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Weekly Press Conference
Head Coach Chad Morris
Offensive Coordinator Joe Craddock
Defensive Coordinator Van Malone
Senior Justin Lawler


SETTING THE SCENE
•    The Mustangs host Tulane for Senior Day on Saturday at 11 a.m. CT on CBS Sports Network. SMU will honor 18 seniors prior to the game.
•    Trey Quinn was named one of 10 semifinalists for the Biletnikoff Award, honoring the nation's outstanding receiver. Quinn leads the nation with 9.1 receptions per game.
•    With three blocked kicks in 2017, Justin Lawler leads the nation and has more than 116 FBS teams.
•    SMU has a +1.09 turnover margin this season, ranking the Mustangs ninth nationally and third in the AAC.
•    The Mustangs broke both the single-season scoring and touchdown records at Memphis Saturday. SMU now has 441 points (was 397 in 2012) and 57 touchdowns (50 in 2009).
•    Offensive coordinator Joe Craddock is a nominee for the 2017 Broyles Award, which honors college's top assistant coaches. 

THE SERIES
•    SMU and Tulane are meeting for the 24th time, with the Green Wave holding a 13-10 advantage. The Mustangs have won the last two match-ups, including a 49-21 home victory in 2015.

ABOUT THE GREEN WAVE
•    Tulane is 5-6 this season and brings a two-game winning streak into Ford Stadium Saturday. The Green Wave defeated Houston 20-17 last Saturday.

THE COACHES
•    Chad Morris is in his third season at the SMU helm and has led the Mustangs to bowl eligibility for the first time since 2012. In his first season on the Hilltop, Morris engineered an offensive turnaround, as the Mustangs increased their scoring output by 16.7 points per game – the second-largest increase in the nation in 2015. Year two saw even more improvement, as SMU won five games and came within one win of bowl eligibility. SMU produced a 1,000-yard rusher (Braeden West 1,036) and 1,000-yard receiver (Courtland Sutton 1,246) for the first time since 2011 and had three players with at least 1,000 all-purpose yards for the first time since 2011 (Sutton, West, James Proche). Following the campaign, Justin Lawler, Darrion Millines, Horace Richardson and Sutton were named first-team All-AAC, the most Mustangs to be named first-team All-Conference since 2011. His career record stands at 13-22.

•    Willie Fritz is in his second season at Tulane, going 4-8 in his first season in New Orleans. 

LAST TIME VS. TULANE
NEW ORLEANS (AP) -- Braeden West rushed for 119 yards and two touchdowns, including the go-ahead score with 1:16 remaining to complete a 10-point fourth-quarter comeback, and (RV/-)SMU held on to beat Tulane 35-31 Oct. 29, 2016.

After Sherman Badie scored to give the Green Wave a 31-21 lead with 10:37 left to play, West capped a 10-play drive with a 1-yard score to cut the deficit to 31-24.

SMU forced a turnover on downs, and after converting a third-and-25 on the drive, West plunged in for his second score, also from a yard out.

Tulane converted two fourth downs on its ensuing possession, but Darrion Millines intercepted Glen Cuiellette's pass as time expired to seal an SMU victory.
            
SUPER SENIOR SATURDAY
SMU will honor 18 seniors prior to Saturday's game against Tulane - Raymond Epps, Dimarya Mixon, Will Hopkins, Shelby Walker, Anthony Rhone, Evan Brown, Mason Gentry, Justin Lawler, Nick Horton, RC Cox, Cedric Lancaster, Rex Printz, J.T. Williams, Courtland Sutton, Nicholas Avantino, Jordan Severt, Raul Reyes III and William Jeanlys. 

MAKING OUR POINT
The Ponies are averaging 40.1 points per game (10th nationally) in 2017 with a pair of 50+ contests to open the season. SMU was 1 of only 3 FBS teams (Maryland & Kansas State) with 50 points in each of the first two games. This season is the first since 1928 that the Mustangs have back-to-back 50+ point games.

