When the SMU football team wrapped up its summer workouts on Wednesday, it continued the tradition head strength and conditioning coach Shawn Griswold brought with him four years ago, breaking a painted paving stone.
Quarterback Kevin Jennings was selected to break this year's rock, signifying the end of summer workouts and fall camp being just around the corner. Jennings wasn't chosen just because he is the starting quarterback or will likely be voted a team captain for a second season, but because of what he does on a daily basis.
"There's a lot of guys that choose from for breaking the rock. It's hard to like pick one, right?" Griswold said. "But Kevin is the ultimate leader on this team, and really on this campus. … He's kind of a man of the people, an incredible leader, works hard, never shies away from competition.
"… He's just the ultimate team leader, kids respect him, kids listen to him, and so that signifies that he should be the guy to break the rock for our team. And you saw the reaction, they would expect him to do it."
It's a decision the coaches have a say in, but also — like voting for team captains — it comes from his teammates. That's what made his selection special.
"It means a lot. I think it comes from the players first, the players vote on it," Jennings said. "I just thank them so much for believing in me as a captain, as a leader, and all of that. It means a lot coming from your peers. I just want to thank Coach Griz for all the hard work he pours into us in the summer. It's been an amazing summer. Like I just said in (the team huddle), I've never felt as much confidence going into a season as this one right here."
This time last year, the Mustangs were preparing for their first season in the ACC with plenty of questions surrounding the move. SMU then went 8-0 in conference play, making the ACC championship game and the College Football Playoff.
They just went right back to work this offseason.
"They're really, really hungry and focused on us," Griswold said. "Like (Isaiah) Nwokobia said at the ACC meetings, 'Keep the main thing the main thing.' The main thing is us, and we can control what we can control. We can't control whatever happens and where you play. And so the cool part is that they have a steady hand, and they're really, really competitive and hungry to prove, again, that this is who we are. It wasn't a one(-time thing), we just got in the league and did it. That's who they think they are. That's who they believe they are."
While the Mustangs accomplished a lot by reaching the ACC title game and CFP, they lost both of those games, and the two losses to end the season are what most people outside of the facilities seem to remember. So, a year of experience and success in the ACC didn't alter the approach or the mentality of the offseason.
"It really didn't change, nothing, honestly," Jennings said. "Last year, I think we worked so hard. Everybody doubted us coming into the season. So I think this year was just the same thing. We've still got that chip on our shoulder. Everybody's still doubting us. So it's time to just come in and put some work in, put our head down and prove them wrong again."
During the spring and in fall camp, and especially during the season, the head coach, coordinators and positions are in charge. But during the winter and summer it is Griswold and his staff holding the keys. They take pride in getting everything ready to hit the gas pedal for the season.
"It's the best. The wintertime and the summertime, that's my in season. So those are my favorite times of the year. They're the early mornings and late nights, but that's why you do it," Griswold said. "… We talk about, 'Chase the standard,' and the standard is what they set. We help them, guide them, but if they're not accepting and willing, we'll never get to where we want to go. And they've done a great job of that piece. It is a very vocal group, has a lot of leadership in it, and I think it sets us up for good success in fall camp and hopefully on Saturdays."
One area the Mustangs expect to be successful is at the line of scrimmage, on both sides of the ball.
"D-line-wise, those guys have made some really, really good strides," Griswold said. "(Jeffrey) M'ba and Kevin Allen, Terry (Webb) looks really good. We have four D-tackles that are 310 pounds and above. I looked it up (Tuesday), the O-line average is 316.3, with our scholarship guys, that's a P4, right? That's a big conference O-line."
But singling out players was a tougher task, as Griswold named plenty, but one thing was consistent — the work they all put in.
"Guys have done an excellent job. There's a lot of guys to say, but they all work really hard," Griswold said. "They're a fun group to be around. Thirty-four workouts is a lot of workouts in the summertime. People don't really realize that, but it's 34 times two, plus nine coach-led workouts and seven player-led (workouts). That's a lot of work for a season. They've accomplished a really good summer, and they deserve a little bit of a break before we get to go play ball."
Jennings has become a more vocal leader, as he was named a team captain before last season and then took over the starting job before conference play began, but he never shied away from the work. That was no different this year.
The biggest focus for Jennings this offseason was continuing to put on weight.
"(Adding weight) was definitely a big focus on in my offseason goals," Jennings said. "Coaches on my butt about just gaining weight, getting bigger so I can take more hits and all that stuff. So I gained a couple pounds … put
on some weight."
It's been a process for Jennings, who played between 175-181 pounds last season and is over 190 pounds right now. But that's a long way from where he was leading Dallas South Oak Cliff High School to a state championship as a senior.
"It's honestly crazy. Looking back, I was probably like 160 at SOC," Jennings said. "Looking back at that, arms really tiny. So it's a big testament to our coaches, our strength coaches, them doing their job, helping me out in the weight room, getting bigger, getting stronger, getting faster, and all of that."
As Griswold was putting together this year's numbers, he looked back on where Jennings was when he got to SMU. In 2022, as a true freshman, Jennings checked in at 171 pounds. He was listed at 185 pounds on last year's roster and is around 192, 193 pounds now with some room to grow before the season starts.
"It's a hard process when you're a guy like that that burns a lot of calories, and you have to put in so much. If you think about eating 4,000 calories, it's hard. And it's not just one meal a day, it's five meals a day, and it's a constant, seven-day-a-week deal. So it is difficult. It's like losing weight, it's hard to do it right? So he's done a good job. (Assistant AD of Sports Nutrition) Christy (Schuld) has done a fantastic job meeting with him, coach-plating him, sending pictures back and forth, that kind of stuff. … I think during camp we'll probably pick up a little bit, probably 4-5 more pounds, just because we're not running so much. That makes him more durable, puts some body armor on him, just because of the style that he plays."
Jennings also had one of the numbers that jumped out to Griswold with a 10-foot, 7.5-inch broad jump at the end of camp. That went along with receiver Romello Brinson putting up an 11-1. Then 6-foot-6, 308-pound offensive lineman Andrew Chamblee put up a 30-inch vertical, and fellow offensive lineman Logan Parr repped 225 pounds 40 times, with tight end Matthew Hibner hitting 30. Linebacker Alexander Kilgore is pushing 700 pounds on squat with a power clean of 375 pounds.
"There's a lot of guys have done really, really well," Griswold said. "… We'll have better overall team speed. Now we get to go see it during fall camp and keep continuing to build our culture and build our team for the fall. Pretty soon we're gonna find out what we're made of."
And one thing's for sure, the Mustangs aren't satisfied.
"At the end of the day, we had a good season last year, but we lost in the championship game, lost in the playoff game," Jennings said. "So we're not happy about that. Our only goal is, for next year, to get back to that level and actually win it all. That's when we'll be happy and be satisfied."
