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SMU has aspirations to win a conference title this year. To do so, the Mustangs will have to climb from their preseason ranking. SMU was picked fourth in the American Athletic Conference preseason media poll, the conference announced during its virtual media day on Thursday. Houston edged Cincinnati - the first non-Power Five team to make the College Football Playoff - in total votes to take the top spot in the preseason rankings, even though Cincinnati had three more first place votes. UCF was picked third in the media poll.

Each of the top three teams will leave the AAC for the Big 12 after this season. SMU and new head coach Rhett Lashlee is the highest-ranked team among those that will remain in the conference after this year. Though SMU has a new coach, the Mustangs do return a lot of talent from a team that started 7-0 last season and rose to the top-20 of the AP college football rankings, but finished 1-4 down the stretch. Head coach Sonny Dykes agreed to go to rival TCU before the season ended. - Dallas Morning News

(DS#10 WR) Sr/2023

WR Rashee Rice, Southern Methodist
News Source: Dallas Morning News
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07/30/22 - Isaac Slade-Matautia, rSr/2023, Southern Methodist, 6-0, 225 (DS#29 ILB) + More +

2022 PRESEASON BUTKUS AWARD WATCHLIST: Isaac Slade-Matautia, SMU,...Slade-Matautia saw action in all 12 games in 2021 after transferring to SMU following three seasons of action at Oregon. He registered 31 tackles, including 2.5 TFLs and a sack, added a team-high two interceptions for 27 yards and had a fumble recovery and two pass breakups. - SMU Football

(DS#29 ILB) rSr/2023

ILB Isaac Slade-Matautia, Southern Methodist
News Source: SMU Football
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07/29/22 - Elijah Chatman, rSr/2024, Southern Methodist, 5-11, 278 (DS#35 DT) + More +

2022 PRESEASON OUTLAND TROPHY WATCHLIST: DT Elijah Chatman, SMU,...Chatman is the first Mustang to be mentioned on the Nagurski list since Justin Lawler in 2017, while the Outland nod gives SMU a student-athlete on the list for the third consecutive season (Jaylon Thomas, 2020-21). Chatman saw action in all 12 games, making 11 starts, and registered 40 tackles, including 10 TFLs for 39 yards and 2.5 sacks for 19. - SMU Football

(DS#35 DT) rSr/2024

DT Elijah Chatman, Southern Methodist
News Source: SMU Football
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07/29/22 - Elijah Chatman, rSr/2024, Southern Methodist, 5-11, 278 (DS#35 DT) + More +

2022 PRESEASON BRONKO NAGURSKI TROPHY WATCHLIST: DT Elijah Chatman, SMU,...Chatman saw action in all 12 games, making 11 starts, and registered 40 tackles, including 10 TFLs for 39 yards and 2.5 sacks for 19. He added a team-high two fumble recoveries, a forced fumble and three quarterback hurries. For his efforts, Chatman was named second-team All-American Athletic Conference. - SMU Football

(DS#35 DT) rSr/2024

DT Elijah Chatman, Southern Methodist
News Source: SMU Football
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07/29/22 - Tyler Van Dyke, rSr/2026, Southern Methodist, 6-4, 225 (DS#21 QB) + More +

The Miami Hurricanes hope the final season of Atlantic Coast Conference divisions in 2022 will be their best since they joined the league in 2004 and divisions were created in 2005. The national college football media believes it might be, with one crucial missing ingredient. The majority of a media contingent of 164 voters forecast the Hurricanes to win the league's Coastal Division and meet the Atlantic Division's Clemson Tigers in the Dec. 3 ACC championship at Bank of America Stadium - with Clemson predicted to emerge victorious for what would be its seventh ACC football title in nine years. Clemson was the favorite to win the conference championship in the poll that was released Tuesday, receiving 103 of the 164 total votes to take the ACC title and 111 votes to win the Atlantic Division.