In the game at Memphis, the Mustangs broke both the single-season scoring and touchdown records. SMU now has 441 points, was 397 in 2012, and 57 touchdowns, was 50 in 2009.

WE'RE ON THE WAY UP
The Mustangs have improved in all of the following offensive categories each season since 2014.
 

Year	PPG	Passing	Rushing	YPC	Total Off.
2014	11.1	169.7	100.3	3.3	269.0
2015	27.8	218.3	165.5	3.9	383.8
2016	27.7	264.0	163.3	4.1	427.3
2017	40.1	301.9	193.4	5.2	495.3

WHAT A RUSH
The Mustangs' 311 rushing yards against Arkansas State were the 2nd most under Chad Morris (Nov. 21, 2015 vs. Tulane) and 13th highest total posted by an FBS team in week 4. The 54 attempts were the most since SMU registered 58 attempts against Tulsa in 2003, and equals the output in Morris' first game in 2015 against Baylor.

Under Morris, the Mustangs have rushed for 200+ yards in 13 of 35 games, while only doing so 18 other times since 2000. SMU has 24 rushing TDs this season, 7th most in a season.

Three Mustangs have rushed for 400+ yards in 2017 with Xavier Jones leading the group at 981 (West, 505 & Freeman 486. Jones and Freeman have a team-best 9 touchdowns. All three had 10+ carries in the win at Cincinnati.

'CAUSE WE'RE TNT
SMU ranks among the nation's best when it comes to explosive plays from scrimmage:
 

Plays	Yards	Nat. Ranking
78	20+	5th
38	30+	T5th
21	40+	T12th
12	50+	T12th
7	60+	T14th
4	70+	T10th

Passing Only:

56	20+	6th
27	30+	T5th
14	40+	T10th
9	50+	T9th
6	60+	T6th
3	70+	T7th

BLOCK PARTY
The Mustangs have amassed 43 blocked kicks (25 FG, 14 XP, 4 punts) since 2009, placing them second in the FBS behind Rutgers.

IMPROVED DEFENSE
The Mustang defense has 27 sacks this season (9th in a season for SMU) with Justin Lawler tied for 12th nationally at 0.77. Lawler leads the nation in blocked kicks, with three.

Mikial Onu leads the Mustang defense with 83 tackles, while Lawler has registered 14.0 TFLs. Jordan Wyatt is SMU's leader with 4 interceptions for 165 yards.
 

Year	Takeaways	Sacks/game	TGL/game	INT	FR	TD
2015	15	1.33	4.8	10	5	0
2016	26	2.42	6.0	18	8	4
2017	22	2.45	7.0	12	10	3

ALL OF A SUTTON
Preseason Heisman Trophy candidate and All-America selection Courtland Sutton was named to the Biletnikoff and Earl Campbell Tyler Rose Preseason Watch Lists, and was a first-team All-AAC selection by multiple outlets to start the 2017 season.

Sutton had a career-high 4 touchdown receptions, setting an AAC record and tying the school record (Emanuel Tolbert at Baylor, Oct. 14, 1978) in game 2 versus UNT. The total is also tied for the most by an FBS player in a game this season and gave Sutton his fifth straight game with at least one touchdown catch. Sutton finished with 8 catches for 163 yards. In week 4 against Arkansas State, Sutton registered 32 yards on a pair of catches and posted his first-career rushing touchdown.

In the AAC opener against UConn, Sutton registered 7 catches for 112 yards and a pair of touchdowns, and went on to register a team-high 160 yards on 11 catches against Houston. Sutton had 2 TDs in the overtime win at Cincinnati, giving him his 3rd multi TD game this season and 8th of his career. He was one of three Mustangs with 100+ yards in the win over Tulsa with a team-high 136.

Sutton is tied for 3rd nationally in receiving touchdowns (12) and ranks among active FBS career leaders in reception yards (6th, 3,045) and reception touchdowns (3rd, 31). 

