SMU Mustangs — NFL Dreamin’

14 SMU alumni are currently active on NFL rosters. A number of current Mustangs hope to follow in their footsteps, as well as the footsteps left by legendary Mustangs from the days of yore.

Current SMU players in the NFL

Set forth in the table below are the 14 SMU players currently on NFL rosters.

The Storied History of SMU Football

The history of the SMU football program is long and illustrious, but also infamous. While many are familiar with the NCAA death penalty imposed upon SMU, and the ESPN 30-for-30 documentary, Pony Excess, few are familiar with the rich, deep history of the Mustangs’ football program.

1935 National Champions

In an article lustrously entitled, National Treasure: SMU’s Forgotten Yet Glorious Football History, Bleacher Report’s Pete Dymeck recounts:

“Southern Methodist University won their first national title in 1935 with a 12-1 record. They scored an eye-popping 288 points while only giving up 39 points. In the regular season, they shut out eight of their 12 opponents, including powerful conference foes Texas and Texas A&M.”

SMU’s lone loss in the 1935  championship season came at the hands of Stanford in the Rose Bowl. It was a hard-fought game, culminating in a 7-0 score.

However, based on SMU’s overall prowess throughout the year, the Mustangs were voted national champions.

The Doak Walker Era

The Doak Walker Award is presented annually to the best college football running back in the nation. Notable recipients of the award include:

• Derrick Henry, Alabama (2015)
• Darren McFadden, Arkansas (2006 & 2007)
• Reggie Bush, USC (2005)
• LaDainian Tomlinson, TCU (2000)
• Ricky Williams, Texas (1997 & 1998)
• Eddie George, Ohio State (1995)
• Garrison Hearst, Georgia (1992)

In 2007, ESPN ranked Walker as the fourth best  college football player in history.

After his collegiate days at SMU, Walker went on to have a standout career in the NFL. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Don Meredith

Nicknamed “Dandy Don”, the late Don Meredith was well-known as one of the original color commentators on Monday Night Football.

TV Guide Cover, August 28-September 3, 1971: Howard Cosell, Don Meredith and Frank Gifford of ABC’s ‘Monday Night Football’ pic.twitter.com/Kg7jiN20FL

— RetroNewsNow (@RetroNewsNow) August 29, 2023

Before MNF, however, Meredith was a starting quarterback at SMU from 1957-1959. Per SMU’s website:

“Meredith was a two-time All-America selection (1958 and 1959)[,] …  setting a Southwest Conference record with 69.6 completion percentage in 1957.

The Chicago Bears selected Meredith in the third round of the 1960 NFL Draft, but traded him to the Dallas Cowboys.

“Throughout his nine-year career with the Cowboys, ‘Dandy’ Don was one of the Cowboys’ most recognizable stars, leading his team to three straight division championships and trips to consecutive NFL Championship games following the 1966 and 1967 seasons. In 1976, Meredith was inducted into the Cowboys’ ‘Ring of Honor’.”

Meredith passed away in 2010.

Jerry LeVias Accepted SMU’s Offer to Become the First African-American Athlete to Receive a Scholarship in the Erstwhile Southwest Conference.

In the 1960s, Jerry LeVias accepted an athletic scholarship from SMU’s football program, and in doing so, became the first African-American football player to earn an athletic scholarship in the Southwest Conference. As set forth on the SMU website:

LeVias, who chose SMU largely because of its accounting program, eventually was named All- America, Academic All-America and Southwest Conference Player of the Year in 1968 when he set the SMU record for receiving yards in a season (1,131).

LeVias went on to play for the Houston Oilers and San Diego Chargers in the NFL.

The Pony Express

SMU was consistently excellent in the early 1980s. In 1980, the Mustangs finished the season ranked No. 20 in the nation, and in 1981, they earned a 10-1 record and the No. 5 spot in the country.

In 1982, the Mustangs, led by the “Pony Express” running back duo of Craig James and Eric Dickerson, flirted with the national championship. SMU finished that season with an undefeated 11-0-1 record. The only blemish on their record was a tie against the Arkansas Razorbacks, who were ranked ninth in the country. At the conclusion of the season, the Mustangs were ranked No. 2 in both the AP poll and the Coach’s poll, the two human polls that comprised the 1982 NCAA football rankings.

