SMU Football Stars Crash DCTF All-Texas List

SMU football keeps collecting offseason buzz, and this time Dave Campbell’s Texas Football put some respect on the Mustangs’ roster.

Five SMU players earned spots on the DCTF preseason All-Texas teams, giving Rhett Lashlee’s program another reminder that the Mustangs aren’t just building hype.

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They’ve got proven dudes across the field. Linebacker Alexander Kilgore, kicker Nick Reed and offensive lineman PJ Williams landed first-team honors, while quarterback Kevin Jennings and wide receiver Yamir Knight were named to the second team.

That’s a strong Texas-sized statement for a program trying to keep pushing deeper into the national conversation.

Williams may be the headliner. The SMU offensive lineman has already received All-America attention from Phil Steele and is widely viewed as one of the top blockers in college football entering the 2026 season.

For an offense built around tempo, rhythm and explosive plays, having a tone-setter up front matters. Williams gives the Mustangs a nasty foundation.

Kilgore brings the same kind of credibility on defense. He posted a career-best 60 tackles in 2025 and added two interceptions, proving he’s more than just a downhill linebacker.

He can cover, diagnose and punish mistakes. SMU needs that edge if it wants to keep climbing.

Then there’s Jennings, who is coming off the best season of his career. The Mustangs’ quarterback threw for 3,641 yards and 26 touchdowns while completing 300 passes at a 66.0 percent clip.

Those weren’t empty numbers. Jennings became the engine of the SMU offense and enters 2026 with even bigger expectations.

Knight gives him a dangerous weapon. The wide receiver broke out last season with 637 receiving yards and five touchdowns, then capped it by earning Holiday Bowl Offensive MVP honors. If that momentum carries over, SMU’s passing attack could be a problem again.

Nick Reed’s first-team nod at kicker rounds out the group and gives the Mustangs recognition in all three phases.

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Preseason lists don’t win games, but they do show where the respect is going. Right now, plenty of it is headed toward Dallas.

SMU isn’t sneaking into 2026. The Mustangs are walking in with names, numbers and pressure.

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