UM was the favorite to win the Coastal, with 98 first-place votes. The Canes received eight votes to win the conference championship, third overall behind Clemson and North Carolina State (38). The Tigers posted a 10-3 record last season, but it was Wake Forest that won the Atlantic Division before falling to the Coastal's Pittsburgh in the league championship game. Miami (7-5 overall, 5-3 ACC) finished second in the Coastal last season. The media has Pitt finishing second in the Coastal to UM this season. The Hurricanes, who won national titles in 1983, '87, '89, '91 and 2001, have made it to the ACC title game only once - in 2017 when they went 10-3 and fell to Clemson 38-3 in the ACC title game. - Miami Herald

(DS#21 QB) rSr/2026

QB Tyler Van Dyke, Southern Methodist
News Source: Miami Herald
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07/25/22 - Tyler Van Dyke, rSr/2026, Southern Methodist, 6-4, 225 (DS#21 QB) + More +

University of Miami quarterback Tyler Van Dyke, tight end Will Mallory and defensive end Jahfari Harvey had just landed in Charlotte and were en route with coach Mario Cristobal to the Westin for the ACC media days, when the three made a pact. "Yeah, we're coming back here in December,'' they said. "That's the mindset first and foremost,'' Van Dyke, the 2021 Atlantic Coast Conference Rookie of the Year, told reporters Thursday at the ACC Football Kickoff. "We're in the Coastal [Division] and getting here and winning that ACC championship." If the Canes do win the ACC title Dec. 3 at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, it would be the first league title for Miami since joining the Atlantic Coast Conference in 2004. This will be UM's final opportunity to win the Coastal, since the conference is doing away with divisions beginning next season, when all 14 teams will battle for the top two spots to face each other in the ACC title game.

Van Dyke, a third-year sophomore, already this week was named to the watch list for the Maxwell Award, which goes to the player of the year at season's end, as well as the Davey O'Brien Award. He played in 10 games last season and started the final nine, completing 202 of 324 passes (62.3 percent) for 2,931 yards and 25 touchdowns, with six interceptions. Van Dyke, 6-4 and 224 pounds, ended the season with six consecutive games with at least 300 passing yards and at least three touchdown passes, becoming the first Power 5 quarterback quarterback to do so in a single season since LSU's Joe Burrow in 2019, when he won the Heisman Trophy. Van Dyke, by the way, said Thursday that people are always comparing him to Burrow. - Miami Herald

(DS#21 QB) rSr/2026

QB Tyler Van Dyke, Southern Methodist
News Source: Miami Herald
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07/24/22 - Jakai Clark, rSr/2025, Southern Methodist, 6-3, 334 (DS#49 OG) + More +

2022 PRESEASON RIMINGTON TROPHY WATCHLIST: Jakai Clark, Miami,...A fourth-year junior, Clark has participated in 32 of 36 contests since arriving in Coral Gables in 2019. He has already logged 30 starts as a collegian, notching at least nine each season. Over the last two years, Clark's stellar blocking ability has helped Miami average a superb 444.5 yards per game. That figure includes 144.3 rushing yards and 300.2 passing per contest over the course of 23 outings. Miami is home to one Rimington Trophy recipient, as Brett Romberg claimed the elite distinction in 2002. - Miami Football

(DS#49 OG) rSr/2025

OG Jakai Clark, Southern Methodist
News Source: Miami Football
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07/21/22 - Tyler Van Dyke, rSr/2026, Southern Methodist, 6-4, 225 (DS#21 QB) + More +

The latest odds are out on who will win the Heisman Trophy this college football season. Miami Hurricanes quarterback Tyler Van Dyke is listed at 33-1 odds, according to Bet365 and Vegas Insider, to win this year's Heisman Trophy. Former UCF quarterback Dillon Gabriel, who transferred to Oklahoma, is also listed at 33-1 odds. There are six players with shorter odds than Van Dyke and Gabriel. They are Ohio State quarterback C.J. Stroud (2-1), Alabama quarterback Bryce Young (3.5-1), USC quarterback Caleb Williams (8-1), Texas running back Bijon Robinson (20-1), Clemson quarterback D.J. Uiagalelei (25-1) and Texas quarterback Quinn Ewers (28-1). Since 2000, quarterbacks have won the Heisman Trophy 18 times. - Miami Herald