Eric Dickerson and Craig James aka "The Pony Express" circa 1983. The two played for the SMU Mustangs and terrorized opponents. I tell you what: the old Southwest Conference was wild. pic.twitter.com/b8nPYEG52F

— Traces of Texas (@TracesofTexas) June 14, 2022

Both members of the pony express tandem had prolific careers at SMU, and both went on to have stellar NFL careers. Eric Dickerson was an All-American for the Mustangs in 1981 and 1982. As a running back for the New England Patriots, Craig James was selected for the Pro Bowl in 1985. And, as the No. 7 all-time rushing leader in NFL history, Dickerson is in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Five Mustangs in the Pro Football Hall of Fame — No School in Texas Has More

The following five Mustangs are enshrined into the Pro Football Hall of Fame:

1. Lamar Hunt – Class of 1972
2. Raymond Berry – Class of 1973
3. Forrest Gregg – Class of 1977
4. Doak Walker – Class of 1986
5. Eric Dickerson – Class of 1999

SMU Hopefuls

After many years in the wilderness in the wake of the NCAA’s harsh death penalty, the SMU football program is finally reemerging.

As SMU prepares for its inaugural season in the ACC, new batches of promising young players are coming into the program, and veteran Mustangs are eyeing NFL careers.

Incoming Recruits

The Mustangs have an abundance of incoming young talent.

As reported by the Dallas Morning News:

On the most recent National Signing Day, SMU football signed six of the top 100 players from the Dallas area, equal to the number signed by Texas and TCU.

Four of SMU’s highly-touted incoming recruits are Keelon Russell, Derrick McFall, Ka’Davion Dotson-Walker, and Brandon Booker.

1. Keelon Russell

Keelon Russell is a highly regarded four-star recruit who will bring “dual-threat athleticism” to the Mustangs offense. Eschewing offers from Florida, Ole Miss, Texas A&M, UCLA, TCU, and Oklahoma State, Russell chose to become a Mustang.

✌🏾❤️💙🐎🏠 @CoachK_Hall @CoachFoster_ @rhettlashlee @coachbrewha @SMUFB @tempo_strike @CoachAro44 @CoachSamuels11 @Duncanville_Fb @CoachXBrown @samspiegs #commited #home #family pic.twitter.com/5Yfr8bgmSr

— Keelon “Dot em” Russell (@Pres1dential) September 21, 2023

The following scouting report on Russell is posted at Mike Farrell Sports:

“Standing at 6-3 [and weighing] 175 pounds, Keelon Russell has adequate size for the position. Gaining 15-20 pounds of good weight can benefit him at the next level. Arm strength is on display during [game] film[,] as he can toss the ball 50+ yards with ease. Hitting all levels of the field and both hash marks seems easy for him. Mechanics are solid but can vary based on the type of throw. His three-step drop is decent but can use work.

“Russell is a playmaker who can escape pressure…. He can read a defense and hit open receivers with solid accuracy. Keelon is a solid QB in need of a little development as he moves toward the next level.”

2. Derrick McFall

Along with Russell, the 2024 recruiting class is highlighted by four-star athlete Derrick McFall, who is listed on the team roster as both a running back and a wide receiver. From Tyler, TX, McFall originally committed to UCLA. However, the SMU Mustangs flipped him in November 2023.

At Tyler High School, McFall was a standout in three sports. In addition to football, he ran track and played basketball. He was selected first-team All-District 7-5A-I in both his sophomore and junior years. He demonstrated versatility, playing running back, wide receiver, and quarterback.

#SMU goes into Tyler High (Tex.) and reels in 4-star WR Derrick McFall, a versatile and productive piece for Rhett Lashlee's offense.https://t.co/RGXgZ8Dr7w https://t.co/FSbNIipeN8

— Billy Embody (@BillyEmbody) December 20, 2023

McFall’s high school offensive coordinator sang his praises:

“Derrick McFall is a dynamic athlete and a student of the game. He shows up daily ready to work and eager to learn. He is also a natural leader both on and off the field. His words carry weight, and when he speaks, the others listen.”

The Mustangs are looking to McFall to pave the way to rekindling the legendary days of the pony express.

3. Ka’Davion Dotson-Walker

Four-star safety Ka’Davion Dotson-Walker received offers from LSU, Texas, Oklahoma State, and Arkansas. However he chose the SMU Mustangs.

Dotson-Walker was “one of the top overall prospects on [SMU’s] recruiting board for the 2024 cycle.”

