The Reclamation Initiative | The Coaching Career of Nico Augustine

Post by **Captain Canada** » 01 Oct 2025, 14:30

Augustine inherits fractured recruiting class, has work cut out for staff
By Veronica Downs | SMU Daily

When a team turns over their staff as unexpectedly as SMU did, losing head coach Rhett Lashlee to Arkansas despite making the College Football Playoff, the recruiting board will no doubt feel the brunt of the seismic switch. Incoming head coach Nico Augustine, in his first role as an NCAA head coach, is no doubt reeling from inheriting from such a lackluster class.

The team isn't replacing too many, only losing a handful to the NFL draft, graduation, and the transfer portal, but the team is looking to replace a number of high-quality difference makers on the field, incoming former All-American quarterback Kevin Jennings. Augustine, the quarterback whisperer, is still battling for four-star quarterback Alonzo Cheeseman out of Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Cheeseman is reportedly considering staying home to play for his hometown LSU Tigers. The spot to start immediately has opened up with incumbent starter Michael Van Buren Jr. hopping into the portal.

The team only has a handful of commitments that Augustine has talked into staying, including four-star SAM linebacker Ben Stutz out of Cedar Hill, Texas. The 6-foot-4 rangy linebacker credits Augustine's readiness to discuss things and assure a bright future despite a certain amount of uncertainty. "He's a smooth-talker, but I respected his honesty so much," said Stutz. "He tells it like it is, shows you how he intends for things to go, but he's upfront with how he sees things. It's refreshing after having to sift through the recruiting process."

The team is hoping to rope in some transfers at key positions, while Augustine is certainly looking at former All-American wide receiver J.J. Harrell, who hopped into the portal himself from Arkansas State.

SMU 2027 Football Recruiting Board

RECRUIT	POS	HOMETOWN	HT / WT	NATL (POS)	STATUS
Emanuel Homer	OT	Grand Prairie, TX	6'5"/275	#942 (#64)
Ben Stutz	SAM	Cedar Hill, TX	6'4"/238	#348 (#29)
Jamerson Pratt	SS	Melissa, TX	6'0"/188	#674 (#13)
Alonzo Cheeseman	QB	Baton Rouge, LA	6'4"/207	#224 (#14)	Top 3
Fredrick Cooper	QB	Frisco, TX	6'1"/205	#2549 (#171)	Top 10
Titus Dayes	HB	Arlington, TX	5'11"/211	#956 (#121)	Top 10
Cal McCalebb	HB	Sugar Land, TX	5'9"/173	#1526 (#198)	Top 10
Darien Wheat	WR	Daytona Beach, FL	6'2"/193	#270 (#45)	Top 3
Donte Trahan	WR	North Charleston, SC	6'2"/199	#153 (#24)	Top 3
Sinlau Oshinowo	WR	Carmel, IN	6'1"/191	#176 (#29)	Top 5
Tomas Smoker	WR	Towson, MD	6'4"/188	#518 (#88)	Top 3
Barry Goda	OT	Colleyville, TX	6'7"/308	#1055 (#78)	Top 8
Calvin Bighill	OT	Flower Mound, TX	6'6"/279	#1486 (#102)	Top 5
Sinlau Yoo	OT	Fort Worth, TX	6'5"/308	#1042 (#76)	Top 5
Walter Loudermilk	OT	Arlington, TX	6'5"/317	#992 (#71)	Top 2
Matt Bouye	OG	Union, KY	6'2"/315	#38 (#1)	Top 5
Matthew John	OG	Hopkinsville, KY	6'5"/323	#177 (#9)	Top 5
Jalen Dodge	OG	Fort Wayne, IN	6'4"/313	#1683 (#75)	Top 10
Austin Jasmine	C	Waukesha, WI	6'2"/279	#31 (#2)	Top 3
J.J. Kramer	DT	Metairie, LA	6'1"/301	#2798 (#112)	Top 10
Elijah Trewyn	FS	Grand Prairie, TX	5'10"/193	#631 (#32)	Top 8

Post by **Captain Canada** » 01 Oct 2025, 15:39

ACC grows by three - adds Memphis, Tulane, and West Virginia
Jenna McDougle | ESPN

Ahead of the 2027 football season starting, the ACC has announced that it will be adding three new teams to its conference, welcoming Memphis, Tulane, and West Virginia to its ranks. This comes after Florida State University settled its 14-month lawsuit against the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) in March 2025, ending the legal dispute over media rights and exit fees.

The settlement includes a new revenue distribution model and a revised, decreasing exit fee for leaving the ACC. This agreement allows FSU and other schools to have a clearer and potentially cheaper path to depart the conference in the future, while also creating incentives for schools to increase viewership.

A welcomed challenge for Tulane, who has been ranked the last couple of seasons and even saw an appearance in the College Football Playoffs last year while Memphis (5-7) and West Virginia (7-6) will look to gather its footing in new, more challenging conferences.

The ACC adding more teams is expected to suggest more conference realignment next season. However, for now, this is expected to be the only moves made that will impact this season.

redsox907 · Post by **redsox907** » 01 Oct 2025, 17:46

only three recruits committed? :dunkface:

Lashlee did ya'll dirty

Post by **Captain Canada** » 01 Oct 2025, 18:37

redsox907 wrote: ↑
01 Oct 2025, 17:46
only three recruits committed?

Lashlee did ya'll dirty

Might have to schedule Arkansas just to whoop that ass for that wack ass recruiting class he left me

Post by **Captain Canada** » 01 Oct 2025, 18:57

New regime under Augustine lands 32nd best class, first 5-star prospect
By Veronica Downs | SMU Daily

After taking over the reigns at SMU, head coach Nico Augustine and his staff was tasked with fixing a flailing recruiting class that largely opted for greener pastures once former head coach Rhett Lashlee left the playoff team for his alma mater, Arkansas. With only three commitments, SMU held a full-court press on players that still interested in joining the Mustangs.