(DS#21 QB) rSr/2026

QB Tyler Van Dyke, Southern Methodist
News Source: Miami Herald
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07/20/22 - Tyler Van Dyke, rSr/2026, Southern Methodist, 6-4, 225 (DS#21 QB) + More +

2022 PRESEASON DAVEY O'BRIEN NATIONAL QUARTERBACK AWARD WATCH LIST: Tyler Van Dyke, Miami, So., 6-4, 224, Glastonbury, Conn.,...The 2021 ACC Rookie of the Year, Van Dyke threw for 2,931 yards and 25 touchdowns in just 10 games, nine of which he started. A five-time ACC Rookie of the Week, Van Dyke completed 62.3 percent of his passes, the sixth-best single-season mark in program history, and threw only five interceptions. In addition, Van Dyke became the first Power Five quarterback since LSU's Joe Burrow in 2019 to throw for 300-plus yards and three-plus touchdowns in six straight games. - Miami Football

(DS#21 QB) rSr/2026

QB Tyler Van Dyke, Southern Methodist
News Source: Miami Football
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07/20/22 - Tyler Van Dyke, rSr/2026, Southern Methodist, 6-4, 225 (DS#21 QB) + More +

2022 PRESEASON MAXWELL AWARD WATCH LIST: Tyler Van Dyke, Miami,...In 2021, Miami quarterback Tyler Van Dyke had second shot at a "true freshman" season thanks to the NCAA's gracious "Covid" ruling. So forget his 2020 efforts with in a couple of games. So as a second-season true freshman in 2021, Van Dyke (6-4, 224), dazzled in first season as starting quarterback, earning ACC Rookie of the Year and ACC Offensive Rookie of the Year honors…Started final nine games of season and saw action in 10 games total…Took over starting duties due to injury to QB D'Eriq King three games into season and ended year by throwing for 2,931 yards.

Totaled 25 passing touchdowns compared to just six interceptions and completed 62.3 percent of pass attempts (202 of 324)…Added one rushing touchdown…Earned ACC Rookie of the Week five times over course of year…Ended season with six straight games with at least 300 passing yards and at least three touchdown passes, becoming first Power-5 quarterback to record such a streak in a single season since Joe Burrow of LSU in his 2019 Heisman Trophy-winning campaign and Burrow has already been to a Super Bowl. Van Dyke became third Miami player to win both ACC Rookie of the Year and ACC Offensive Rookie of the Year, joining RB Duke Johnson (2012) and QB Brad Kaaya (2014). - Miami Football

(DS#21 QB) rSr/2026

QB Tyler Van Dyke, Southern Methodist
News Source: Miami Football
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07/18/22 - Charles Woods, rSr/2024, Southern Methodist, 5-11, 184 (DS#127 CB) + More +

If there's one quality that a defensive back must have, it's confidence. Confidence he can make the next play. Confidence that a recent bad play won't be repeated. It's as much mindset as anything, but without it, those players charged with covering the fastest, rangiest offensive weapons the opposing team can muster are dead in the water before the ball is snapped. West Virginia senior defensive back Charles Woods has it, and he isn't shy about discussing it. "We play one of the hardest positions on the field, and if you get beat, you can't let that mess with you. If you do, you are probably going to get beat the rest of the game. You have to have that mindset of what's next," Woods explained.