The Brenham, Texas, native collected a long list of preseason awards including All-America recognition from the Associated Press (2nd Team), USA Today (2nd Team), College Football News (1st Team), CBS Sports (1st Team) and Sports Illustrated (2nd Team). 

He was selected No. 18 on SI College Football's Freaks List and No. 28 on its Top 100 Players of 2017 preseason list, and is the No. 11 player on Dave Campbell's Texas Football 50 Most Import College Football Players in Texas preseason list. College Football 24/7 lists him No. 1 on their Top Wide Receivers to Watch in 2017 list. 

FORGOT ABOUT TREY
It seems in focusing on All-American Courtland Sutton, opposing defenses forgot about Parade All-American Trey Quinn. After an impressive first half of the season, Quinn was added to the Biletnikoff Award Watch List, and was named one of 10 semifinalists on Nov. 13.

In his first game on the Hilltop, the junior transfer led the Mustangs with 4 catches for 53 yards, and one TD.

Quinn increased his productivity in week 2, recording 6 receptions for 96 yards. Game 3 at TCU saw Quinn lead Mustang receivers with 7 catches for 116 yards. Quinn added a pair of TDs and was 1-for-1 passing for 34 yards.

In SMU's win over UConn, Quinn led SMU receivers with 15 catches for 116 yards and a pair of touchdowns. Quinn registered 11 of his 15 catches in the first half, setting SMU's record for receptions in a half, and was named to the AAC Weekly Honor Roll.

Quinn recorded back-to-back games with 17 catches, (Houston & Cincinnati) making him the only FBS player with 15+ reception in three straight games since at least 2000. He was also the first Mustang with 100+ yards in three straight games since Keenan Holman in 2013, and the first since Jeremy Johnson the same year to have double-digit receptions in three straight games. 

Quinn posted his fourth straight game, and fifth of his career, with 100+ yards against Tulsa. The four straight is tied for that national lead.

Against Memphis, Quinn registered a pair of TDs for his 3rd multi-TD game of the season.

The FBS high for receptions in a game this season is 17, with Quinn posting 2 of 3 of those performances. He leads the nation with 9.1 catches per game and is 10th in receiving yards (1,052) and 12th in receiving ypg (95.6).

BIG BEN
Ben Hicks was added to the midseason Manning Award Watch List on Oct. 12.

Hicks opened the 2017 season 9-of-19 passing for 112 yards and two touchdowns against SFA. In week 2, Hicks connected with Courtland Sutton for 4 scores, a career-high, and registered 312 yards. It was his fourth-career game with 300+ passing yards and his 4 touchdowns were the most in a game since Garrett Gilbert had 4 against Connecticut in 2013. 

The sophomore was named to Davey O'Brien's "Great 8" list after a 280-yard, 4 TD performance against UConn.

Hicks continues to climb SMU's all-time passing yards list and now ranks 7th with 5,518, and is tied for 4th at SMU with 39 career passing TDs.

Hicks posted his 6th-career 300+ yard passing game against Houston (397 yds).  He added 295 yards and 2 TDs in the win at Cincinnati. In the win over Tulsa, he improved his career total to 7 300+ yard games with 338 and added a pair of TDs.

Hicks was named to The American weekly honor roll following a 4-TD performance against Navy Nov. 11, and posted 4 more TDs against Memphis Nov. 18, giving him his 4th game of the season with 4 TDs.

EVEN EVAN
For the second straight season, Evan Brown was named to the Rimington Trophy Preseason Watch List. The award is given annually to the top center in FBS college football.

Brown was the seventh-highest-graded center in all of college football in 2016 and allowed only two sacks, one hit and six quarterback hurries in 2016.    

Brown has started 45 games played at SMU and adds on a spot on the Outland Trophy Preseason Watch List to his resume in 2017. 

LAYIN' DOWN THE LAW
Senior defensive end Justin Lawler started 2017 with an impressive list of preseason honors, including spots on the Chuck Bednarik, Bronko Nagurski and Wuerffel Trophy Preseason Watch Lists. He's also a nominee for the AFCA Good Works Team and Allstate Senior CLASS Award, and was honored as a first-team All-AAC selection by Athlon Sports and College Football News.

