SMU football is seeing encouraging signs in spring practice as a rebuilt secondary and revamped pass rush aim to fix the Mustangs’ biggest 2025 weakness.
SMU football is generating real optimism in spring practice, and the biggest reason is a defense that looks far more equipped to handle the pass in 2026.
After last season exposed the Mustangs’ secondary as the roster’s clearest weak spot, early signs out of camp suggest that unit may no longer be a liability.
That’s a major development for Rhett Lashlee as SMU chases another big year in the ACC.
The early buzz starts in the defensive backfield. Marcellus Barnes looks like a legitimate candidate to emerge as SMU’s top corner, while safety Tyren Polley is drawing attention as a playmaker with ball-hawking instincts.
Jarvis Lee has also flashed in coverage and around the ball, giving the Mustangs another intriguing option in the slot.
Add in Jaden Milliner-Jones and Jimmy Wyrick, and the group suddenly looks deeper, more confident, and much more physical than it did a year ago.
That physical edge matters because pass defense was the issue that kept showing up in SMU’s biggest losses in 2025.
The Mustangs struggled to slow opposing quarterbacks in key moments, and the problem wasn’t just coverage. The pass rush disappeared too often when games tightened up.
That’s where the next challenge begins. SMU must replace a huge amount of lost production up front after seeing top sack contributors depart.
Kevin Allen is the only returning player with even one sack from last season, which means the pressure package has to be rebuilt.
Malcolm Alcorn-Crowder, Christian Davis, Woo Spencer, and Jonathan Jefferson are among the names being counted on to change that.
The good news for Lashlee is that coaching may still be one of SMU’s strengths.
If the Mustangs can pair a more aggressive secondary with a deeper defensive line, the defense could take a serious step forward.
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For SMU, that’s the formula.
Better coverage, steadier pressure, and fewer breakdowns could turn last year’s Achilles heel into one of 2026’s biggest reasons for confidence.
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