SMU 4-star QB commit Keelon Russell has been invited to the @Elite11 Finals this summer in Los Angeles🐎https://t.co/gdjZhnQ0mG pic.twitter.com/m5dIGmJS8c

— On3 Recruits (@On3Recruits) March 24, 2024

National recruiting analyst Sam Spiegelman gave the following review of Dotson-Walker after watching him perform in a high school game in 2022.:

Ka’Davion Dotson-Walker was a top performer in the Duncanville-South Oak Cliff clash. The four-star safety is a Swiss Army Knife capable of making plays all over the secondary and shined against the run. Dotson-Walker darts to the football and can lower his shoulder. He’s also reliable in mop-up duty and came up with several difference-making stops along the way covering a ton of real estate in the process.

4. Brandon Booker

Consensus three-star LB Brandon Booker selected SMU over Stanford, Baylor, Arkansas and Auburn. He comes to the Mustangs from DeSoto High School, where he was a two-time 6A Division II Texas state champion. He was “the anchor of the [his team’s] defense….” Booker was a three-year starter and two-time captain for DeSoto.

#AGTG Final destination #PonyUpDallas @CoachFoster_ @smu_football @CoachMoCrum @CoachHun_SMU @CoachK_Hall @CoachMesser_ @CoachSweeny @FootballDesoto pic.twitter.com/ZXo33uzXl1

— Brandon booker (@BrandonBooker31) September 20, 2023

Booker is 6’1″ and weighs 205 lbs. In his final high school season, he had 137 tackles, including 9½ tackles for loss, and four interceptions.

Established Team Members

Coming off the 2023 season, in which the Mustangs finished with an 11-3 record, and  a ranking of No. 22 in the nation, SMU now prepares for the transition back into the upper echelon of college football competition. (Following the NCAA’s death penalty, SMU experienced decades of ostracism from membership in the top-level college football conferences.)

The Mustangs are ranked No. 24 in ESPN’s 2024 preseason rankings.

A number of experienced players return, including quarterback Preston Stone. Coming out of high school, Stone was a four-star recruit, who chose to become a Mustang despite receiving offers from Georgia, Michigan, Notre Dame, Florida, and other traditional college football powers.

Accompanying Stone is the current incarnation of the pony express, which features a “three-pony stable” of talented running backs: Jaylan Knighton (senior), LJ Johnson, Jr. (junior), and Camar Wheaton (junior). Wheaton is a former five-star recruit who transferred to the Mustangs from Alabama last offseason. Knighton and Johnson were four-star recruits. Thus, in the words of the folks over at 247Sports, SMU has an “embarrassment of riches” at the running back position.

Furthermore, Head Coach Rhett Lashlee and his staff have added twelve transfers to the Mustangs’ roster for 2024. Two of these transfers are offensive linemen who played for Oklahoma last year. Nate Anderson is a redshirt junior. He was a four-star prospect coming out of high school. Savion Byrd is a redshirt sophomore. He started four games at left guard for the Sooners last season. His playing time was limited as a result of an injury suffered in the middle of the season. Additionally, Omari Abor transferred to SMU from Ohio State. Abor is an edge rusher who was a national top-100 prospect coming out of high school. Highly rated wide receiver Ashton Cozart is also joining the team, transferring in from Oregon.

NFL Prospects

A number of SMU Mustangs whose college careers are at an end are now looking to enter the NFL in 2024.

Prominent among these SMU alumni is DeVere Levelston. In scouting reports, Levelston is regarded as a versatile, promising defensive tackle.

According to Dave Campbell’s Texas Football, Levelston is likely to be the first Mustang drafted in the 2024 NFL Draft:

“Levelston was part of SMU’s bridge from the Sonny Dykes [era] to [the] Rhett Lashlee era. His junior season was [his] most productive, notching 10.5 tackles for loss and finishing second in the American Athletic Conference with 6.5 sacks…. [H]is 6-foot-5-inch frame has plenty of room to add weight to transition to the NFL…. [He] looks to become the eighth active player from [SMU] in the league.”

Levelston has been regarded as an NFL prospect as far back as 2022.

Along with Levelston, other SMU prospects for the 2024 NFL Draft include:

• Camar Wheaton, RB
• LJ Johnson, Jr., RB
• Romello Brinson, WR

Gridiron Heroics will continue to report on the SMU Mustangs generally, and the players discussed in this report.

For more related sports news, focused primarily on the USC Trojans, SMU Mustangs, and Los Angeles Rams, please follow me at @vshjah_Victor.