Lawler started 2017 with 4 tackles (3 solo, 1 asst)  and a quarterback hurry against Stephen F. Austin, and added 7 tackles, 2 sacks, three TFLs and a forced fumble against UNT to earn AAC honor roll accolades and a spot on the Pro Football Focus National Team of the Week.

In week 3 at TCU, Lawler tied a career-high with 9 tackles, and went on to add three with a pass breakup and 3 QB hurries against Arkansas State.

In SMU's AAC opener against UConn, Lawler registered a career-high 4.0 sacks to tie the AAC and SMU single-game records. The 4.0 sacks is tied for the national lead in a single game this season.

He posted 8 tackles and a half sack against Cincinnati, and improved his career total to 18.5 sacks with 1.0 against Tulsa, a game in which he also added 8 tackles, 3.0 TFLs and 3 QB hurries.    

The senior was just one of 34 players in the FBS with 2 or more blocked kicks in 2016, giving him more blocked kicks that 54 FBS teams. He has 3 blocked kicks in 2017 to lead the nation, including a blocked PAT in the game against Navy, and is 14th among active FBS players with 19.5 sacks. His 3 blocks are more than 116 FBS teams.

BACK AT IT
Jordan Wyatt is the lone returning member of SMU's backfield that finished 2016 as the only team in the country with 3 players registering 4 interceptions. Wyatt, Horace Richardson and Darrion Millines were also 3 of only 68 players in the country with four or more INTs.

Wyatt wasted no time getting started in 2017 as he earned AAC Defensive Player of the Week and Bronko Nagurski National Defensive Player of the Week honors for week 1. Wyatt posted an 85-yard interception return for a touchdown and recovered a fumble for a touchdown in the end zone, making him just the sixth player in FBS history to record both in the same game. The interception return is the seventh longest in SMU history, and the longest since 1984. His play earned him a spot on the Nagurski Watch List.

In the week 2 win over North Texas, Wyatt registered 3 tackles, and added 6 with a pass breakup at TCU in week 3. In week 4 against Arkansas State, Wyatt had an interception return for 25 yards, moving him up to second on SMU's all-time list with 233 career interception yards. He also added 6 tackles.

At Cincinnati, Wyatt posted a career-high 11 tackles and added 2.0 for loss.

He now has 5 defensive touchdowns for his career (4 INT, 1 fumble), and after a 19-yard pick against Memphis, he extended his SMU-record career interception yardage to 288. 

BIG GAME JAMES
Freshman All-America Honorable Mention selection James Proche is back for his sophomore season after finishing second on the team in receptions (571) and third in all-purpose yards (1,044). Proche was second on the team in receiving yards (709) and touchdowns (6).

Leading up to week 4, Proche recorded 152 yards off 7 receptions and 1 TD, a career-long 61-yard reception at TCU. Proche went on to register 3 catches for 131 yards and 2 touchdowns in week 4 against Arkansas State, giving him his second career multi-TD game and third career 100+ yard game. He was named to the AAC Weekly Honor Roll. He posted his 4th 100+ yard game against Tulsa with 123 yards off 4 catches.

Proche's momentum carried into SMU's game against UCF, where he led Mustang receivers with 173 yards on 7 catches and a TD. Proche was 3-51 receiving with his fifth TD of the season at Navy.

GO WEST, YOUNG MAN
Running back Braeden West opened 2017 on the Doak Walker and Paul Hornung Award Watch Lists. West posted 86 yards on 6 carries in week 1 versus SFA.

In week 3, West returned to action, registering 32 yards on 8 carries and 70 yards on 3 catches. The 102 all-purpose yards gave West his 13th career game with 100+ all-purpose yards. Week 4 saw West post 90 all-purpose yards on 63 rushing and 27 receiving.

West ran for 72 yards on 8 carries and a touchdown in SMU's week 5 win over UConn.

