Jun 30, 2026 12:00 PM
SMU football assistant Sam Dunnam landed on Dave Campbell’s Texas Football 40 Under 40 list after building one of the ACC’s nastiest edge groups.
SMU football keeps producing rising coaching talent, and Sam Dunnam is the latest Mustang assistant to get statewide attention.
Dunnam, SMU’s edges coach, was named to Dave Campbell’s Texas Football’s 2026 40 Under 40 list, giving the Mustangs a representative on the prestigious honor roll for the fifth straight year.
That’s another sign that Rhett Lashlee’s staff has built something with real teeth in Dallas.
And Dunnam earned this one the hard way.
In 2025, SMU went 9-4 and capped the season with a Trust & Will Holiday Bowl win, the program’s first bowl victory since 2012.
The Mustangs didn’t get there by playing soft defense. They got there by wrecking drives, squeezing run lanes and creating chaos off the edge.
SMU ranked fifth nationally in red zone defense at 0.702, first in the ACC.
The Mustangs also finished 19th in the FBS in rushing defense, allowing just 111.9 yards per game, and ranked 23rd nationally with 34 team sacks.
That’s a violent calling card.
Senior edge rusher Isaiah Smith became the face of Dunnam’s room with a monster final season.
Smith posted 18.0 tackles for loss, leading the ACC and ranking 10th nationally. He also added a career-best 8.5 sacks, tied for fourth in the conference and 25th in the country.
His loudest game came at Boston College, where he erupted for 3.5 sacks, tying for the second-most in a single game in SMU history.
That performance earned him ACC Defensive End of the Week honors, and his season ended with All-ACC Second Team recognition and Phil Steele All-America honorable mention status.
Cameron Robertson also leveled up, finishing with 52 tackles, 10 tackles for loss and five sacks.
Both Smith and Robertson turned their production into NFL opportunities, with Robertson signing with the Arizona Cardinals and Smith joining the Carolina Panthers as undrafted free agents.
Dunnam also earned a spot in the 2026 AFCA 35 Under 25 Coaches Leadership Institute.
SMU’s edge room didn’t just flash. It announced itself.
Join Our Roundtable Community For Free!
Share your takes, connect with our Roundtable writers, and talk sports with fellow fans. Download the free Roundtable App today and stay closer to the conversation.
Comments
Powered by RoundtableBuilt on infrastructure designed for real-time media. Learn more at RTB.io.© Roundtable 2026. By using this site you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy