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SMU Mustangs Preview 2022: Offense It’s a Rhett Lashlee-coached team. It’s going to throw the ball – he’s a former SMU offensive coordinator under Sonny Dykes – and it’s going to crank up the production. The offense is loaded with experienced parts, good skill guys, and the line to make it all work from the No. 1 AAC attack last year. It led the league with 466 yards and 38 points per game, but it couldn’t rise up and come through down the stretch of a rough second half of the season. Lashlee and offensive coordinator Casey Woods have their veteran quarterback to make it all go. Former Oklahoma transfer Tanner Mordecai threw for over 3,600 yards and 39 touchdowns with 12 picks in an All-AAC season, and Preston Stone is a rising talent who’ll get every shot at the gig. The receivers are there to make it all rock, even with Danny Gray, Reggie Roberson, and TE Grant Calcaterra – three of the team’s top four targets – done. Leading receiver Rashee Rice – 64 catches with nine scores – is back – he’s the No. 1 guy – and the corps landed a few great parts with All-Conference USA target Jake Bailey from Rice, Beau Corrales from North Carolina, and Kelvontay Dixon from Texas. The running game should be like it was last year. It might not blast away for a gazillion yards per game, but as long as it’s averaging around 4.6 yards per carry again, it’ll be doing its job. Longtime all-around factor Ulysses Bentley is off to Ole Miss, but former North Texas transfer Tre Siggers is back after averaging five yards per pop with nine scores, and with a team-high 727 yards. TJ McDaniel is back after suffering an injury, and ready to roll is Alabama transfer Camar Wheaton. The talent is there from Wheaton and the rest of the backs to do the job. The SMU line will play around with the veteran parts – four starters are expected back from the end of last year – but Alan Ali is off to TCU and the depth will have to come from the transfer portal. Overall, the group that was the best in the AAC in pass protection should be fine once the staff comes up with the right starting five. Read more: https://collegefootballnews.com/2022/06/smu-mustangs-preview-2022-season-prediction-breakdown-key-games-players

"We do have the one thing you can't win in college football without, and that's good quarterback play," Lashlee told 247Sports Brandon Marcello on the College Football Daily podcast. "Tanner Mordecai had a fantastic year last year so we're fortunate to have him back. We are fortunate to have a [redshirt] freshman quarterback in Preston Stone who is the highest-rated player to ever come to SMU. So we have two quarterbacks we feel we can win with. If you have a quarterback, you have chance. Having [Mordecai and Stone] allows us to spend time trying fill those holes so we don't miss a beat on offense." SMU will open its 2022 campaign at area foe North Texas Sept. 3. The two will become conference foes in a year from now as UNT will join the American Conference in July 2023. AAC play starts for SMU against UCF -- the Knights are entering their final year in the league before entering the Big 12 -- after additional non-conference clashes against Lamar, Maryland and TCU. Read more: https://247sports.com/Article/SMU-football-Rhett-Lashlee-touts-1-2-punch-at-QB-with-Tanner-Mordecai-Preston-Stone--188811417/