Aug. 24, 2007

DALLAS - The SMU football team selected team captains for the season this week. Chosen in the players-only vote were junior punter Thomas Morstead, senior defensive end Cory Muse, senior offensive lineman Ben Poynter and sophomore quarterback Justin Willis.

Morstead led Conference USA and ranked 15th in the nation in punting average in 2006 and was a third-team All-Conference USA selection. The junior-to-be averaged 43.8 yards per punt, the best season average for a Mustang punter since Craig James averaged 44.9 ypp in 1982.

Muse, a second-team All-Conference USA selection by the media and an honorable mention pick by the coaches in 2006, helped anchor an SMU defense that led C-USA and ranked 24th in the nation against the run. Individually, he ranked third in C-USA and 31st in the nation in sacks per game.

A second-team All-Conference USA selection, Poynter repeated as winner of the Charles H. Trigg Blocking Award recognizing SMU's top lineman last season, sharing the honor with Caleb Peveto. Starting all 12 games at center, he was named to the Rimington Trophy Watch List after blocking for an SMU offense that tallied 325 points, the third-most ever in a season at SMU.

Willis re-wrote the Mustangs' single-season passing record books during his first year on the Hilltop, setting a new school record for touchdown passes with 26. For the year, he completed 182-of-270 for 2,047 yards and just six interceptions, ranking 10th in the nation in passing efficiency. His 29 TDs accounted for were the most in SMU history and his 2,401 yards of total offense were fourth-best in a season at SMU. In addition, his 67.4 completion percentage was best in school history.

SMU opens its season on Monday, Sept. 3, with an ESPN-televised game at Ford Stadium against Texas Tech.