In the win over Tulsa, West posted SMU's longest run (75 yds) since a 96-yard TD run by Kris Briggs in 2002 and the first 70+ yard run since Garrett Gilbert's 74-yard TD vs. Tulsa in 2012.
    
X GON' GIVE IT TO YA
After missing most of the 2016 season due to injury, Xavier Jones returned in 2017. Jones was a preseason candidate for the 2016 Doak Walker Award.

In week 4 against Arkansas State, Jones posted a season-high 146 yards on 19 carries. He now has 13 touchdowns in 18 career games, and 4 multi-TD games.

Jones went 12-72 rushing with a touchdown  in the week 5 win over UConn, and led the Mustangs with 13 carries and 99 yards at Houston on Oct. 7. In the win at Cincinnati, Jones registered 80 yards off 15 carries and his 4th rushing TD of the season (15th career). He added a 5th TD in the win against Tulsa.

He led Mustang rushers with 84 yards on 19 carries in the loss to UCF, and followed that performance up with his 4th 100+ yard rushing performance registering 106 yards on 18 carries and a TD at Navy. 

At Memphis, Jones was 20 for 175 rushing (both career highs) with 2 TDs, giving him his 3rd 100+ yard rushing game this season. He has a team-high nine touchdowns in 2017 and 20 for his career.    

C'MON  KE'MON
Sophomore Ke'Mon Freeman posted back-to-back multi-touchdown games in weeks 3 and 4 this season. In week 3 against TCU, Freeman rushed for 57 yards on 12 attempts with 2 touchdowns, and followed it up with a 92-yard two touchdown performance against Arkansas State.

Against UConn, Freeman posted his third straight game with a rushing TD on 8-68 rushing. Freeman posted his fifth straight game with a rushing TD against Cincinnati, giving him 8 this season and 12 for his career.

In the win over Tulsa, Freeman registered nine carries for 22 yards and a TD for his sixth straight game with a rushing TD. The streak is the longest since Reggie Dupard's streak of 13 straight (last 6 1984, first 7 1985). 

Freeman is tied for the Mustang lead with 9 rushing TDs this season. 

HONORARY CAPTAINS
Head Coach Chad Morris has brought several new traditions to SMU's football program, including naming an Honorary Captain at each home game. Morris has bestowed the honor upon Terrence Mann for Saturday.

Terrence Mann was a  defensive tackle from 1983-86 who was drafted in 1987 by Miami. He had his NFL career cut short due to being shot while aiding a woman who was being robbed outside of Campisi's Restaurant. He has been a staunch supporter of SMU football for many years. 

ALL-DISTRICT ACADEMICS
Will Hopkins and Josh Williams were named to the CoSIDA Academic All-District 7 Team, recognizing the nation's top student-athletes for their combined performances athletically and in the classroom.

A graduate transfer from Austin, Texas, Hopkins is working toward his Master's degree in management and boasts a 3.93 GPA, while Williams, a junior kicker from Rowlett, Texas, has a 3.96 GPA and is majoring in finance.

SMU IN THE CLASSROOM
Head Coach Chad Morris believes that there is a direct correlation between improvement in the classroom and on the field. If so, then the Mustangs should see an increase in wins this season due to the improved grade-point average of the team.

The SMU football team has set multiple term and cumulative GPA records since Morris' arrival on the Hilltop in 2014.

The 2017 SMU roster features nine student-athletes who have already earned a degree, giving them one of the highest totals in the country. Evan Brown, Raymond Epps, Mason Gentry, Will Hopkins, Nick Horton, Cedric Lancaster, Justin Lawler, Dimarya Mixon and Anthony Rhone have all earned their degrees.

