Camar Wheaton a bright spot for SMU run game, teammates in TCU loss

As SMU running back Camar Wheaton went over the top for a touchdown against TCU, it felt like another weight was taken off his shoulders. The Garland, Texas native finished with 16 carries for 73 yards and a touchdown in the 34-17 loss.

More importantly, he showed a flash of what he could do with more carries this fall after an up-and-down first year and a half on campus.

The former Top 100 prospect and Alabama signee arrived at SMU not fully healthy. He showed flashes last year of what he could be, averaging 5.2 yards per carry en route to 62 carries for 322 yards and two scores.

He rushed 16 times for 75 yards and scored against Prairie View A&M. That season debut came after he was suspended for the season opener and did not play against Oklahoma as he was still coming back to full health.

For Wheaton, it’s been about taking strides in the right direction. He put on good strength and weight this offseason as he buckled in to ready for his second year on the Hilltop.

“Coach Griz thought he had a great summer. It’s about consistency with him,” SMU head coach Rhett Lashlee said in fall camp. “Not just on the field, off the field — his character’s fine, he’s a good kid — it’s just consistency. Being where you’re supposed to be on time, going to class, just doing all the things that don’t necessarily make you a great player or a champion, but great players and champions do.”

Wheaton gets opportunity, breaks out vs. TCU

So when Wheaton got the ball and was productive vs. Prairie View A&M, SMU running backs coach Khenon Hall opted to feed his confidence. LJ Johnson, another highly-touted back in Wheaton’s class, was out vs. TCU with an ankle injury.

Miami transfer Jaylan Knighton fumbled against Oklahoma and was suspended with Velton Gardner for the Prairie View A&M game. Wheaton took advantage of his opportunity in Ford Stadium and parlayed that into a starting nod vs. the Horned Frogs.

“I thought we ran the ball well,” Lashlee said after the game. “Thought we did a good job up front and tight end. I thought Camar ran well, thought Jaylan ran well. I thought even Tyler (Lavine) got in there and did what Tyler does and was productive and reliable. LJ wasn’t able to go and we didn’t think he would be.”

The running backs and offensive line worked in tandem to rush for 158 yards and two touchdowns on 39 carries. Against a defense that usually presents issues running the ball, SMU’s backs averaged 4.82 yards per carry.

While the Mustangs didn’t come away with the Iron Skillet, quarterback Preston Stone was one of many Mustangs happy for Wheaton. Wheaton’s still developing and far from perfect, but it was a step in the right direction.

“That was awesome,” Stone said. “Myself, I’m pretty sure Zay (Isaiah Nwokobia) has known Camar since we were little kids. To see Camar go out and just be Camar today was awesome. It was like we were playing middle school football again. He was doing his thing. We’d never practiced, no one had ever talked about him jumping over the line for a touchdown, that was all Camar. So that was really, really cool to see I was really, really proud of Camar the way he stepped up.”

Safety Isaiah Nwokobia, who also grew up playing with the former Dallas area standout, said it meant a lot to see Wheaton get his shot.

“Been knowing him since we were kids, when we were young. It was good to see him back in his element, playing the game that he loves,” Nwokobia said. “It was great to see a childhood friend going out there and just enjoying the game. So, absolutely super happy for him.”

That leap over the top for a score might’ve been symbolic of an even bigger jump in Wheaton’s role on this team. That might make his teammates even happier.