DALLAS -- With the debut of SMU football coach Phil Bennett just seven weeks away, the Mustangs are preparing for the opening of fall camp. SMU's freshman report to the Hilltop on Sunday, Aug. 4 while the returnees come to camp on Wednesday, Aug. 7.
The newcomers go through their first practice as Mustangs on Tuesday, Aug. 6 and the first full squad practice is set for Friday, Aug. 9. The first day in pads is set for Tuesday, Aug. 13.
With the season approaching, here are some notes on the Mustangs as they enter the season.
Coaching Staff Has Texas Ties
When Phil Bennett was putting together his coaching staff in the days and weeks after his announcement as the SMU head coach, one theme came to the forefront: If you don?t know Texas, you need not apply. Every assistant coach on staff is either a native or has coached in and recruited the Lone Star state. Those ties have already reaped rewards in recruiting. Despite getting a late start on the recruiting trail, Bennett?s first haul was generally considered one of the top three classes in the Western Athletic Conference. His spring coaches clinic was attended by more than 250 high school coaches from around the region, and more than 200 recruits and their families toured Ford Stadium and the Loyd All-Sports Center on the day of SMU?s spring game.
Returning Starters
SMU lists 16 starters returning in 2002 with eight coming back on each side of the ball. The Mustangs return all of their skill position starters on offense except at quarterback, along with three of five offensive linemen. On defense, starters along the interior defensive line, at linebacker and cornerback return intact. SMU led the WAC in total defense last year. The Mustangs return 23 players this season that started at least three games in 2001.
Ready to Run
SMU?s top four rushers from a year ago are back in 2002. The quintet combined for 1,606 yards on 515 carries (5.3 yards per attempt) and is led by sophomore ShanDerrick Charles, who set a school first-year record with 860 yards as a true freshman last season. Charles, who broke Craig James SMU freshman record, had games of 243 yards (the second best single-game mark in school history) and 212 yards (tied for sixth in school history) in the first two games where he carried the ball more than once. Junior Keylon Kincade ran for 421 yards, including a career-best 169 in a win at Tulsa when Charles went down with an injury. Senior Kris Briggs, a second team All-WAC choice in 2000 when he rushed for 828 yards, slumped to 209 yards last year but should see a larger role in the new offense as he has moved to fullback. Sophomore Derron Brown, who totaled 116 yards last year, has also moved to fullback.
Wallis Emerges in Quarterback Battle
Redshirt freshman Tate Wallis enters the fall as SMU?s starter at quarterback. He was a late addition to SMU?s 2001 recruiting class and redshirted last year as a tight end. He led Ennis (Texas) High School to the 2000 state Class 4A (Texas? second largest classification) championship when he threw for over 3,600 yards and 37 TDs and ran for over 1,200 yards and 12 more scores. He was somewhat overlooked as a recruit because he didn?t start at quarterback until his senior season and was also a top baseball pitching prospect (selected by the New York Yankees in the 2001 amateur draft but did not sign). Wallis completed 15-of-27 passes for 188 yards in SMU?s spring game.
Three Pass Catchers Rank Among SMU?s All-Time Best
SMU will have three of its top 21 career pass receivers on the field this fall. Senior wide receiver Chris Cunningham, who led the team with 45 catches for 516 yards and seven TDs last year, ranks seventh on the all-time list with 129 catches and ninth on the career receiving yards list with 1,530. If he duplicates last season?s numbers, he would finish third on the career catches list and fifth on the receiving yards list. He has caught at least one pass in 32 of the 33 games he has played in as a Mustang. Senior tight end John Hampton has 81 career grabs and ranks 16th on the career list. He caught 35 passes for 459 yards in 2001. Senior Cody Cardwell is 21st with 68 catches.
Viloria Leads SMU Defense
Senior linebacker Vic Viloria will anchor SMU?s defense in 2002. The Mustangs? 2001 edition led the Western Athletic Conference in total defense, allowing 320.1 yards per game. Viloria was a first team All-WAC selection last year when he ranked fourth in the league with 110 tackles, including 13 for loss. He led the league in stops and earned second team all-league honors as a sophomore in 2000 with 130 tackles. He had seven double figure tackle games a year ago despite not starting three contests because of a nagging ankle injury. He has posted at least 10 tackles in 16 of the 28 games in his career.
Cornerstones
Senior Kevin Garrett and junior Jonas Rutledge form one of the best cornerback tandems in the nation. Rutledge was a first team All-WAC pick last year when he had four interceptions, set a school interception return yardage mark with 147 and broke up 16 passes. He also scored three TDs (interception, kickoff and blocked field goal returns) Garrett, a second team all-league pick in 2000, was an honorable mention choice last season when he had three picks and 14 passes defensed. Both had interception returns for touchdowns as well. Rutledge had a 31-yard return for a TD at Tulsa while Garrett went 32 yards with an interception of NFL Draft No. 1 pick David Carr for a score against Fresno State.
Return Game in Good Hands
SMU?s Jonas Rutledge and Chris Cunningham are two of the league?s top return men. Rutledge averaged 22.4 yards on kickoff returns last year with three covering more than 50 yards. His biggest was a 92-yarder for a TD with 2:50 remaining against Hawaii that forced overtime. Cunningham, meanwhile, averaged 11.0 yards on 22 punt returns and ranks third on the school?s all-time punt return yardage list with 665. He needs 86 more yards to become SMU?s career leader.
