SMU Football Position Preview: Can RJ Maryland reach stardom? Revamped LB room key to SMU's defense

welcome in ladies and gentlemen to another edition of the on the Pony Express podcast I am Billy embody thanks for listening lots to get to today as we continue our fall Camp preview series with the tight ends and linebackers I know the Pac-12 media day was on Friday lots of news to get to on that but we're going to talk about that really on the members only pod on Wednesday a little bit but also I'm dropping this afternoon my latest update at on theponyexpress.com on where things stand with the Pac-12 SMU conference realignment media right steel all those things that I've picked up since the day happened on Friday where you know reports coming out that maybe there is no expansion on the horizon we'll kind of dive into that and see maybe why that is popping up all of a sudden so check that out at on the ponyexpress.com it'll be up by the end of the work day on Monday no doubt I'm still working the phones talked to a bunch of people last two days on that front so looking forward to kind of giving our subscribers the latest on that to just ten dollars a month to join on the ponyexpress.com perfect time to do it ahead of fall camp let's dive into a position that I think is going to be one of the keys to this 2023 offense and that is the tight end Brett Lashley asks a lot of them in this offense Casey Woods the offensive coordinator that's his position group and we saw in 2022 SMU emerge with one of the top young tight ends in the country and RJ Maryland he was smu's fifth leading receiver played in 13 games 28 receptions 296 yards six touchdowns we saw him have some big games some big moments we also saw him set smu's single season touchdown uh record for a tight end as a true freshman uh so he burst onto the scene in a big way in 2022 really kind of took a minute as a true freshman to really take the Reigns um had a big 51-yard touchdown catch against Maryland and I think that was the moment where look I saw the talent at South Lake Carroll when you go for over a thousand yards back-to-back Seasons um at that high level of Texas High School Football you're doing something right he was primarily playing wide receiver asking you got him in and bulked him up this off season he looks even bigger so he'll probably be able to hold his own a little bit more at the line of scrimmage and we'll talk about that in terms of blocking shortly but you look at this SME offense and you can date this all the way back to Chad Morris's involvement with tight ends you see games where they take off we've seen Colin granson we've seen all these Grant calcaterra where they had big games big moments and then others where the matchups don't necessarily dictate that as as much you can have RJ Maryland have two touchdowns against Tulane six receptions 61 yards look we know what happened in the Tulane game you can have them have four receptions 52 yards two touchdowns against Houston talk about the Maryland game five reception 35 yards against Cincinnati in a touchdown but then there are also moments where you know the Tulsa game zero for zero huge uh South Florida one for five Memphis one for three BYU one for six so you see these moments where they their usage or the or the production I should say kind of comes and goes and that's how the tight end position is in this offense but RJ Maryland is becoming somebody that SMU is going to have match up the cause match-up issues with on opposing off uh defenses and so I'm very intrigued to see how they go in year two with him now that he's out of full-off season now that he's bulked up even more what they can do with him offensively as far as a weapon uh goes that's going to be key uh for this 2023 offense Preston Stone taking over he's got Jordan curly he's got Jake Bailey Roderick Daniels Keyshawn Smith Jordan Hudson muchi Dixon I mean the list goes on at wide receiver at tight end it starts and as of right now ends with RJ Maryland in terms of guys you can truly trust so you look at the tight end position for SMU being outside of RJ Maryland a question mark Nolan Matthews Harris played in three games last year two receptions 28 yards um that was that's pretty much it cam Allen um was a guy that uh didn't do much at all I I'd have to check uh check his um actual profile right now and just see if he even did anything um I know he didn't have any receptions but um did get some time in games I believe uh just two games in 2022 but cam Allen is a guy who is just entering his third year of college football he was basically hitting the reset button when it comes to his role um once he got to SMU they kind of got him in as a body um Nolan Matthews Harris has that upside uh to be good he's coming off a very good spring um I think you've got to give credit where credit is due and Nolan Matthews Harris has that ability to maybe take that next step if he can be healthy and be not only a blocker but a pass catcher that's something where if SMU can get more movement from these tight ends in the Run blocking game I