The Mustangs double down on defense as Crum Jr. will now call plays while SMU eyes continued ACC dominance following staff shuffle.
SMU football isn’t changing its defensive identity ... it’s doubling down on it.
Head coach Rhett Lashlee announced Friday that Maurice Crum Jr. and Rickey Hunley Jr. will continue as co-defensive coordinators, with Crum Jr. assuming playcalling duties following Scott Symons’ departure to join the Dallas Cowboys.
The move keeps continuity intact for a Mustangs defense that has become one of the most improved units in college football over the past four seasons.
Crum Jr., who arrived on the Hilltop in January 2023, has already made a significant impact as linebackers coach and co-defensive coordinator.
His position group was a driving force behind SMU ranking 19th nationally in rush defense during the 2025 season. Brandon Booker and Alexander Kilgore each tallied more than 60 tackles, while Brandon Miyazono emerged as a breakout star, leading the team with eight pass breakups.
The upward trend isn’t new.
In 2024, SMU reached its first College Football Playoff berth and went undefeated in its inaugural ACC season. Linebackers Kobe Wilson and Ahmad Walker earned All-ACC honors, underscoring the development within Crum Jr.’s unit.
His reputation has grown nationally as well, highlighted by a spot on the Dave Campbell’s Texas Football 40 Under 40 list in 2024. Prior to SMU, Crum Jr. coordinated defenses at Western Kentucky and Ole Miss, bringing valuable experience to his expanded role.
Hunley Jr. will continue overseeing the secondary, a group that has transformed into one of the ACC’s most disruptive backfields.
In 2025, SMU ranked fifth in FBS red zone defense, eighth in interceptions and 10th in defensive touchdowns - elite numbers that reflect a defense capable of flipping games.
The year before, the Mustangs finished top 25 nationally in multiple defensive categories, including 16 interceptions and four defensive touchdowns.
The secondary’s rise began in 2023, when SMU captured its first conference championship since 1984 with an 11-3 record and an undefeated 8-0 conference mark.
Hunley Jr.’s player development has extended beyond college, too. Former Mustang Charles Woods played a key role in the New England Patriots’ secondary during their Super Bowl LX run.
With Crum Jr. calling plays and Hunley Jr. continuing to mold the back end, SMU is betting that defensive continuity will keep the Mustangs competing for ACC titles and beyond.