SMU football added size, experience and depth this offseason, giving Rhett Lashley and the Mustangs a stronger roster built to win in the ACC in 2026.
SMU football may have made its biggest offseason statement before the 2026 season even kicks off as the Mustangs didn’t just reload with talent.
They got bigger, older and more built for ACC football, which could be the difference between another good year and a true breakthrough under Rhett Lashlee.
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That added size shows up all over the SMU football roster. In the backfield, Dramekco Green checks in at 6-0, 203 pounds, while Kendrick Raphael brings another physical presence at 5-11 and 200 pounds.
Freshman Christian Rhodes adds even more size at 6-1, 205. At receiver, the Mustangs suddenly look more imposing, too, with Yannick Smith at 6-3, 207 and Alabama transfer Jalen Hale at 6-1, 198.
The biggest change may be in the trenches, where winning in the ACC usually starts. SMU’s offensive line now looks the part of a Power Four unit, with veterans such as PJ Williams at 6-5, 313, Andrew Chamblee at 6-6, 308, and Joshua Bates at 6-3, 315.
On the defensive line, Christian Davis brings serious size at roughly 330 pounds, while Malcolm Alcorn-Crowder adds another powerful body inside.
SMU already proved it could compete in the ACC, winning 22 games across its first two seasons in the league.
Now the Mustangs appear better equipped to handle the weekly physical grind that comes with that schedule.
There’s also a second layer to this story. SMU isn’t just bigger.
It’s more experienced. Kevin Jennings is entering another year in the system, the offensive line features upperclassmen, and the defensive front is loaded with older players who’ve been through college football battles before.
That combination could help solve another issue: slow starts.
If SMU can pair its upgraded size with veteran poise early in the season, the Mustangs may have everything they need to push for another 10-win season and become a more dangerous ACC contender.
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