watched a little bit of film um with Brett Lashley at the Texas Coaches convention and we're not going to dive too much into it but basically these tight ends they developed over the course of the year that ability to maybe block and move the move the pile and and play with the right technique a lot of this is technique you know SMU wants their tight ends to block a certain way because they tee things up in a certain way and so SMU has to see these tight ends take that next step R.J Maryland he was a lanky little freshman last year he's bulked up he might be able to hold the Zone a little bit more but he has that understanding Maybe of what else you actually wants him to do from a blocking standpoint Gage Haskin who's a former walk-on he was somewhat serviceable as a Blocker we know he had his really big moments where he didn't he didn't make plays he didn't make plays or he made a play that really hurt SMU um you know a drop missed block against BYU resulting in the pick six it was a tough season for Gage Haskins so we'll see if he has a role this year because SMU did bring in four new tight ends they bring in Lonnie Johnson who enrolled early in the spring he's probably somebody that is a little bit of ways away as a tight end from contributing he's just needs to bulk up but he is kind of in that RJ Maryland role uh or mold I should say Adam Moore is a little bit more of a versatile tight end right now but more on the pass catching side he's got great athleticism he arrived in July he's going to be somebody that's playing catch-up a little bit as far as the position goes because of him arriving in July he had to finish up classes Tripp Reardon from right down the road and up the road I should say in Frisco he comes in as a big body if you're looking for somebody who comes in uh and has a chance to maybe surprise some people it's Tripp Reardon he's got he's about six five two forty uh has some really nice athleticism from what we've seen and heard he's kind of been at the surprise of the summer in a sense out of the freshman if he can carve out a role as a blocker that'd be big and then you bring in Micah hiltz from Texas state who's had a little bit of up and down career between injuries and usage and coaching changes in San Marcos and so for him this is a great opportunity to get a restart in his final year of college football he is a big frame guy about six six listed about 245. I don't know if he really is that 245 or it's just kind of packed on in a certain way but he has that opportunity as an older guy to maybe help with this physicality move the pile so they have options now to really help this run game maybe take that next step we know the talent that they brought in from a running game from a running back perspective for the 2023 season Jalen knighten L.J Johnson you have Kamar wheatonback Belton Gardner back um you know this is a group uh that has the potential to be very good because of the talent that they have um in in Tyler Levine of course uh in that room but if the tight ends can't give you what you need from a blocking perspective they're gonna have to get a little creative it's going to be maybe inconsistent you have a better game breaker in a Jalen night you have a thunder guy that you've added in L.J Johnson you have a veteran coming back in Tyler Levine Brett Lashley says he's basically cleared to go that's big news but the but the tight end position has to step up they have to give more in the Run blocking game because that is one of the key components of making this whole thing work offensively is getting just that little bit of room from these from these tight ends you know SMU has options now they do not have somebody that I would argue is is proven to be a reliable run blocker now we're talking about the tight end position you gotta factor in the new edition that SMB brought in from the defensive line to play a little HVAC that is Elijah Chapman now I think his role is going to be split for the most part obviously between the defensive line and h-back position the thing with Elijah Chapman and his usage is going to be well if you put them on the field we know his strength we know his ability to block he could you know pick up pass Pro a little bit but he's going to be one that they really focus on moving the pile and moving a big defensive lineman he has the strength to do that he's a hall we know that but you're dictating that for the most part you're going to run the football and you're taking away maybe another guy who could factor in as a true skill guy like a trip Reardon and Micah Hill it's maybe a Nolan Matthews Harris but it's gotten to the point where I think SMU they want to be able to gain that yard on Third and one or fourth and one or third and two you know you look at third and three and you look at some of the drives and the way asking you is run the ball throughout the year and then you get into short yardage and it's okay they got a chip away chip away and and it is not a sure thing you factor in Elijah Chapman they could do some heavy packages that's kind of a difference in terms