SMU Mustangs News Page 82 - College Football

A look inside SMU’s college football program and its return to relevance

In Dallas, high school football rules Friday, and the Cowboys own Sunday. SMU wants to fill in the middle, Martin Rogers writes.

SEPTEMBER 9, 2021 • FOX SPORTS

A look inside SMU’s college football program and its return to relevance

Nolan Matthews - Strong debut with team Matthews caught three passes for 50 yards while adding in two touchdowns as well against Abilene Christian.

Impact The Arizona State transfer performed well in his first game wearing a Mustang jersey. Matthews caught three passes while scoring twice in the win. It appears that Grant Calcaterra is the team's lead tight end, but strong performances like Matthews displayed Saturday should lead to more playing time for the 6-foot-6 receiving threat.

SEPTEMBER 5, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Grant Calcaterra - Scores twice in victory Calcaterra caught three passes for 51 yards and two touchdowns in the team's matchup against Abilene Christian.

Impact The Oklahoma transfer was able to find the end zone twice with fellow Sooner transfer Tanner Mordecai dominating the game. Calcaterra's strong debut with the team bodes well for him going forward as he will be the top tight end on a high scoring Mustang offense.

SEPTEMBER 5, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Reggie Roberson - Nears 60 yards in return Roberson caught three passes for 59 yards against Abilene Christian.

Impact After missing the team's last eight games due to a knee injury last year, Roberson returned to the field Saturday. While new quarterback Tanner Mordecai dominated the Wildcats, Roberson had a generally quiet game only catching three passes as he has proved himself to be one of the more elite receivers in the conference. Roberson will look to continue to grow his connection with his new quarterback throughout the year.

SEPTEMBER 5, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Danny Gray - Two touchdowns in win Gray caught four catches for 72 yards and added two touchdowns while rushing once for 27 yards against Abilene Christian.

Impact The senior receiver looked sharp in SMU's opening game, catching two touchdowns in the second quarter. Gray led the team in both receptions and receiving yards as new quarterback Tanner Mordecai spread the ball around. The 6-foot-2 receiver also added in 27 rushing yards on one attempt. Gray will look to continue his strong start to the season next week against North Texas.

SEPTEMBER 5, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Tre Siggers - Nears 50 rushing yards Siggers ran the ball 11 times for 46 yards and caught two passes for negative seven yards against Abilene Christian.

Impact In his debut with the team after transferring for North Texas, Siggers performed well. The 5-foot-9 running back had 46 rushing yards in the win but did not provide in the receiving department as he finished with negative yardage in that category. He will continue to compete with fellow running back Ulysses Bentley for more reps as the season moves along.

SEPTEMBER 5, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Ulysses Bentley - 10 carries in win Bentley rushed the ball 10 times for 48 yards while catching two passes for one yard against Abilene Christian.

Impact After a truly impressive freshman season, Bentley had a fair week one outing. The 5-foot-11 running back neared 50 scrimmage yards while most of the team's offense went through quarterback Tanner Mordecai and his seven passing touchdowns in SMU's blowout win. The dynamic running back looks to be more involved in the offense as the season progresses.

SEPTEMBER 5, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Tanner Mordecai - Unstoppable performance Mordecai completed 24 of 30 pass attempts for 317 yards and seven passing touchdowns against Abilene Christian.

Impact The Junior transfer from Oklahoma could not have asked for a better start to his Mustang career than his performance Saturday. Mordecai threw five of his seven touchdowns in the first half and was clicking on cylinders. While it will be hard to expect him to repeat this type of performance it seems that SMU's offense will remain one of the more explosive ones in the nation after being the 15th highest scoring team in the nation last year. Mordecai will look to grow upon his dominant debut with the team next week against North Texas.

SEPTEMBER 5, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

College football: Bryce Young, Dorian Thompson-Robinson highlight Week 1's top performers

From Bryce Young's record-setting debut to a graduate assistant starting for South Carolina, here are Saturday's top performers.

SEPTEMBER 5, 2021 • FOX SPORTS

College football: Bryce Young, Dorian Thompson-Robinson highlight Week 1's top performers

Mordecai's 7 TDs propels SMU past Abilene Christian 56-9

Tanner Mordecai threw a school-record seven touchdowns — five coming in the first half — and SMU broke it open in the second quarter and went on to beat Abilene Christian 56-9 in a...

SEPTEMBER 5, 2021 • Associated Press

Tanner Mordecai sets SMU single-game passing touchdown mark in first start SMU's new quarterback had a historic debut.

SEPTEMBER 5, 2021 • 247SPORTS.COM

Grant Calcaterra - Starting at tight end Calcaterra ranks first on the SMU depth chart at tight end leading up to the opener versus Abilene Christian.

