being a physical mismatch like Natson and Agude, but instead by mixing tempo and using technique to give him space to do his damage.

Losing Dwayne Kasay is tough - he was consistent matchup hell for defenses all around the nation and some of the touchdowns he caught were the foundation for some of SMU's most key victories over the past few seasons. Lionel Davenport has been everything SMU could ask for as a backup tight end as a pass catcher. Adding Bobby Goodspeed to the room could be paramount for the vertical attack. He put on some weight during the off-season to prepare for the move, but as one of the fastest receivers the Mustangs had last year, putting him at tight end could be nuclear for production.

The team added Emory Horan through the portal to shore up the tight end room along with incumbent Joel Turner, who provides size and extra blocking when the Mustangs go with a heavy look.

The offensive line took one of the biggest hits of the off-season for SMU. David Coco, Austin Jasmine, Leati Higgns, and Mitch Slater have all crossed the stage and moved on in some way, shape, or form and has left the SMU offensive line looking different. Not necessarily worse - but different. Teryan Brisby is currently blocking the blind side, beating former top recruit and 6-foot-8 Ethan Whitehead. His ability to move laterally and lead block as beat out Whitehead's pure strength and menace at left tackle. Joaquin Paredes figures to shore up the vacant left guard spot over Jalen Dodge, who figures to be the best backup offensive lineman in the nation who could quickly seem himself getting time at another position due to his versatility.

Former USC center Nick Valerio edges out redshirted freshman last year Stephen Barmore for the center position that is taking the biggest drop now that former All-American Leati Higgins has moved on. Valerio wins off of experience, though Barmore brings more size and raw strength to the position. J.P. Terrell and Jalen Dodge have battled at the right guard spot, with true freshman P.J. Wilkins getting some reps at right guard while the lone returning starter Walter Loudermilk keeps his spot at right tackle.

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Can The Front Seven Keep It Together?
It's a far cry from the days of Kevin Lockridge, Armani Medlock, and Thomas McCariens. And there's no more Keke Madden to keep things afloat while the kids figure things out.

However, don't let Davon Kamara hear you say that. The redshirt junior edge rusher has his eyes set on McCariens' record this year after coming up just short last season on his way to being one of the best defensive players in SMU history. He now sports the #5 jersey and is ready to feast in the SEC. Opposite him, Jameson Beckner and backup sophomore Kordell Reddick figure to rotate the right edge spot. In the trenches, Josh Blue figures to break out with his immense strength and prime bull rush, slotting in with incumbent big man Iosefa Funk, who provided consistent pressure and thorough run defense, clogging lanes with the best of them.

Gone are the days of the McCariens and Ben Stutz combo at the outside linebacker positions. Flanking returner and first-time starter Eli Nall at MIKE linebacker will be true freshman Craig Marvin and J.R. Hester at SAM and WILL, respectively. The youthful combination will need to grow up faster than usually expected, but their talent far outweighs their lack of experience. Particularly Marvin and his ability to work West-to-East.

Between transfer acquisition Cole Crews and redshirt sophomore Kaseem Boykins, the Mustangs might just have the faster cornerback combo in the nation, let alone the SEC. When Jamerson Cotton is your third-fastest cornerback and running a 4.39 40-yard dash, you know you're working with some real speed demons. The Mustangs love bringing blitzes, so having three players able to play man coverage with athletic wide receivers will pay dividends.

Elijah Trewyn, after spending his whole collegiate career at free safety behind Armani Medlock, Jaylen Moses, and Esteban Brewer, finally gets his number called as the top free safety in the depth chat, just ahead of redshirt freshamn Alex Longoria, who figures to get a good amount of snaps in the rotation at nickel due to his ability to play down in the box. Fellow redshirt freshman Taylor Stick will be the team's starting strong safety, though true freshman Melo Briggs will certainly get a lot of looks and presumably avoid the redshirt tag.

The team is heading into a gauntlet for their first season in the SEC, as if the schedulers expected to put the Mustangs through a pressure cooker in their first season there. Starting the season off against former ACC rival Miami on the road, followed by a rivalry game against TCU, just to return to the road to face former safety and captain Larry Tu'ikolovatu and the Fighting Irish. As if that wasn't tough enough, three matchups against Texas (who allegedly spurned Coach Augustine during their hiring process), taking on Tennessee and Texas A&M as a road trip is quaintly followed up with a matchup against Georgia.

LSU, Auburn, Vanderbilt, and Stanford - three of which finished with 8 wins last season is their last third of the season before an ungodly sendoff against Oklahoma, who will be looking for their pound of flesh for their defeat in last year's College Football Playoffs.

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2030 TEAM SCHEDULE

Week	Opponent	Last Year
0	OFF	--
1	at #6 Miami	(12-2, 8-0)
2	vs #14 TCU	(10-3, 7-1)
3	at #12 Notre Dame	(10-3, 0-0)
4	at Texas	(5-7, 3-5)
5	at at #15 Tennessee	(9-4, 5-3)
6	OFF	--
7	at Texas A&M	(5-7, 3-5)
8	vs #5 Georgia	(11-3, 7-1)
9	vs LSU	(8-5, 4-4)
10	vs Auburn	(8-5, 5-3)
11	at Vanderbilt	(4-8, 1-7)
12	at Stanford	(8-5, 4-4)
13	vs #3 Oklahoma	(13-2, 7-1)
14	OFF	--

[redsox907]

time to do some big money shit

Coach Leon had 6 pre-season ranked teams in his first year with OU too

gotta finish at least 9-3 to have a shot at the CFP in the SEC

[Captain Canada]

time to do some big money shit

Coach Leon had 6 pre-season ranked teams in his first year with OU too

gotta finish at least 9-3 to have a shot at the CFP in the SEC

You mean when he jumped to OU, leaving the whole state of Maryland in shambles

Real talk, this might be a tough season. Lots of turnover in very key positions, and there's some real shit coming down the pipelines

[djp73]

Schedules a gauntlet

[redsox907]

season will be won or lost by week 6

gotta hit the ground running or its all over