Hal Mumme’s Hitmen: SMU Mustangs Wide Receivers Should Thrive Under New Coordinator
By Jack Crosby
Nov 12, 2011; Dallas, TX, USA; A general view of a Southern Methodist Mustangs helmet during the game with the Navy Midshipmen at Gerald J. Ford Stadium. The Midshipmen defeated the Mustangs 24-17. The Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports
The 2013 college football season will ring in a couple new beginnings for head coach June Jones and the SMU Mustangs. After returning more to the forefront of the landscape than anyone ever thought they would following their death penalty sanction laid upon them in the 80s, this season marks the return of the former storied program back to a top-tier conference in the game. All thoughts aside, the American Athletic Conference still is associated with the BCS, even though the quality of play on the field may not vouch for that.
Since Jones left the Hawaii Rainbow Warriors to grab the SMU reins, it’s been a joyous ride back to success for the program recently. They’ve appeared in a bowl game every year since 2009, winning three of those contests. The progress has been steady, but not without some speed bumps recently.
With a drop in offensive production last season, June Jones felt that a shot in the arm was necessary. So obviously, he went the only route that he possibly could. He called in the innovator of the infamous Air Raid offense, Hal Mumme.
Now, Mumme’s back-story–if you don’t know it already–is another tale for another day. There were some highly questionable decisions involved which basically rendered Mumme relegated to lower-level collegiate football for the better part of the last decade.
But what is not questionable is that the man knows how to run an exciting brand of offense, and we’re hopefully set to see that from the Mustangs in 2013. In my opinion, this was a brilliant move by Jones as Mumme should be able to implement the required tweaks to his run-and-shoot offense that should help this team reach new heights.
A lot of the focus to start will obviously be on improving the inconsistencies of QB Garrett Gilbert. Gilbert’s TD-INT ratio last year was an even 15/15, which is not that good. Last season, things just seemed tight for the former national championship game-playing gunslinger. Things need to open up a little bit more.
And that is where the crew that I like to call, “Hal’s Hitmen”, comes in.
The wide receiving corps on this team will ultimately determine how potent this offense will be. The versatility that each one brings to the table will no doubt be accentuated by this newly reformed offensive scheme. Seniors Jeremy Johnson and Keenan Holman, and junior Der’Rikk Thompson should all find their niche within this system and, by year’s end, a couple of these young men could be household names.
So, let’s take a look at what each of these young men bring to the table for their new offensive coordinator.
Jeremy Johnson (6-0, 175)
Johnson is the leading returner on this squad as it pertains to yardage and number of catches. With 67 grabs for 679 yards and three touchdowns last year, Jeremy Johnson is expected to be the leader of the group. He’s extremely dangerous in the slot, and the way he utilizes his speed to break away after the catch can play a large part in the success of this offense. I wouldn’t say that Johnson is the best receiver on the team, but he’s going to be expected to be one of the leaders.
Oct 18, 2012; Dallas, TX, USA; Southern Methodist Mustangs wide receiver Keenan Holman (81) catches a touchdown pass during the game against the Houston Cougars at Gerald J. Ford Stadium. The Mustangs defeated the Cougars 72-42. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports
Keenan Holman (6-1, 185)
The second senior of the group, Holman is probably the most physical of the bunch. He’s fantastic at fighting for the ball with the defensive back when he needs to, and can use that 6-1 frame to get up there and get the ball at its highest point. He has great stride down the field and is incredibly fast, more than likely making him a primary deep threat for Gilbert as the season progresses. He needs to show a little more consistency with his routes than he did last year, but Mumme has been said to be incredibly impressed with his improvement over the summer. If Mumme isn’t blowing smoke, then Holman could see a bit of a jump from his 25 catches, 311 yards and two touchdowns from last season.
Der’Rikk Thompson (5-11, 190)
Thompson, a redshirt junior, may end up being the best all-around receiver out of the bunch. Hauling in 41 passes for 535 yards and four touchdowns last year, he’s the second most productive returning receiver from last year behind Johnson. Also a fixture on the special teams unit returning kicks, the third-year player may be ready to bust out overall for this team. He has the hands, elusiveness and speed to become one of the top pass catchers in the nation. Der’Rikk Thompson is undoubtedly the playmaker of the 2013 SMU wide receivers.
These are just the three main pieces of what could become one of the most dangerous wide receiving corps in the nation, if all goes according to plan with this offense. Plus, I haven’t even mentioned the fact that Mumme plans on using senior CB Kenneth Acker in some packages on offense, which can just further add to the damage that this team can do when they possess the ball.
Garrett Gilbert will be the man pulling the trigger with his passes, but these are the guys that could be the hitmen for Hal Mumme in regards to killing off opposing defensive secondaries with their own unique playmaking abilities.
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Jack is a College Football Columnist for Saturday Blitz. Follow Jack on Twitter @JackJ14CFB.