The Reclamation Initiative | The Coaching Career of Nico Augustine

[Captain Canada]

Disappointing end to the season but time to reload and go again

Going to have to figure some things out on defense, but I'm satisfied with our fisting of Colorado State to at least win the bowl game.

[The JZA]

What's the chances Herrell sticking around for another year?

[Captain Canada]

What's the chances Herrell sticking around for another year?

Praying because I know I'm losing a few good weapons this off-season

[Captain Canada]

SMU DC Kerry Abraham back for a second year despite horrific stats, "improvements expected"
By Veronica Downs | SMU Daily

SMU defensive coordinator Kerry Abraham spent most of his first season with the Mustangs on the proverbial hot seat after fielding one of the worst pass defenses in the nation. Abraham, in his first season as a D1 coordinator, credits it to growing pains and calling games with "too much reckless abandon." With a new vote of confidence from head coach Nico Augustine, Abraham is expected to return with a new lease on how to approach play-calling.

"We were playing way too aggressively, and the response I got back at the end of the season was that my secondary often felt held out to dry," commented coordinator Abraham at his end-of-season press conference. "I want to invoke confidence from those guys, and sending blitz package after blitz package really set them up for failure. I plan on figuring that out and not being the weak link next season."

Despite allowing the most passing yards in the country, Abraham's sturdy defensive front allowed in the bottom ten for rushing yards in the season, as well as top five in the most sacks accumulated from the team. The team will have to rebuild, as it forecasts to lose defensive tackles Vincent Carroll-Jackson and Darin Conley, edge rushers Trey Wilson and D.J. Warner, and linebackers Zakye Barker and Brandon Booker all to graduation.

The team expects to be fully engaged in the transfer portal after a lackluster high school recruiting class which only features four commits heading into the off-season.

[Captain Canada]

Coaching Carousel
Josh Heupel - Tennessee » LSU
Tosh Lupoi (DC) - Oregon » Florida State
Jeff Brohm - Louisville » Oklahoma
Garrett Riley (OC) - Clemson » Utah
Brian Kelly - LSU » Retired
Marcus Freeman - Notre Dame » Michigan
Brent Key - Georgia Tech » Notre Dame
Sherrone Moore - Michigan » Missouri
Brent Venables - Oklahoma » Tulsa
Chris Creighton - Fresno State » Detroit Lions (OC)
Mike Gundy - Troy » Fired
Shane Beamer - Florida State » Indiana

[Captain Canada]

SMU facing glaring challenge replacing star players in prominent roles
By Veronica Downs | SMU Daily

If there was a single highlight about the dreadful SMU Mustangs defense, it was their strong defensive front. Headlined by defensive tackle Vincent Carroll-Jackson and linebacker Zakye Barker, head coach Nico Augustine and defensive coordinator Kerry Abraham will have their work cut out for them, as they will be losing almost every significant player in their defensive front to graduation.

Carroll-Jackson, Barker, edge rushers Trey Wilson, D.J. Warner, and injured Jahkai Lang will all be gone next year, as well as defensive tackle Darin Conley and linebackers Cam Davidson and Brandon Booker, amongst others.

Offensively, the team will be losing senior quarterback Ryder Burton, who had a strong season that veered toward inconsistency as the year dragged on. Heisman candidate running back Jeremy Payne has also graduated and moved on to the NFL along with wide receivers, Yamir Knight and Jalen Cooper. The latter still owns the single-season receiving records he gathered the year before Augustine rolled into town.

The team will rely heavily upon returning receivers J.J. Harrell and Jeremiah McClellan, with the expectation that incoming recruit Eric DeLuca will serve a big role in his freshman season, while the team also dives into the transfer portal.

At quarterback, the team seems to be shifting towards an inevitable quarterback battle between incumbent Skylar Williams and former five-star recruit Alonzo Cheeseman, as both are reportedly against transferring this summer.

NFL Draftees
WR Jalen Cooper (Junior) - 4th Round [San Francisco 49ers]
WR Yamir Knight (Senior) - 4th Round [Dallas Cowboys]
HB Jeremy Payne (Senior) - 5th Round [Baltimore Ravens]

Transfer Portal
WR Daylon Singleton (Junior)
WR Carterrious Brown (Redshirt Sophomore)
WR Sinilau Oshinowo (Freshman)
QB Andres Fajardo (Redshirt Freshman)

Graduations
OG Alex Woods
WILL Zakye Barker
TE Adam Moore
FS Abdul Muhammad
EDGE D.J. Warner
WR Jaxson Lavender
EDGE Trey Wilson
WILL Brandon Booker
EDGE Braeden Flowers
TE Tripp Riordan
TE Brock O'Quinn
WR Case Holleron
EDGE Jahkai Lang
OG Henry Douglass
DT Darin Conley
OT Trevor Goosby
DT Vincent Carroll-Jackson
HB Landan Brown
FS Isaac Paul
QB Ryder Burton
MIKE Cam Davidson
EDGE Keshawn Hayden
WILL Eli Wallace

[Caesar]

Might have a lot to do to replace guys, but only having 4 transfers is going to help a lot

[redsox907]

going to need an influx of talent on the defensive end ASAP

[The JZA]

Time to go shopping

[Captain Canada]

Might have a lot to do to replace guys, but only having 4 transfers is going to help a lot

Surviving the transfer portal was huge. This defense is going to change seismically though.

going to need an influx of talent on the defensive end ASAP

That whole defensive front

Time to go shopping