Impact This is hardly surprising news given that Calcaterra was a consistent contributor at tight end during his time at Oklahoma. He joins another impressive passing attack at SMU and will catch passes from another former Sooner in Tanner Mordecai.

SEPTEMBER 1, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

TJ McDaniel - Absent from Week 1 depth chart McDaniel (leg) isn't listed on SMU's season-opening depth chart versus Abilene Christian.

Impact McDaniel's 2020 season ended early due to a leg injury, leading to Ulysses Bentley taking over the starting role and running with it. Bentley is atop the depth chart to open 2021 as well, with Tre Siggers and Tyler Lavine listed behind him while McDaniel continues to work his way back. McDaniel was no slouch last season when he was available, rushing 60 times for 297 yards and a touchdown over four games.

SEPTEMBER 1, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Chris Vannini: SMU will name Oklahoma transfer Tanner Mordecai... - The Athletic SMU will name Oklahoma transfer Tanner Mordecai as starting quarterback, a source tells The Athletic. Mordecai battled four-star freshman Pr...

AUGUST 29, 2021 • THEATHLETIC.COM

Preston Stone - Loses out on starting job Stone will be Tanner Mordecai's backup to begin the 2021 season, Chris Vannini of The Athletic reports.

Impact Stone was a high-school All-American in 2020 and the fifth-highest rated dual-threat quarterback in his class. He had an opportunity to come in and potentially start right away as a freshman but was beat out for the job by Oklahoma transfer Tanner Mordecai.

AUGUST 29, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Tanner Mordecai - Named starting QB Mordecai was announced as the team's starting quarterback Sunday, Chris Vannini of The Athletic reports.

Impact Mordecai was named the Mustang's starting quarterback, beating out four-star freshman Preston Stone for the top job. The redshirt junior is in his first season at SMU after spending the last three years as a backup for the Sooners. Mordecai and the Mustangs open up the season against Abilene Christian on Sept. 4.

AUGUST 29, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

SMU vs Abilene Christian Prediction, Game Preview SMU vs Abilene Christian prediction and game preview. SMU vs Abilene Christian Broadcast Date: Saturday, September 4 Game Time: 7:00 ET Venu...

AUGUST 28, 2021 • COLLEGEFOOTBALLNEWS.COM

Nolan Matthews - Links up with SMU officially Matthews officially signed with SMU in this past recruiting cycle, Sam Blum of The Athletic reports.

Impact The former Arizona State product is one of several tight end transfers for the Mustangs this year. Grant Calcaterra is the favorite to start, but Matthews is a name to watch.

AUGUST 23, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

TJ McDaniel - On the mend McDaniel (ankle) is still working towards full health, Liam Fitzgibbon of 247 Sports reports.

Impact McDaniel suffered a season-ending ankle injury last season and has yet to return to 100 percent. Ulysses Bentley is entrenched as the starter and North Texas transfer Tre Siggers will figure into the backfield as well. SMU opens its season Sept. 4 against Abilene Christian.

AUGUST 11, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Reggie Roberson - Healthy for fall camp Roberson (knee) said that he is healthy as SMU gets set to begin fall camp, Steve Helwick of SBNation reports. "Going into fall camp, I feel amazing," Roberson said.

Impact This is a huge boon for the SMU passing game as Roberson returns healthy after suffering a season-ending knee injury in October of 2020. A healthy Roberson would project as the No.1 option in the SMU passing game.

AUGUST 4, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

West Bloomfield four-star Michael Williams recaps Spartan Dawg Con visit West Bloomfield four-star defensive end/linebacker Michael Williams was in East Lansing Saturday for the Spartan Dawg Con recruiting event a...

AUGUST 4, 2021 • 247SPORTS.COM

Danny Gray - Participates in spring Gray (arm) was an active participant during SMU's spring football activities, the Dallas Morning News reports.

Impact After being forced to miss the final three games of the season due to an arm injury, Gray appears to be ready for the upcoming year. Gray will look to improve on his 448 yard and three touchdown 2020 campaign that was cut short due to injury.

JULY 29, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Oklahoma lauded for its offseason haul in transfer portal; SMU, TCU also receive praise The college football transfer portal took on a life of its own this offseason, with more than 2,500 different student-athletes entering thei...

JULY 14, 2021 • DALLASNEWS.COM

Adidas 3SSB Birmingham: Underclassmen Standouts Recapping the top underclassmen standouts from Adidas 3SSB Live.

JULY 13, 2021 • 247SPORTS.COM

WATCH: 4-star DB Chace Biddle's SMU commitment video Check out the moment SMU landed its big-time commit.

JULY 7, 2021 • 247SPORTS.COM

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A look inside SMU’s college football program and its return to relevance

College football: Bryce Young, Dorian Thompson-Robinson highlight Week 1's top performers

Mordecai's 7 TDs propels SMU past Abilene Christian 56-9