Identifying the 2020 roster: Wide receivers
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 - Offensive linemen
Thursday, Aug. 27 - Defensive linemen
Friday, Aug. 28 - Linebackers
Saturday, Aug. 29 - Defensive backs
Sunday, Aug. 30 - Special teams
| Seniors | Juniors | Sophomores | Freshmen |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Reggie Roberson Jr. |
Danny Gray |
Rashee Rice |
Thad Johnson |
|
Tyler Page |
Austin Upshaw |
Chad Dines |
TQ Jackson |
|
Judah Bell |
Keith Jones |
Calvin Wiggins |
|
|
Walker French |
Keke Burns |
||
|
Matt Dorrity |
Carter Campbell |
||
|
Beau Parker |
|||
|
Peyton Hudson |
|||
|
Ben Palmer |
|||
|
Devin Aglubat |
|||
|
Devan Reck-Irvin |
|||
|
Parker Stone |
The Air Raid attack is SMU's bread and butter for as long as head coach Sonny Dykes is around. And when a Dykes-coached team has wide receiver talent like it does in 2020, that offense has plenty of opportunities to be extremely dangerous.
The most dangerous offense in the American Athletic Conference? Perhaps.
The Mustangs averaged 41.8 points and 489.8 points per game last season. From a passing perspective, SMU averaged 309 yards in the air each game. That's a credit to quarterback Shane Buechele, but he also connected with eight different wide receivers last year.
This year's group of receivers is balanced, talented and hungry. The group is led by Reggie Roberson Jr., who only played eight games but still managed to have 43 catches for 803 yards and six touchdowns. Roberson is healthy after a season-ending foot injury in October, and his speed can pose a major problem against AAC defensive backs.
Rashee Rice took Roberson's place in the lineup last season, and he was productive, finishing with 25 catches for 403 yards and a touchdown. Tyler Page also showed that he could be reliable, as he had 13 catches and averaged 15.2 yards per catch. Judah Bell is listed at wide receiver, but he could also see time as a flex tight end.
2020 could be the year of the new SMU receiver. Danny Gray has been solid in fall camp, and his speed and play-making ability complements Roberson. Transfer TQ Jackson comes from Arkansas with a chip on his shoulder. Thad Johnson is a true freshman who will have every opportunity to make a name for himself as both a receiver and a special teams returner.
And let's not forget the workhorses who have a year under their belt. Calvin Wiggins and Keke Burns are redshirt freshmen, and both could have breakout seasons. Wiggins only played in two games in 2019; Burns played in one and dealt with injuries.