First it was a new football coach, then it was new uniforms, and now the Mustangs have added another change to the list: the quarterback.
For the first time in two seasons it looks like Justin Willis will not be the opening day starter for SMU. True freshmen Bo Levi Mitchell and Braden Smith are at the top of head coach June Jones’ depth chart.
“Bo [Levi Mitchell] and Braden [Smith], after going through all the tapes and everything, I feel like they have a better understanding, I think, and executing a little bit better so we’re going to give them the reps,” head coach June Jones said.
That leaves Logan Turner and Willis fighting for the third spot in the depth chart.
“I told Justin [Willis] he’s one or two plays away from being the guy,” Jones said. “You’ve always got to be ready, he’ll get another chance I’m sure somewhere down the line.”
Jones said that Willis and Turner took the same amount of snaps as each other in Monday’s practice, but would not specify whether one was higher than the other in the rotation.
Mitchell is a six-foot-one-inch freshman from Katy, Texas, just outside of Houston. He led Katy to an undefeated, state championship season during his senior year. It is that experience on a big stage that stood out to Jones.
“I think the fact that he’s been in big games at his high school he played [in front of] 62,000 in San Antonio for the state championship,” Jones said. “So he’s been in big games, seems to have a lot of poise, confidence.”
Jones also feels that Mitchell is a better quarterback physically.
The quarterbacks were told about the decision in a meeting Saturday night. It is a decision that quarterback coach Dan Morrison said is a difficult part of any training camp, but a necessary one in order to get the players who are going to play ready. And that player is Mitchell.
“[Mitchell] has a very strong arm, he gets rid of the ball quickly,” Morrison said. “He’s prepared, he’s mature, he’s ready.”
For Mitchell that is just part of being on the team.
“It’s just whoever goes out there and performs,” Mitchell said. “Great competition helps push you. I’ve got three good quarterbacks to work against.”
But that leaves two-year starter Justin Willis out of the picture. In those two seasons Emmanuel Sanders has caught more touchdowns from Willis than any other receiver.
“I trust coach Jones, he’s a man, his credentials are high and whatever he says goes.” Sanders said. “I have confidence in Bo Levi Mitchell and I think we can get the job done with him.”
Sanders also noted Mitchell’s “swagger” that shows confidence in himself and brings confidence to the team.
“He is a true freshman, but that the same time he’s a leader, a natural born leader, so as long as he leads, makes the right throws and the right reads it’s cool,” Sanders said.
But there are still two weeks until the Mustangs open the season in Houston against Rice and Jones said that depth chart will work itself out within those two weeks.
