Identifying the 2020 roster: Offensive linemen

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Published Aug 27, 2020

Identifying the 2020 roster: Offensive linemen

The HillTopics

Staff

As SMU prepares for its Sept. 5 season opener at Texas State, The HillTopics will take a look at each position throughout the week. Today, we focus on the wide receivers.

Sunday, Aug. 23 - Quarterbacks

Monday, Aug. 24 - Running backs

Tuesday, Aug. 25 - Wide receivers

Wednesday, Aug. 26 - Tight ends

Thursday, Aug. 27 - Offensive linemen

Friday, Aug. 28 - Defensive linemen

Saturday, Aug. 29 - Linebackers

Sunday, Aug. 30 - Defensive backs

Sunday Aug. 30 - Special teams

OFFENSIVE LINEMEN ON ROSTER

Courtesy of SMUMustangs.com

Seniors	Juniors	Sophomores	Freshmen (HS)

Hayden Howerton	Jaylon Thomas	Thomas Shelmire	Marcus Smith
Beau Morris	Alan Ali		Brandon Hickman
Cobe Bryant	Demetri Jordan	Freshmen (RS/TR)	Erin Smith
Kadarius Smith		Danielson Ike	Marcus Bryant
		Justin Osborne	Dalton Perdue
		Tai Brooks	Ben Sparks
		Sam Burns	Jackson Ritz
		Henry Mossberg	Dylan Cordell
		Cameron Ervin	Tyler Bailey

The SMU defense recorded 51 sacks during the 2019 season.

In comparison, the SMU offense only allowed 17 sacks.

The offensive line was an underrated resource in the team's 10-win season in 2019. Solid protection of Shane Buechele resulted in the Mustangs averaging 489.8 yards and 41.8 points per game. The Mustangs ranked among the national top 10 in both total offense and scoring offense.

A scary fact for the rest of the American Athletic Conference competition is that SMU lost only one starter from last year to graduation.

Returning is all-conference offensive tackle Jaylon Thomas, who at left tackle could be in the running for the conference's best lineman overall. Also returning is center Alan Ali, left guard Hayden Howerton and right tackle Beau Morris. Howerton and Morris are seniors; Thomas and Ali are juniors.

A competitive battle for right guard continues in SMU practices, as co-offensive coordinators AJ Ricker and Garrett Riley have a plethora of options to choose from. Senior Cobe Bryant was a part-time starter last year. Junior college transfer Demetri Jordan has looked solid at the position. Senior Kadarius Smith also is an option, as are Boston College transfer Thomas Shelmire and redshirt freshmen Danielson Ike and Tai Brooks.

SMU did an outstanding job of loading up on linemen in its 2020 class. This year is expected to be more of a learning experience for the freshmen, but Marcus Smith could be a candidate for the right guard spot. Erin Smith could battle for playing time at tackle, and Branson Hickman has shown an ability to control the offense at center.