Watch List Round-Up: SMU Mustangs aim for college football awards

As the SMU Mustangs kick off the 2024 season on Saturday, they’ll field numerous players hoping to earn post-season awards for their performances. Rhett Lashlee’s third-year squad features 17 members named to preseason watch lists for some of the most prestigious national awards.

After SMU’s 11-3 finish in the 2023 season, the team boasted six First-Team All-AAC honorees, as well as five Second-Team honorees, four third-teamers and three players with honorable mentions. No players earned any national awards last season, however, it’s a new day on the Hilltop. With the Mustangs’ move to the ACC comes fresh opportunity for national recognition.

SMU Mustangs make preseason award watch lists

Preston Stone, QB

Returning for another season as the Mustangs’ starting quarterback, Preston Stone has been recognized for a litany of awards, including the ones that honor that best quarterback in the nation – the Manning Award, the Davey O’Brien Award, and the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award. He’s also in the running for awards honoring the best overall offensive player, such as the Maxwell Award and the Earl Campbell Tyler Rose Award.

Entering his fourth year in collegiate football, Stone is also eligible to participate in the East-West Shrine Bowl, thus earning a spot on the top 1000 watch list. He is also one of nine Mustangs on the Reese’s Senior Bowl watch list.

Justin Osborne, C

Justin Osborne, making the move to center for SMU and now a two-time captain, has earned his place on the preseason lists for the best center and best offensive lineman in the nation – the Rimington Award and the Outland Trophy. Last season, Osborne anchored an offensive line that gave up just 16 sacks. As he’s nearing the end of his time in college, he’s also on the East-West Shrine Bowl’s 1000 List.

Jonathan McGill, S

Coppell, Tex. native Jonathan McGill returned to DFW last year after four years with the Stanford Cardinal. He has quickly earned recognition for his community work, earning spots on the AFCA Good Works Team nominee list and the Allstate Wuerffel Trophy watch list. Entering his final collegiate season, McGill also landed on the East-West Shrine Bowl list.

RJ Maryland, TE

Another Dallas-area native, RJ Maryland returns after a breakout season for SMU in 2023. After finishing second on the team in receptions with 34 catches and seven touchdowns, he is now on the Mackey Award watch list, recognizing the nation’s top tight ends.

Elijah Roberts, DE

One of SMU’s many transfers from Miami, Roberts is in the running for one of the top defensive awards in the nation as he enters his second season with SMU. He landed a spot on the Chuck Bednarik Award watch list, which goes to the No. 1 defensive player in the country. His 9.5 sacks last season led the team and caught the eye of the scouts. He’s also on the East-West Shrine Bowl watch list. Roberts is a star at SMU and could reintroduce himself to the ACC in a big way this fall.

Jaylan Knighton, RB

The East-West Shrine Bowl scouts are keeping an eye on Jaylan Knighton this season after he led SMU in rushing yards in 2023 with 745 in the regular season. He also has the attention of the Doak Walker Award voters, who select the nation’s top running back. He’s entering Year 5 after playing his first three at Miami.

Logan Parr, LG

Former Texas transfer Logan Parr is in the running for another one of the league’s most prestigious lineman awards, the Lombardi Award. Unlike the Outland Trophy, the Lombardi Award can go to either an offensive lineman or a defensive lineman. Parr earned All-AAC First-Team honors after starting 13 games at left guard for the Mustangs.

Brashard Smith, RB/KR

Smith, a first-year transfer from the University of Miami, brings an impressive resume to the Hilltop, one that has earned him a spot on the Jet Award Preseason Watch List, which recognizes the nation’s top return specialist. Last season, he made the All-ACC Second Team as a specialist after returning 20 kickoffs for 423 yards and a touchdown. In his three years with the Hurricanes, he totaled 1,946 all-purpose yards with six touchdowns.

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More Mustangs on the East-West Shrine Bowl, Reese’s Senior Bowl Watch Lists

East West Shrine Bowl 1000 List

Jake Bailey, WR

The Mustangs’ top receiver last season, Jake Bailey enters Year 3 with the team this season after spending 2019 through 2021 at Rice. His best season statistically was in 2021, when he posted 56 catches for 714 yards and two touchdowns. He finished the 2023 season at SMU with 42 receptions, 528 yards and he served as a team captain.

Romello Brinson, WR

A 2023 transfer from Miami, Romello Brinson finished the 2023 season as the Mustangs’ fourth-leading receiver in total yards with 431 yards on 28 receptions. He also had two touchdowns. 

Brandon Crossley, CB

A fifth-year contributor for SMU, Crossley is entering Year 6 in college football after beginning his career at Colorado State. A Dallas native, Crossley was also on the East-West Shrine Bowl list last preseason, however, due to injury, he appeared in just six games, tallying 14 tackles in 2023.

Moochie Dixon, WR

Moochie Dixon begins Year 3 with SMU this season after starting his career as a contributor for Texas. He had his most productive season yet in 2023, tallying 28 receptions for 441 yards with four touchdowns.

Jared Harrison-Hunte, DT

Former Miami Hurricanes defender Jared Harrison-Hunte hasn’t played a game yet for SMU, however, his previous experience has landed him on the East-West Shrine Bowl watch list. Last season, he started 11 games for Miami, tallying 26 tackles, three tackles for loss and two sacks. Recruited to Miami out of New York, Harrison-Hunte has five years in college football under his belt.

Isaiah Nwokobia, S

The champion of the Mustangs’ 2023 battle against Tulane for the AAC title, Isaiah Nwokobia ended the 2023 season with a team-high of four interceptions. He also had 61 tackles with 4.5 tackles for loss and a sack. He’s entering his fourth season in college football, which have all been at SMU.

CJ Sanders, S

Cale Sanders Jr. was one of the nine Mustang defenders to come up with an interception last season, his third in CFB. The Texas native began his career at Fresno State before moving to SMU before the 2023 season, during which he tallied 31 tackles, as well as three forced fumbles and four tackles for loss.

Reese’s Senior Bowl Watch List

Anthony Booker Jr., DT

Defensive tackle Anthony Booker Jr. makes his third stop in college football with SMU after four years at Maryland, followed by one year at Arkansas. Though he had 19 tackles with a half sack last season, his most productive on the stat sheet was in 2022 at Maryland. He posted 25 tackles, including two sacks, as well as two forced fumbles. 

Jahfari Harvey, Bandit

A four-year contributor at Miami, Jahfari Harvey will play his sixth season with the SMU Mustangs after transferring for 2024. In five years with the Hurricanes, he had 9.5 sacks and he pulled down one interception that he returned for a score against North Carolina in 2021.