Can the SMU Mustangs make it five straight NFL Draft showings with at least one selection in the 2024 NFL Draft? If the pieces come together after a tumultuous offseason, there’s a chance they could match their output from 2023 or even exceed it.
SMU Mustangs NFL Draft Prospects
The Mustangs arguably lost their two best players in the 2023 offseason. Wide receiver Rashee Rice declared for the 2023 NFL Draft and was drafted by the Kansas City Chiefs in Round 2. Meanwhile, quarterback Tanner Mordecai transferred to Wisconsin to end his career on a Power Five stage.
Luckily, aside from those two losses, the Mustangs didn’t see too much turnover. They did lose offensive lineman Jaylon Thomas and linebacker Jimmy Phillips III, but they got back a host of players in the transfer portal. And at positions of need, they have talented players like Preston Stone and Jordan Kerley in line to take charge.
Preston Stone, QB
The Mustangs lost incumbent starting QB Mordecai to the Badgers through the transfer portal, leaving redshirt sophomore Stone as the starter.
Though Stone is unproven, his position isn’t without merit. The 6’1″, 219-pound passer was a four-star recruit coming out of high school, and he flashed promise in limited action last year, completing 28 of 48 attempts for 388 yards, two scores, and a pick.
Jaylan Knighton, RB
Headlining a swarm of SMU transfers from the Miami Hurricanes’ roster is running back Jaylan Knighton, who served as a regular part of Miami’s rotation from 2020 to 2022.
In 2021, Knighton racked up 561 yards and eight scores and also put up 20 catches for 280 yards and an additional TD. Though his touches decreased in 2022, his efficiency rose. The 5’10”, 185-pound back has explosive burst, underrated contact balance, and receiving utility.
Jordan Kerley, WR
After losing Rice to the Chiefs in Round 2 of the 2023 NFL Draft, the Mustangs will be looking for their next top receiving threat. Kerley, a former Arizona State transfer who stands around 6’2″, 196 pounds, is the leader in the clubhouse. Kerley racked up 36 receptions for 588 yards and six scores in 2022. He’s a legitimate threat to flip the field with his vertical speed, and he has stellar ball-tracking ability as well.
Jake Bailey, WR
Alongside Kerley, Jake Bailey is another receiver who may be relied upon to provide dynamic upside for the SMU offense. Bailey played at Rice from 2019 to 2021. Not only did he provide value as a returner, but he also caught 56 passes for 714 yards in 2021.
He was on his way to a potential career year with SMU in 2022 before an injury limited him to just four games. The 5’10”, 188-pound receiver has immense potential with an opportunity on deck.
Romello Brinson, WR
Romello Brinson is the least established of the Mustangs’ receivers, but his pedigree makes him hard to overlook in our 2024 NFL Draft preview. Brinson was a four-star recruit who was labeled as having NFL upside coming out of high school.
But in two seasons with the Miami Hurricanes, he totaled just 14 catches for 189 yards and a score. A long, lanky deep threat with build-up speed, Brinson could be a riser with a new setting to play from.
Marcus Bryant, OT
Last cycle, the Mustangs had an offensive lineman worth watching in Jaylon Thomas. This cycle, the man to keep an eye on is Marcus Bryant, and he’s hard to miss.
The Mustangs left tackle towers at 6’8″, 318 pounds, with NFL size, length, and mass. He’s predictably a lumbering athlete at that size, whose feet can be heavier than preferred. That said, he has shown he can align his frame properly and adjust his base to handle stunts.
Jakai Clark, C
Jakai Clark is an incredibly valuable transfer addition for the Mustangs and one of several additions from the Hurricanes’ roster. For the better part of his entire four-year career at Miami, Clark was a starter, seeing time at both center and right guard.
Set to start at center for SMU in 2023, the 6’3″, 305-pound blocker has good eyes pre-snap and a strong lower body. He’s not much of a factor as a space blocker, but he can hold his own in the trenches.
DeVere Levelston, DT
The builds within SMU’s interior defensive line group are somewhat unorthodox, but there are prospects to know within that pool. DeVere Levelston was an all-conference performer in 2021 with 6.5 sacks and 10.5 tackles for loss.
2022 was a relatively down year, but the 6’5″, 289-pound defender still presents intrigue. He has good burst off the line and a long frame that can scrape through attrition blocks, and he has some alignment flexibility as well.
Elijah Chatman, DT
While Levelston profiles as the long, forklift-esque defender on SMU’s line, Elijah Chatman is the sawed-off destroyer with similar alignment flexibility. At 6’0″, 278 pounds, size and length are notable weaknesses in Chatman’s game.
But that hasn’t stopped him from producing to the tune of nine sacks and 24 TFLs across four seasons. Chatman is an energetic ball of knives on the interior whose athleticism and urgency help to maximize disruption.