of maybe your mindset overall as a team in terms of picking up that yard or two that you need in critical situations so Elijah Chapman's gonna factor in he's probably one of the wild cards of this offense in terms of his usage and how he's going to impact the Run game overall but watching in Spring ball he has that ability to really move a pile so I I think he's going to be very interesting uh to see how that works and if they're able to get a little bit of um you know push from him he's going to be somebody that can really impact that game in a big way um and for SMU that's going to be critical you know I think when they need to get them uh the ball they can do that a little bit as you're watching here on YouTube he's a load he is one of the strongest guys on the team there's no question about it but as he settles into that offensive you know mindset it's just an adjustment he has fall Camp to do that and he's going to get opportunities to make it happen um I just think sometimes you can over complicate things I don't think they're going to do that when it comes to Elijah Chapman and and what he can bring to the table um but again you put him on the field and if you you know want to do a heavy package you're you're looking you're looking at you know an interesting scenario when it comes to what else you can do offensively when he's out there so something that SMU is going to figure out how to work with um when it comes to the tight end position they they need a little bit of juice in that run game to do that they're going to need more and more from their tight ends as you see RJ Maryland picking up in pass Pro there so um I I feel like this is a group that you have a bona fide star in a sense in RJ Maryland we see what he's done we see what he can do I'm very intrigued to see how he puts it all together uh this year because this is when he can truly break out being all AAC guy um and and potentially be that first teamer for the next two years and who knows maybe three and out so tight end position has a really bright rising star in RJ Maryland but also you've got to see that run game assist come from them a little bit more it was a work in progress early last year came on a little bit better but they've got to figure out how to make that work so tight end position kind of a wild card in a sense outside of RJ Maryland before we go any further I gotta talk to you guys about bird dogs look I'm out there in the Sun at practice at games well I'm so excited for this football season to work with bird dogs so I've got my shorts here I just actually ordered some joggers and another pair of shorts they'll get here on Wednesday so I'll show you guys those next week but the big thing is is keeping cool in the summer and in the heat well this liner is clutch um they've got that you know sweat wicking um you know you know uh water kind of resistant type of fabric that breathes really well so it keeps you cool I also love the zippers on the pockets because that's that's clutch for me you know I've got car keys I've got um SD cards for my camera those can fit in there and these are these are waterproof they'll pretty much dry off really quickly so for a big sweater like me I can't believe how much uh I've been missing out on when it comes to bird dogs so check out bird dogs um I'll talk to you guys about the joggers when I get them in just order those so they'll be here this week but use promo code Pony for a free Yeti tumbler right here so get your bird dogs tumbler you can go to birddogs.com Pony or use the promo code Pony for your free bird dogs Yeti tumbler with your order we've had a bunch of people jump on board the bird dogs train so I love them looking forward to continuing uh our work with bird dogs so shout out bird dogs and uh appreciate their support of the on the Pony Express podcast when we jump into the linebacker room this is a group that we've already talked about the outside linebackers we're talking about your true middle will linebackers SME is pretty much going to be a nickel 95 of the time and the only time SMU was really in base last year was against UCF you know that was really the the game that uh SMU um and navy of course but UCF SMU was kind of having to play in that base defense and eventually UCF solved it and kind of broke the game open but for the most part SMU is gonna have two linebackers on the field and you look at what they brought in they brought in Ahmad Walker from Liberty and they brought in Kobe Wilson from Temple they also brought in two freshman linebackers now Alex Kilgore who enrolled in the spring and Brandon mazzono who jumped on board uh this summer um and and will be somebody that you probably look at as you know probably a special teamer at best as of now because you also returned Qantas Burns and you return Chris adamora who played Safety for you last year but has now moved up into that linebacker room campfire no longer with the program he's um headed off to uh junior college but this is a group that when you talk about playing two linebackers pretty much 95 percent of the time you're