Homerun after homerun.

Coach Augustine landed his first five-star recruit in center Austin Jasmine out of Waukesha, Wisconsin. An ESPN Top100 prospect, Jasmine is expected to be a Day 1 starter for a Mustang offensive line that was most impacted by their off-season departures. His ability to play anywhere within the interior offensive line could see him pushed to a guard position while the team builds around the talented lineman.

The team added multiple offensive linemen in three-star prospects Barry Goda out of Colleyville, Texas, Jalen Dodge out of Fort Wayne, Indiana, and Walter Loudermilk out of Arlington, Texas. Augustine loves height and bulk in his offensive line, with Dodge being the shortest interior offensive lineman at 6-foot-4.

The concerning part is losing out on top quarterback prospect Alonzo Cheeseman, who decided to commit with the TCU Horned Frogs after taking an off-season visit in Dallas. The team attempted to pivot to the top quarterbacks in the transfer portal to band-aid the situation in former Texas A&M quarterback Trey Owens and LSU quarterback Michael Van Buren Jr., but both opted for blue blood institutions in USC and Alabama, respectively.

The team opted to redirect their attention to former UTEP quarterback Skylar Williams, who will enter into a quarterback battle with incumbent Ryder Burton for the starting job this season. The team also added former Arkansas State star wide receiver J.J. Harrell and former Oregon and Missouri standout Jeremiah McClellan to an already-loaded SMU receiver group.

SMU 2027 Football Recruiting Board

RECRUIT	POS	HOMETOWN	HT / WT	NATL (POS)
Emanuel Homer	OT	Grand Prairie, TX	6'5"/275	#942 (#64)
Ben Stutz	SAM	Cedar Hill, TX	6'4"/238	#348 (#29)
Jamerson Pratt	SS	Melissa, TX	6'0"/188	#674 (#13)
Walter Loudermilk	OT	Arlington, TX	6'5"/317	#992 (#71)
Fredrick Cooper	QB	Frisco, TX	6'1"/205	#2549 (#171)
Titus Dayes	HB	Arlington, TX	5'11"/211	#956 (#121)
Cal McCalebb	HB	Sugar Land, TX	5'9"/173	#1526 (#198)
Tomas Smoker	WR	Towson, MD	6'4"/188	#518 (#88)
Barry Goda	OT	Colleyville, TX	6'7"/308	#1055 (#78)
Jalen Dodge	OG	Fort Wayne, IN	6'4"/313	#1683 (#75)
Austin Jasmine	C	Waukesha, WI	6'2"/279	#31 (#2)
J.J. Kramer	DT	Metairie, LA	6'1"/301	#2798 (#112)
Elijah Trewyn	FS	Grand Prairie, TX	5'10"/193	#631 (#32)
-
Donte Trahan	WR	North Charleston, SC	6'2"/199	#153 (#24)
Darien Wheat	WR	Daytona Beach, FL	6'2"/193	#270 (#45)
Alonzo Cheeseman	QB	Baton Rouge, LA	6'4"/207	#224 (#14)
Matt Bouye	OG	Union, KY	6'2"/315	#38 (#1)
Sinlau Oshinowo	WR	Carmel, IN	6'1"/191	#176 (#29)
Sinlau Yoo	OT	Fort Worth, TX	6'5"/308	#1042 (#76)
Calvin Bighill	OT	Flower Mound, TX	6'6"/279	#1486 (#102)
Matthew John	OG	Hopkinsville, KY	6'5"/323	#177 (#9)

Post by **Captain Canada** » 01 Oct 2025, 19:18

Top QB prospect Alonzo Cheeseman opts for SMU, skips out on TCU
By Veronica Downs | SMU Daily

Just as SMU was getting prepared to start their preparations for the upcoming 2027 college season, a gift was left on their doorstep.

Thought to be lost in a tight recruiting battle with TCU, four-star quarterback Alonzo Cheeseman has decided to enroll in SMU and join the team, deciding to commit to the Mustangs over the Horned Frogs after all. According to reports, Cheeseman arrived early on campus in Fort Worth to join TCU, but decided that it was not for him and pivoted before the doors were closed in on him for the season.

Head football coach Nico Augustine reportedly accepted Cheeseman after a frank conversation with the Baton Rouge product. "Nothing is going to be given, he's behind the 8-ball and has a lot of catching up to do. But, we're happy to have him join the Mustang family."

Cheeseman will enter into a quarterback battle to take over the reigns from former Mustang great, Kevin Jennings. Backup Ryder Burton (redshirt senior), UTEP transfer Skyler Williams (redshirt sophomore), and last year's top quarterback recruit Andres Fajardo (redshirt freshman) are all expected to be in the battle as well while true freshman Fredrick Cooper is heavily expected to accept the redshirt.

Post by **The JZA** » 02 Oct 2025, 04:19

J.J. Harrell believes!

Post by **djp73** » 02 Oct 2025, 05:34

Nice to have a guy come along

Post by **Captain Canada** » 02 Oct 2025, 09:03

The JZA wrote: ↑
02 Oct 2025, 04:19
J.J. Harrell believes!
djp73 wrote: ↑
02 Oct 2025, 05:34
Nice to have a guy come along

Had to bring my dawg with me. Wanted to nab Hunter Summers too but we already have way too many receivers.

Post by **Soapy** » 02 Oct 2025, 11:45

Skyler time nigga!

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