Jordan Miller, DT
Levelston and Chatman both profile best in the range between 3-tech and 5-tech when isolated to one-on-one matchups. That player type works best when there’s a nose tackle to encumber blocks between them.
The Mustangs hope they acquired that kind of player with Miami (FL) transfer Jordan Miller. The 6’3″, 307-pounder has a powerful lower body and easy leverage acquisition — tools that enabled him to log 11 TFLs over four seasons.
Nelson Paul, EDGE
SMU’s most productive rush linebacker in the returning pool is Nelson Paul, a 6’2″, 237-pound defender who put up 44 tackles, nine TFLs, five sacks, and a forced fumble in 2022.
At his size, without elite burst or bend, it’s unclear how Paul will translate to the professional game. But at the very least, he does have some lateral flexibility and power capacity in his corner, and he can align his base to drive power through reps.
Ahmad Walker, LB
After the loss of Jimmy Phillips III, the Mustangs went to the transfer portal to re-invest in their linebacker unit. They added one of the more underrated players on the circuit in Liberty’s Ahmad Walker.
Though Walker stands at just 5’11”, 228 pounds, he was a banshee behind the line of scrimmage in 2022, registering 11 TFLs in addition to 63 total tackles, four sacks, a pick, two deflections, and a forced fumble.
Jahari Rogers, CB
SMU’s secondary has newfound depth with a wave of transfer additions, so nothing is guaranteed. But based on his performance in 2022, Jahari Rogers should have the first reps on the boundary.
The 6’0″, 187-pound Florida transfer hauled in two picks and three pass deflections in 2022 after racking up seven deflections in 2021. He can still seek greater consistency, but he has the explosiveness and sinking capacity to match just about anyone.
Charles Woods, CB
The arrival of Charles Woods from West Virginia should help grant the SMU secondary more playmaking ability and versatility. Woods was a high school receiver who went on to star as a cornerback at Illinois State, then made a name for himself at West Virginia with two picks and four deflections in 2021.
The 5’11”, 191-pound defender is coming off a 2022 campaign that was shortened by an ankle injury, but his playmaking ability can help him stand out again.
Brandon Crossley, DB
Brandon Crossley could be a player to watch as a deep sleeper in the Group of Five ranks. Particularly, his natural ability as a nickel defender is what makes him so intriguing.
In 2022, the 6’0″, 186-pound Crossley was one of SMU’s best defenders, accumulating 42 tackles, six TFLs, a pick, and five deflections. Crossley is twitchy, fleet-footed, and aggressive in support, and he also flashes impressive blind spot awareness and recovery ability downfield.
Jonathan McGill, S
Another veteran joining the Mustangs’ secondary via transfer is former Stanford standout Jonathan McGill. The 5’10”, 186-pound McGill began his career at Stanford as a cornerback before transitioning to safety and holding that role from 2020 to 2022.
2022 was McGill’s best season, as he accrued 51 tackles, 5.5 TFLs, a sack, an interception, and seven pass deflections. He’s undersized but experienced and productive and could be a major force for SMU.
Ryan Bujcevski, P
The hope is that the Mustangs won’t be punting much in 2023. But it’s an inevitable phase of the game at the end of the day and one that could help punter Ryan Bujcevski shine again.
Bujcevski transferred from Texas to SMU in 2022 and took advantage of the opportunity. The 6’0″, 177-pound specialist averaged 43.7 yards per punt on 40 attempts, with a long of 64 yards. He also displayed accuracy, forcing 15 fair catches inside the 20-yard line.
Other Notable Names
- Tyler Lavine, RB
- Camar Wheaton, RB
- L.J. Johnson, RB
- Beau Corrales, WR
- Justin Osborne, G
- Stephon Wright, DT
- Kori Roberson, DT
- Je’lin Samuels, EDGE
- David Abiara, EDGE
- Chris Megginson, CB
- Cale Sanders Jr., DB
- Bryan Massey, S
SMU Mustangs Schedule
- Week 1
BYE - Week 2
Sept. 2: vs. Louisiana Tech Bulldogs - Week 3
Sept. 9: at Oklahoma Sooners - Week 4
Sept. 16: vs. Prairie View A&M Panthers - Week 5
Sept. 23: at TCU Horned Frogs - Week 6
Sept. 30: vs. Charlotte 49ers - Week 7
BYE - Week 8
Oct. 12: at East Carolina Pirates - Week 9
Oct. 20: at Temple Owls - Week 10
Oct. 28: vs. Tulsa Golden Hurricane - Week 11
Nov. 4: at Rice Owls - Week 12
Nov. 10: vs. North Texas Mean Green - Week 13
Nov. 18: at Memphis Tigers - Week 14
Nov. 25: vs. Navy Midshipmen - Week 15
BYE