Eight Mustangs Earn Preseason All-ACC Honors; Williams All-America By Athlon Sports
Jul 1 | Football
DALLAS (SMU) – SMU offensive lineman PJ Williams led the way, earning preseason honors from Athlon Sports as one of eight Mustangs in a release on Wednesday.Â
Eight SMU players were named to the preseason All-ACCÂ team, while Williams also garnered fourth-team All-America honors.Â
A Texas native, Williams was a first-team selection on the All-ACC list. The fifth-year senior is coming off a second-team All-ACC selection last year after a standout performance, starting all games and helping assist the Mustangs' success in the pass game, averaging 283.1 passing yards per game, ranking 12th in all of FBS.Â
Joshua Bates joined Williams on the first team after an All-ACC Honorable Mention in 2025 by the conference.
The second team included Kevin Jennings, Yamir Knight and Addison Nichols. A two-year captain, Jennings finished last season with career highs in passing yards (3,641), passing touchdowns (26) and completions (300).
Knight was named Offensive MVP of the Trust & Will Holiday Bowl, while Nichols helped pave the way for the Mustangs up front, helping them average 416.9 total yards per game, which ranked fifth in the ACC last year. He was also selected as a fourth-team member as a specialist.
Incoming running back Kendrick Raphael was the lone third-team selection. The impact transfer from Cal is coming off a breakout campaign, leading the ACC in rushing attempts (234) and just shy of 1,000 rushing yards, both career highs.
On the fourth team are fellow linebackers Brandon Booker and Alexander Kilgore, both back are strong seasons in 2025. Booker looks to build off the successful year in which he tallied 69 tackles, while Kilgore had an impressive 60 tackles, as well as two interceptions despite being limited to 11 games. Â
Preseason Fourth Team All-AmericaÂ
PJ Williams, OLÂ
Â
Preseason First-Team All-ACCÂ
 Joshua Bates, OL
PJ Williams, OLÂ
 Â
Preseason Second-Team All-ACCÂ
Kevin Jennings, QBÂ
Yamir Knight, WRÂ
Addison Nichols, OLÂ
 Â
Preseason Third-Team All-ACCÂ
 Kendrick Raphael, RBÂ
 Â
Preseason Fourth-Team All-ACCÂ
Brandon Booker, LBÂ
Alexander Kilgore, LBÂ Â
Yamir Knight, PR
Â
Eight SMU players were named to the preseason All-ACCÂ team, while Williams also garnered fourth-team All-America honors.Â
A Texas native, Williams was a first-team selection on the All-ACC list. The fifth-year senior is coming off a second-team All-ACC selection last year after a standout performance, starting all games and helping assist the Mustangs' success in the pass game, averaging 283.1 passing yards per game, ranking 12th in all of FBS.Â
Joshua Bates joined Williams on the first team after an All-ACC Honorable Mention in 2025 by the conference.
The second team included Kevin Jennings, Yamir Knight and Addison Nichols. A two-year captain, Jennings finished last season with career highs in passing yards (3,641), passing touchdowns (26) and completions (300).
Knight was named Offensive MVP of the Trust & Will Holiday Bowl, while Nichols helped pave the way for the Mustangs up front, helping them average 416.9 total yards per game, which ranked fifth in the ACC last year. He was also selected as a fourth-team member as a specialist.
Incoming running back Kendrick Raphael was the lone third-team selection. The impact transfer from Cal is coming off a breakout campaign, leading the ACC in rushing attempts (234) and just shy of 1,000 rushing yards, both career highs.
On the fourth team are fellow linebackers Brandon Booker and Alexander Kilgore, both back are strong seasons in 2025. Booker looks to build off the successful year in which he tallied 69 tackles, while Kilgore had an impressive 60 tackles, as well as two interceptions despite being limited to 11 games. Â
Preseason Fourth Team All-AmericaÂ
PJ Williams, OLÂ
Â
Preseason First-Team All-ACCÂ
 Joshua Bates, OL
PJ Williams, OLÂ
 Â
Preseason Second-Team All-ACCÂ
Kevin Jennings, QBÂ
Yamir Knight, WRÂ
Addison Nichols, OLÂ
 Â
Preseason Third-Team All-ACCÂ
 Kendrick Raphael, RBÂ
 Â
Preseason Fourth-Team All-ACCÂ
Brandon Booker, LBÂ
Alexander Kilgore, LBÂ Â
Yamir Knight, PR
Â
Players Mentioned
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