SMU football landed nine players on Phil Steele’s preseason All-ACC teams, with PJ Williams leading the way as an All-America pick.
SMU football isn’t sneaking into 2026. The Mustangs are walking in with receipts.
Nine SMU players earned preseason All-ACC recognition from Phil Steele’s annual college football preview, and offensive lineman PJ Williams is the headline name.
READ MORE: SMU Hurdlers Storm Into NCAA Championships
Williams didn’t just land on the preseason first-team All-ACC list. He also earned second-team All-America honors, giving the Mustangs one of the most respected trench players in the country heading into a season loaded with expectations.
That’s a big deal for a program still proving it belongs in the ACC fight every single week.
Williams, a Dickinson, Texas native, is coming off a breakout season in which he earned second-team All-ACC honors from both the conference and the Associated Press.
His impact wasn’t just about individual grades or preseason hype. He helped power an SMU offense that averaged 416.9 total yards per game, the fifth-best mark in the ACC.
And he wasn’t alone.
Fellow offensive lineman Joshua Bates also earned first-team All-ACC honors, giving SMU a nasty foundation up front. Long snapper Morgan Tribbett joined them on the first team, adding special teams respect to a roster that suddenly looks deeper than casual fans may realize.
Quarterback Kevin Jennings landed on the second team after the best season of his career.
Jennings threw for 3,641 yards and 26 touchdowns in 2025 while completing 300 passes at a 66.0 percent clip. Those numbers aren’t just solid.
They’re the kind of production that keeps SMU in shootouts and makes the offense dangerous before the ball is even snapped.
New kicker Nick Reed also made the second team, while wide receiver Yamir Knight and running back Kendrick Raphael earned third-team honors.
Knight is coming off a breakout year with 637 receiving yards, five touchdowns and Holiday Bowl offensive MVP honors. Raphael arrives from Cal after leading the Bears in rushing and pushing toward the 1,000-yard mark, giving the Mustangs a potential instant-impact back.
The fourth-team selections went to linebacker Brandon Booker and safety Jarvis Lee. Booker finished with 61 tackles in 2025 and now has a chance to become a bigger defensive voice. Lee, a South Florida transfer, adds another newcomer with upside to the back end.
The message from the preseason lists is pretty clear.
SMU isn’t just carrying a few stars. It has names spread across the offense, defense and special teams. Now comes the hard part. Turning preseason respect into ACC wins.
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.
