Senior Chase Kennemer was named Conference USA Defensive Player of the Week following last weekend’s win over Rice. CASEY LEE/The Daily Campus

Last weekend, when in-state rival Rice University was on its last breath and hoping for a miraculous comeback with a final trick play, senior Chase Kennemer, SMU’s top defensive player, was the one to snuff out the Owls’ hopes.

Kennemer does not take full credit for the final stop, insisting that he simply happened to be in the right place at the right time. Instead, he credits his teammates more for the overall defensive effort, citing their play and skill.

“I am very lucky to be a part of a defense with so many playmakers, and Coach Mason has done a great job putting us in situations to make plays,” Kennemer said. “More than anything, I believe that this award says a lot about the Mustang defense. People are starting to respect us.”

Kennemer ended the game with eight tackles and three fumble recoveries, earning Conference USA Defensive Player of the Week honors. Over the course of the season, Kennemer has six games with 10-plus-tackles and is currently ranked No. 15 in the nation with 10.33 tackles per game. Kennemer leads all SMU defenders with 93 total tackles, while sophomore Chris Banjo is second on the team with 61.

This is Kennemer’s third season with the Mustangs. In the 2008 season he played in all 12 games, and until the UTEP game, was mostly on special teams. Throughout the season he had 25 total tackles. In the 2008 UTEP game, which was his first collegiate start, Kennemer blocked a punt and had 11 tackles.

According to Kennemer, the biggest difference between the 2008 and 2009 seasons was the drive and intensity of this year’s team, as well as the increased support from the university and students.

Kennemer originally received an offer to play for several schools, including SMU, but turned them all down and instead went to play for Texas A&M. However, the system that the Aggies ran did not allow for much playing time for Kennemer, resulting in him not seeing any action his freshman year.

“I didn’t fit into their defensive scheme, so I spoke with Coach Phil Bennett about transferring,” he said. “SMU seemed like a good fit for me at that point, and that’s how I ended up here.”

Not content to simply sit idle on the bench, Kennemer transferred the following year to the first school that ever recruited him: SMU. Former head coach Phil Bennett redshirted Kennemer his first year to allow him time to learn the Mustangs’ system. However, it is under coach June Jones that Kennemer has come into his own.

However, Kennemer is much more concerned about the present than the past, especially with SMU on the verge of going to its first bowl game since 1984. The Mustangs’ final three games are against the University of Texas as El Paso, Marshall University and Tulane University. Those three teams’ combined record is 6-9 in conference and 11-16 overall. SMU’s chances of going to a bowl game are completely up to the players.

“The best thing our team can do right now is win at home against UTEP on family weekend,” Kennemer said. “Although their record may not show it, they are a very talented team. We need to play our best game of the year this Saturday. After UTEP, we will focus on Marshall and then Tulane. We have to take it one game at a time, and if we do that, Hawaii will take care of itself. The magic number for bowl eligibility is 6 wins, and we are one win away. Even though it might be in the back of everybody’s head, we are staying very focused on our opponent this week.”

While some say winning isn’t everything, to Kennemer it is.

“It would be awesome to be on the team that turned the corner for SMU football and finally put an end to the death penalty talk,” Kennemer said. “It would be great to be on the team that finally brought back excitement and energy to SMU with a bowl game. On a more personal note, it would make all that I have been through worthwhile. I feel very blessed to have the opportunity to be a captain on the team and help us win this year, but my football career hasn’t been as glamorous as I hoped as a kid. I’ve been through four different coaching staffs and on a lot of losing teams. Going to a bowl would make the journey I’ve been though that much better.”