SMU Football spring practice stock risers... so far

SMU Football wraps up another week of spring football practice on Friday with a night practice. The Mustangs are three weeks away from their Spring Game at Highland Park High School.

Rhett Lashlee’s staff brought in plenty of competition this spring via the transfer portal. That’s raised the game of newcomers and returners alike.

There are others like Preston Stone, Jordan Kerley, Hyrin White, Jordan Miller, Ahmad Walker, Charles Woods and others with high expectations entering spring. They’re among those playing at a high level, but we wanted to single out some big movers.

Here are a few SMU players making waves in our view so far in spring practice.

RB Jaylan Knighton: Knighton came to SMU from Miami with high expectations, but it’s pretty safe to say he’s exceeded them. We had Knighton as a player to watch as an All-AAC type performer, but the stock is even higher now. Knighton has caught the ball well, showed his shiftiness running and receiving, and has a combo of physicality and speed that’s impressive. His physicality was undersold. Knighton runs pissed off, never shying away from contact and putting his head or shoulder into a defender. The end of Thursday’s practice exemplified this best on three straight runs. Knighton is fearless.

OL Thalen Robinson: Robinson missed all of last year, but watched and coached closely throughout the season. Still in a red jersey, he’s showing his enthusiasm and energy in practice. He’ll talk trash and back it up with his effort. Robinson is one of the biggest bodies on the team and is impressive overall after being hurt last year. If he can be the 6th lineman for SMU, the team is much better for it.

TE Nolan Matthews: Matthews was dinged up a fair amount last year and hasn’t fully put it together since arriving from Arizona State. This spring though, he’s been healthy, physical and fairly reliable. Everyone knows the budding star SMU has in RJ Maryland and that the staff could bring in help from the portal, but Matthews isn’t going away quietly. He’s showed an edge blocking and is getting open in the passing game. If SMU can get this consistently out of him, it’d be huge.

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DE Braeden Flowers: Flowers is getting second team reps after enrolling early as one of four 2023 signees. Flowers is developing and as players return from injury like Jayden Jones and Stephon Wright, might fall out of the two-deep. That said, it’s apparent why the staff plucked him out of San Antonio. He’s flashed well and we’re high on his long term future after being a sleeper type pickup.

LB JaQwondis Burns: Scott Symons said Burns might’ve gotten too heavy at the end of last season. Now with a bit of an offseason under his belt, he’s trimmed down and is displaying impressive burst, speed and overall athleticism. Burns made a few flash type plays whether on blitzes or making tackles. Ahmad Walker and Chris Adimora are both pushing hard, but Burns has stepped up to perform well in spring so far. We’re feeling better about him locking down a starting role this season.

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S Jonathan McGill: The buzz around Stanford transfer Jonathan McGill is real. Symons, safeties coach Kyle Cooper and others have raved about the Coppell, Texas native. McGill was a captain at Stanford and is doing everything he can to raise the bar for the SMU secondary. McGill is a sure tackler and smart in the secondary. He looks like the Day 1 starter we expected, but even more so, he’s set a tone in the safety group that’s been terrific to see.

S Isaiah Nwokobia: From looking like a transfer to being hurt, Nwokobia had a bit of a fall from grace on the Hilltop. A coaching change and an offseason committed to getting healthy allowed him this spring of opportunity. There’s a lot of competition in the safety group and it’ll be tough for him to play a ton of snaps, but he’s made waves. He had a near interception this week in his first practice without a red jersey on. If Nwokobia is committed to being at SMU long-term and locking in on the football side of things, this is the type of player SMU fans can start to get excited about again.

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