The senior was injured in the season opening loss to Texas Tech and will be a gametime decision depending on how his knee progresses this week after missing the win over Montana State. ‘Rambo’ as he is called by his teammates, is the most vocal player on this team and his leadership has been missed on defense.

DB Kenneth Acker

After watching Texas A&M; receiver Mike Evans go for 279 yards on the number one team in the country, it’s scary to think what he may do to a struggling SMU secondary. Acker is the team’s top corner and will likely be matched up with the 6-5, 225 pound Evans. Evans doesn’t have elite speed, but jump balls down the field could be tough for the 5-11 Acker to defend against.

WR Darius Joseph

Going into this year, SMU’s top receiver was Jeremy Johnson and there wasn’t anyone else who had proven they could be a consistent threat for SMU in the passing game.

That changed with Joseph’s two consecutive 100-yard games and the game winning catch against Montana State. Joseph gives SMU two legitimate threats in the slot, but both will have to be at their absolute best against Texas A&M.; If Joseph continues his solid play, that will help quarterback Garrett Gilbert out immensely.

QB Garrett Gilbert

SMU’s starting quarterback has a chance to make against Texas A&M; for the rest of the season. If Gilbert can show just how far he has come since last year by having a big game against the Aggies porous defense, it will give SMU some solid momentum going into the TCU game and conference play.

If Gilbert struggles and the Aggies have a good gameplan against him, TCU will have the blueprint they need to win a second consecutive victory over SMU next week.

C Taylor Lasecki

SMU is heading into a hostile Kyle Field that will be looking for something to cheer about after losing to Alabama last week. That means that Lasecki will have to be extremely good at communicating the right calls and protections with the offensive line in Aggieland. The crowd noise will be deafening, but if Lasecki can keep the offensive line from having communication breakdowns like the group has had problems with, it will go a long way to keeping Gilbert off the turf.