Healthy again after an injury-limited debut, Dramekco Green could give SMU the power, balance and backfield depth needed to chase another ACC title run in 2026.
SMU football enters the 2026 season ranked No. 22 by ESPN, but the Mustangs’ ceiling may depend on a running back who barely had an opportunity to introduce himself last fall.
Dramekco Green is healthy again after injuries limited his true freshman season, and coach Rhett Lashlee believes the young runner possesses early-round NFL Draft potential.
That’s serious praise for a player who enters 2026 without a long college resume - but with enough size, power and raw ability to reshape the Mustangs’ offense.
SMU finished 9-4 overall and 6-2 in the ACC last season. That’s a strong year for most programs. For a team trying to establish itself as a regular conference championship contender, however, it also exposed a missing ingredient.
The Mustangs never consistently developed the punishing, explosive one-two backfield combination Lashlee wanted.
Green could change that immediately.
SMU plans to pair him with transfer running back Kendrick Raphael, creating a tandem with contrasting strengths.
Raphael offers versatility and can affect a defense in multiple ways out of the backfield.
Green brings the downhill force needed to punish lighter defensive fronts and turn routine carries into exhausting fourth-quarter problems.
That balance matters for more than rushing totals.
A dependable ground game can prevent defenses from loading up against SMU’s passing attack, create cleaner play-action opportunities and help the Mustangs control games when their offense isn’t producing explosive plays.
It also gives Lashlee an answer when weather, injuries or an aggressive opposing pass rush force the offense away from its preferred plan.
Green doesn’t necessarily need to become an immediate superstar. SMU needs him to stay available, provide physical carries and give Raphael a legitimate partner rather than forcing one back to handle every situation.
Still, the expectations surrounding Green suggest the Mustangs believe he can deliver much more.
He’ll enter the season as one of the biggest unknowns on ESPN’s preseason Top 25 board. He’s also one of the most intriguing.
SMU already knows it can win nine games and remain relevant in the ACC race. The next challenge is building an offense capable of pushing the program back into the conference championship game.
Green’s emergence could provide that extra gear.
The Mustangs have recognizable talent and plenty of preseason attention. Whether they become a good team or a dangerous one may depend on how quickly their young power back becomes the player Lashlee believes he can be.
