UNIVERSITY PARK -- When people think of SMU under head coach Chad Morris, their minds tend to focus on the offense first. It's the side of the ball where Morris made his name from his Texas high school football days to his time as an offensive coordinator at Tulsa and Clemson.
For SMU to make a jump to bowl eligibility this season, the defense needs to build up its reputation. That will start with the defensive line.
Youth pervades SMU's secondary and linebacker corps. A handful of upperclassmen are expected to contribute in the back-seven of coordinator Van Malone's defense.