There's no backing down in the Illinois State transfer, who wanted to prove himself against top-tier competition. "It was to prove to everyone I could play at this level," he said of the reasons for his move to WVU, which came after he earned FCS honorable mention All-America honors after his second season with the Redbirds. "Coming out of high school, I was under recruited, because I didn't fit the eye test. So I wanted to prove to everyone I could play with the best. It gave me a big boost to my confidence, so having made some plays at this level, I think my confidence is through the roof right now." - Charleston Gazette-Mail

(DS#127 CB) rSr/2024

CB Charles Woods, Southern Methodist
News Source: Charleston Gazette-Mail
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06/22/22 - Zion Nelson, rSr/2026, Southern Methodist, 6-5, 316 (DS#58 OT) + More +

Miami offensive lineman Zion Nelson is not necessarily an unknown prospect. Most preseason previews have tabbed him as an All-American in some capacity or another. He has held down Miami's starting left tackle spot since he was a freshman, which is an incredible accomplishment in its own. The thing about 2022 is that Miami will be more under a microscope in Mario Cristobal's first year, which is great news for Nelson - if he can maintain his elite level of play. Blocking a whole season in an offense that should take a huge leap with Tyler Van Dyke established as the starter will give NFL teams a ton of quality film to look at for Nelson. - Miami Herald and online sources

(DS#58 OT) rSr/2026

OT Zion Nelson, Southern Methodist
News Source: Miami Herald and online sources
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06/06/22 - Velton Gardner, rSr/2024, Southern Methodist, 5-09, 189 (DS#999 RB) + More +

Former Kansas running back Velton Gardner announced on social media that he will be playing for the SMU Mustangs. Gardner was a three-star recruit and the No. 51 athlete in the Class of 2019, according to the industry-generated 247Sports Composite rankings. Gardner chose the Jayhawks over other scholarship offers from schools like Texas Tech, Kansas State, Arkansas State, BGSU and others. As a true freshman at Kansas, Gardner carried the ball 26 times for 138 yards and a pair of touchdowns. As a sophomore, Gardner saw his role expand, tallying 325 rushing yards and two touchdowns on 72 attempts. Last fall, Gardner was limited to three games, and he ran for 56 yards in those appearances. - 247 Sports

(DS#999 RB) rSr/2024

RB Velton Gardner, Southern Methodist
News Source: 247 Sports
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05/27/22 - Tyler Van Dyke, rSr/2026, Southern Methodist, 6-4, 225 (DS#21 QB) + More +

The Miami Hurricanes' first game under Mario Cristobal will take place in the afternoon at Hard Rock Stadium, and his first marquee game will unfold in prime time on national television. The Atlantic Coast Conference announced on Thursday that UM's season opener against Bethune Cookman has been set for 3:30 p.m. on Sept. 3 at Hard Rock Stadium and will be televised on ACC Network. Meanwhile, ESPN announced it will televise UM's Sept. 17 game at Texas A&M at 9 p.m. UM has two other non-conference games: home on Sept. 10 against Southern Mississippi and home on Sept. 24 against Middle Tennessee State. The Southern Mississippi game was set for noon and will be televised on ACC Network. Kickoff time and TV information weren't announced for the Middle Tennessee game. - Miami Herald

(DS#21 QB) rSr/2026

QB Tyler Van Dyke, Southern Methodist
News Source: Miami Herald
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05/26/22 - Junior Aho, Sr/2023, Southern Methodist, 6-2, 260 (DS#42 DE) + More +

Significant departures are almost an inevitability in this era of college football. On the defensive line, SMU had a few due to graduation, but aside from that the Mustangs remained relatively untouched. A lot of talent is back for SMU. The duo of DeVere Levelston and Elijah Chatman emerged as difference makers a season ago. They each had double-digit tackles for loss - the only two members on the team to do so - and Levelston had a team-high 6.5 sacks. The spring also showcased a couple players who could be ready to take the next step in 2022. In January, Junior Aho - a 6-foot-4, 270-pound defensive lineman from France - posted a video of a 4.53 40-yard dash he ran. That speed translated to the final spring showcase. If there was a MVP of that game, Aho would've got it. He had multiple sacks and impressive run stops made quickly. - Dallas Morning News

(DS#42 DE) Sr/2023

DE Junior Aho, Southern Methodist
News Source: Dallas Morning News
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