Projecting the SMU defensive depth chart

It’s Week Zero for SMU Football and the Mustangs are finalizing the depth chart for kickoff against Nevada. What’s the outlook for the defensive depth chart heading into Game 1? We break it down as the season is finally here.

DE1 Elijah Roberts, DE2 Cam Robertson
DT1 Jared Harrison-Hunte, DT2 Mike Lockhart
NT1 Tank Booker, NT2 Jonathan Jefferson
BANDIT1 Jahfari Harvey, BANDIT2 Isaiah Smith

Defensive Line Buzz: Roberts is the star of the group, but Robertson has moved over to the strongside defensive end spot. He’s added weight to play the position and looks like a solid backup, taking some of the snaps off Roberts’ plate. David Abiara and Omari Abor will work in as reserves.

Along the interior of the defensive line, Jared Harrison-Hunte came in from Miami and appears to have solidified himself at the defensive tackle spot. Lockhart, the former West Virginia transfer, will form a strong 1-2 punch at the position. Kori Roberson is also working in at this spot. Nose tackle is a strong point as well as Tank Booker and Jonathan Jefferson will likely play co-starter snaps while Texas Tech transfer Blake Burris will provide depth.

The Bandit position is led by Jahfari Harvey and Isaiah Smith, who should play co-starter levels of snaps. Texas transfer Billy Walton looks like a nice developmental piece for SMU this season.

WILL LB1 Ahmad Walker, WILL LB2 Alex Kilgore
MIKE LB1 Kobe Wilson, MIKE LB2 Brandon Miyazono

Linebacker Buzz: Walker and Wilson cemented themselves as starters, but Kilgore is also going to play a ton for the Mustangs. It wouldn’t be a surprise to consider this trio as co-starters overall with what they all bring to the table. Sophomore Brandon Miyazono continues to develop after he played a bunch of special teams as a freshman. The wildcard is former DeSoto star Brandon Booker coming in and pushing for time with the second group. Will he get to see major snaps in Year 1? That’s something he’ll have to show this fall.

CB1 Deuce Harmon, CB2 Jaelyn Davis-Robinson
CB1 Brandon Crossley, CB2 A.J. Davis

Cornerback Buzz: Our first depth chart piece had this cornerback lineup, but we’ll also note that Jahari Rogers and Speedy Nettles both stepped up in fall camp. Harmon and Crossley will both play a lot, elevating their games in camp. It wouldn’t be surprising if we saw AJ Davis take a step forward and Jaelyn Davis-Robinson cement himself as a reliable corner. Out of the entire team, this is the group that needs to show it can be effective on the field. There’s been a lot of changes, but the staff feels better about the group than it did entering fall camp.

FS1 Jonathan McGill, FS2 Isaiah Nwokobia
SS1 Ahmaad Moses, SS2 Kyron Chambers
NICKEL1 CJ Sanders, NICKEL2 Jaden Milliner-Jones

Safety Buzz: Pretty straight forward group with the standout starters. Isaiah Nwokobia is working his way back to full health so expect to see a lot of McGill, Moses and Sanders early in the year. It’s also worth noting that DaVaughn Celestine, who transferred in from San Diego State, is also seeing some time as a backup safety. Kyron Chambers and Jaden Milliner-Jones both had strong camps at SMU’s nickel spot.

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