Analyzing SMU RB position for 2023 season

SMU Football is gearing up for fall camp at the beginning of August and one of the positions that’s strongest entering the 2023 season is the running back room.

Khenon Hall added a pair of transfers and brings back three key contributors, but how will this year’s version of the Mustangs’ tailbacks work out?

We dive inside on the running backs for the Mustangs heading into fall camp.

The contenders

SMU brought in Miami transfer Jaylan Knighton and Texas A&M transfer LJ Johnson in time for the spring. Knighton came in and immediately impressed, showing his explosiveness and ability to catch the football as well. Before his 78-carry season, then Miami offensive coordinator Rhett Lashlee got him 165 touches, resulting in 841 total yards and 11 scores. That’s the type of success SMU hopes to bring back this season.

With Johnson, he was underutilized in College Station. A former four-star prospect, Johnson is the thunder to Knighton’s lightning. Johnson flashed late in the spring what many programs loved about him coming out of high school. If these two combine to form the tandem SMU hopes, that’s an exciting thought for a run game that came on late in 2022, but wasn’t explosive. One wild card is the health of running back Tyler Lavine, who had offseason surgery.

SMU’s rotational players

With that injury to Lavine in mind, he could start off camp either recovering or taking it slow. With SMU’s Week 1 matchup against Louisiana Tech, the coaching staff could play it safe, if Lavine needs the extra time. Still, at some point in the season, he’s expected to be a key rotational piece. He led the Mustangs in rushing with 642 yards and 10 scores and was the heart and soul of the program last year. Couple Lavine with Knighton and Johnson, that’s salty.

Toss in a veteran back in Velton Gardner and former four-star prospect Camar Wheaton, SMU’s got plenty of depth at the position. Gardner and Wheaton were both nicked up at various points last year, both had moments with flash.

What if?

Aside from Lavine’s health, the biggest “what if” is Wheaton. He’s been nicked up, was suspended some in the spring and is a question mark. That said, he flashed against Cincinnati and South Florida. Particularly, his 6.6 yards per carry against the Bearcats was huge. If Wheaton can replicate that type of success, now that changes SMU’s room a bit. He’s got the talent to be a great one. He’s still figuring out being a student-athlete overall, but if he does, look out. If SMU gets a boost from Wheaton, that’s a game-changer for the Mustangs.

Biggest questions for SMU RBs

Can Knighton hold onto the ball is key. SMU was in the bottom half of college football in fumbles lost per game. Now, Tanner Mordecai had seven of those fumbles last year. Knighton enters SMU with some past questions on his ball security, but in reality, his explosiveness, talent and versatility outweighs that question. He’s got the potential to be a star for the Mustangs. Another question is will Lavine be ready to contribute at his usual level? If he is, that’s critical for the SMU offense that saw Lavine step up in a major way in 2022.

Predictions

A prediction for the season for the running backs is Knighton notching 1,000 all-purpose yards for the Mustangs. The staff has big plans for him as they reunite with the former Hurricane. If that happens, Preston Stone’s first season as the starting quarterback will be all that easier. It also likely means Knighton is one of the top two backs in the league. Add in Johnson being a reliable contributor and you can expect SMU’s running back room to be one of the AAC’s best in 2023.