in a good situation from a depth standpoint would they like to have had one more I think for the season yeah absolutely Maurice Crum the new linebackers coach took over this position in the spring and I think really connected well with the guys and Scott Simon's trust Maurice Crum to keep that room headed in the right direction and the biggest piece to this I feel like in terms of how expectations and what the coaching staff wants needs to be um really kind of relayed and reiterated and taken into you know true account by the players is Ahmad Walker he played for Scott Simons at Liberty played as a true freshman burst on the scene was one of their best players when they beat Arkansas last year uh had 63 tackles 11 tackles for loss four sacks two pass breakups and a pick um in his second season with the Flames but after the season entered the portal you know the thing about Ahmad Walker is he is a leader Warner Robins is one of the best high school programs in the country year in year out and he comes from the state of Georgia and he walks right into Liberty and he plays a ton as a true freshman he's about 511 maybe six foot on a good day he's about 210 pounds I would guess but he is going to be somebody that has that mindset that SMU is needed at the position for a long long time and so I think that the biggest you know ad from the linebacker standpoint was certainly Ahmad Walker but Kobe Wilson is a guy that is going to factor in potentially as that other starter I think Ahmad Walker is going to start I think that's pretty clear in 2022 Kobe Wilson made 64 total tackles in the AAC um and across this whole season but temple in the AAC five and a half tackles for loss a sack and a half two pass breakups of force fumble two fumble recoveries he's played a lot of college football over the last three years with temple um he played in five games in that uh 2020 coveted year uh in 2021 he played in all 12 games 2022 I think he played in 12 as well he's got two years of Eligibility remaining just like Ahmad Walker you also factor in Chris adamora here making the move uh to linebacker but really the big thing is can jaquandis Burns turn that corner he played in a bunch of games last year for SMU he started one uh he made 14 tackles two tackles for loss a pass breakup and forced to Fumble he's got the size he's got the athleticism that's something he's had from the get-go what he has to do is put it together start to finish and SMB was really high on jaquanda's ability what he did last year was kind of faded late in the season this year I think he's really motivated because Ahmad Walker was brought in because Kobe Wilson was brought in by the competition he's going to be pushing and the biggest thing with his ability to push is all right if you can get to a point where Ahmad Walker is your starter and jaquantus burns and Kobe Wilson are kind of 1a1b that's kind of similar to a sense where you had Isaac slave matatiege Jimmy Phillips and Shannon Reed last year and you had jaquantus Burns as your fourth linebacker Chris adamora could be that fourth linebacker in a way but the the one thing I'll say is Alex Kilgore the true freshman who was asking who's highest rated signee on the on three industry ranking um last year is coming in and he has just blown everyone away um that's been something that's reiterated to me and if you talk to him if you ever meet him awesome young man really sharp was a leader at Katie paytow won a state championship as a junior and it's just one of those guys that is really really smart but he's also just scratching the surface of his potential he's about six two-ish 225 already he's going to take over for a mod Walker in the end at middle linebacker after Ahmad walker uh leaves SMU there's no doubt about that it's a matter of if they can't keep him off the field you know that that is something where Alex Kilgore were coming off the spring he was trending in such a way that like you gotta respect that about him is that he has that mindset and ability well if he's forcing your hand that he can't be taken off the field that's going to be an interesting Factor when it comes to the season I expect him to get some time against Louisiana Tech if SMU is able to you know start off strong get his feet wet I think the Vets are really going to be the key when it comes to Oklahoma that's an interesting atmosphere he'll get a lot of time against Prairie View a m um and then TCU and then you're kind of in the league play and you should know what you have from a standpoint of Alex Kilgore this year he's going to impact special teams right away I think he's just too big he's too strong he's too athletic not to play in just about every game this year um I don't think he's going to be one where SMU can even say man we'd love to play him in four games and Redshirt him but we just can't do that he's he can help us too much um and if injuries do happen you want them to be ready so he's somebody who's the the you know arrow is pointing up in a big way pretty quickly for SMU the biggest question with the linebackers is you have