Quarterback

Tim Boyle

Inserted into the starting lineup after four games in the season, the first-year quarterback has had his fair share of struggles, having not thrown a touchdown on the season, while throwing eight interceptions.

Boyle isn’t someone who is going to scare the SMU defense, but if he can limit his mistakes, the University of Connecticut may be able to get something going on offense against the Mustangs.

Don’t expect much from him, but he can definitely lose the game for UCONN pretty easily.

Linebacker

Lyle McCombs

Running back Lyle McCombs has had an up-and-down season so far, rushing for 496 yards and four touchdowns and will be looking to rebound after a 30-yard performance that saw him average just 2.5 yards per carry against Louisville.

The 5-9, 175 pound back from Staten Island, N.Y., has averaged close to 4.5 yards per carry this season. McCombs has also struggled in the return game, averaging just under 19 yards per return.

If SMU can limit him in the return game as well, it will help start UCONN off with poor field position.

Linebacker

Yawin Smallwood

With 89 tackles on the year, SMU faces a linebacker that can run around and make plenty of plays just like Cincinnati’s Nick Temple. Smallwood though is not as polished in the pass rushing aspect of his game, with just one sack on the year.

At 6-4, 235 pounds, Smallwood is bigger than Temple and is able to take on offensive linemen and shed blocks in the running game easier than the undersized Temple.

With 4.5 tackles for loss on the year, SMU’s offensive line will have to do just as good of a job on Smallwood that they did on Temple, who was limited to six tackles.

Wide reciever

Geremy Davis

Davis’ size at 6-3, 215 pounds will make for a tough matchup for SMU’s pass defense and Davis is coming off of a solid game against Louisville, with six receptions for 76 yards.

Kenneth Acker will most likely be charged with covering Davis and if SMU hopes to shutdown the UCONN passing game, which has struggled on the year.

Defensive

Byron Jones

The junior corner from New Britain, Conn. has three interceptions on the year and against big time opponents, picking off University of Michigan’s Devin Gardner and University of Central Florida’s Blake Bortles as well as adding another against University of South Florida.

The 6-1, 190 pound Jones also has 32 tackles on the year including one for loss.

Where he makes his biggest impact though is in pass defense, with five passes broken up on the year.

Jones can matchup well against the SMU receivers and is someone for Garrett Gilbert to watch out for when dropping back to pass.