1.    Northwestern    18
2.    Coastal Carolina    17
3.    ECU, Cincinnati    14
5.    Toledo    13
6.    TCU, Alabama, Oregon    12
9.    Kansas State, Maryland, USF    11
        Georgia State, UCF, Virginia
15.    Kent State, Nevada, New Mexico    10
        South Alabama, Texas Tech, West Virginia    
21.    SMU, Houston, Iowa State, Pittsburgh    9
        Purdue, Rutgers, Temple

TRIBUTE 23
Since 2009, the SMU coaching staff has chosen a deserving student-athlete to wear the number 23 to honor Jerry LeVias.

LeVias was the first African-American to receive an athletic scholarship in the Southwest Conference. While at SMU, LeVias made athletic and academic All-America teams and, in 1966, contributed to the Mustangs' first SWC title in 18 years. He was an All-American in 1968 and was chosen All-SWC in 1966, 1967 and 1968.

Senior defensive end Nick Horton was awarded the number again in 2017.

Players To Wear #23 In Honor of Jerry LeVias
Nick Horton, DE    2016-17
Jeremiah Gaines, TE    2015
Stephon Sanders, LB    2012-14
Chris Banjo, DB    2009

MARCHING MUSTANGS
Five Mustangs (Chris Banjo, Josh LeRibeus, Zach Line, Thomas Morstead and Zach Wood) are on the active roster for the New Orleans Saints. SMU and Clemson (Houston Texans) lead FBS schools with 5 players each on NFL rosters.

THE RED CARPET
SMU may need to install a red carpet in the Mustang locker room as SMU has become "the place to be" in Dallas.

Among the celebrities, legends, current and former pros that have attended practice or stopped by the stadium in recent years are: Roger Staubach, Troy Aikman, Terrell Owens, Tim Brown, Michael Irvin and Deion Sanders, as well as former SMU standouts Reggie Dupard, Eric Dickerson, Craig James, Jerry Ball, Russell Carter and Don Meredith.

Former President George W. Bush even visits SMU football practice. Bush has also performed the ceremonial coin toss at games against Navy (2011), Memphis (2012), Texas Tech (2013), Cincinnati (2014) and North Texas (2015).

PREP PREPAREDNESS
SMU Head Coach Chad Morris is one of 18 FBS head coaches who previously served as high school head coaches. Morris' 16 seasons as a prep head coach ranks No. 1 among the group, and only Tony Jinks (Bowling Green) and Tony Sanchez (UNLV) were prep coaches more recently than Morris. 

Name (College)    Last HS
Tom Allen (Indiana)    2004-06 Ben Davis (Ind.)
Steve Addazio (Boston College)    1988-94 Cheshire (Conn.)
Gary Anderson (Oregon State)    1994 Park City (Utah)
David Beaty (Kansas)    2001-05 Irving McArthur (Texas)
Chris Creigthton (EMU)    1997-2000 Ottawa (Kan.)
David Cutcliffe (Duke)    1980-81 Banks (Ala.)
Butch Davis (FIU)    1978 Will Rogers (Okla.)
Todd Graham (Arizona State)    1994-00 Allen (Texas)
Mike Jinks (Bowling Green)    2005-12 Steele (Texas)
Joey Jones (South Alabama)    1991-2005 Mountain Brook (Ala.)
Guz Malzahn (Auburn)    1992-2005 Springdale (Ark.)
Jeff Monken (Army)    1995 Morton (Ill.)
Chad Morris (SMU)    1994-2009 Lake Travis (Texas)
Barry Odom (Missouri)    2001-02 Rock Bridge (Mo.)
Tony Sanchez (UNLV)    2004-14 Bishop Gorman (Nev.)
Frank Solich (Ohio)    1966-78 Lincoln Southeast (Neb.)
Matt Viator (UL Monroe)    1989-99 Sulphur (La.)
Frank Wilson (UTSA)    2000-03 O.P. Walker (La.)

SMU IN THE AP
SMU is one of only 44 schools that have ever been ranked No. 1 by the Associated Press since 1936. The Mustangs have been ranked No. 1 twice. SMU was No. 55 on the AP's Top 100 Programs list.

After the win over then No. 11 Houston, SMU also received a vote in the AP Poll in 2016.