this defensive line that's been revamped that's going to help them make plays they've gotta overall get better at tackling you know you lose three guys that were veterans that helped you a lot well really you lost four that have played a good bit of football through their careers now you have this group coming in that really is pretty new overall um outside of Qantas Burns they can put their own stamp on this position if SMU can tackle the ball carrier take good angles do all those basic fundamental things at this position that Maurice Crum is entrusted with getting across to these guys the the defense could really take a big jump up this year because I feel like the depth they've added on the defensive line there should be no excuses two missing tackles taking bad angles and all those things that was something they worked a lot in the spring now you didn't have randomizeno you didn't have Kobe Wilson but you had a majority of your linebacker group there listening taking it all in Etc and that is something that if it can't get across to these guys it's gonna be another long season defensively in terms of missed tackles and that can't happen this year there's too much talent on this defense for missed tackles to blow what has a chance to be as one of smu's better defenses in the last 10 years really so I think this is a group that you've got to sit back and kind of wait and see what happens there are new faces there are talented players in the mix but there's also the question of all right when it all comes together how does it look this is a defense that is going to rely heavily on Ahmad Walker to lead you added Jonathan McGill on the back end you have some veteran leadership in Elijah Chapman devir levelston Elijah Roberts Jordan Miller they're growing into leaders I feel like you've got to get the most out of a mod Walker being in the middle creating the communication between the front four however you want to look at that group and the back end of the SEC uh defense for the secondary if a mod Walker can help set that tone this is a defense that has a chance to be pretty good they really do mod Walker's not scared of any stage he's shown that throughout his career he's going to set the tone for this linebacker room this year from what it seems like the wild cards Chris adamora Alex Kilgore can they force Maurice Crum and Scott Simon's hands in terms of playing them more if they do it's probably a good thing you know Kobe Wilson is going to be serviceable Qantas Burns they're looking for that next jump but if the high upside Chris adamora and the high upside freshman Alex Kilgore can take that step quickly and contribute that's big so we'll see it's definitely a wait and see position for me you got to see it come together it's it's pretty much all new and even jaquandis Burns has some questions he's the only returner really that's a group that is going to have to show it and they're going to get tested right away against Oklahoma with that run game so um obviously they'll have to play Louisiana Tech too but Oklahoma is really going to you know be physical they've got a good offensive line that's going to show us a lot in terms of where this group is going to be at um early in the season and then and then kind of see how it goes from there so that's kind of it on the preview front with the um tight ends and linebackers we'll be back later this week with more um you got wide receivers and Corners you got offensive line and uh safety so lots to get to as uh fall Camp is nearing we're just a weak-ish away AIC media day is uh Tuesday that kind of gets going today on Monday as I'm recording this um with their kickoff events but Tuesday is the big day where Rhett Lashley and Tyler Levine Elijah Chapman devir levelston and Marcus Bryant are all going to be in attendance in Arlington so stick to uh on the ponyexpress.com for full coverage of that we will catch you guys next time with another edition of the podcast but before I go check out our friends at Big Game USA get the official game ball of the SMU Mustangs I was told asking you just put in yet another order for fall Camp so gearing up with another round of footballs for the quarterbacks Preston Stone Kevin Jennings they all helped kind of design this but this is the one Preston Stone design so they're working uh through some design things with them getting them ready for the season so use promo code be on three that's the number three for 10 off your order and free shipping so you get about 15 bucks off and free shipping get this in time for the boulevard so check them out big game USA Friends of the podcasts appreciate their support guys hope you have a great rest of your week subscribe to on the ponyexpress.com subscribe to our YouTube channel we appreciate all the support you guys give us on the Pod and the site hope you guys have a great rest of the week and we will catch you next time lots to talk about this week as AAC media days and the final workout of the summer for SMU football is Wednesday morning so subscribe and uh we'll catch you next time thanks for listening