System over experience: SMU’s June Jones dumps two-year starting QB for freshmen

Posted By Matt Severance on Tuesday, August 19th 2008 under: NCAA Football Tags: June Jones, SMU Mustangs

You have to respect SMU’s June Jones. The Mustangs’ new head coach has a quarterback in place in junior Justin Willis who was a two-year starter and former Conference USA Freshman of the Year, but Jones has decided to drop Willis to the No. 3 spot behind two freshmen who are more adaptable to Jones’ run-and-shoot offense.

Jones announced that Bo Levi Mitchell and Braden Smith, both true freshmen, would be the top two quarterbacks on the depth chart as the Mustangs prepare for their season opener at Rice on Aug. 29. Assistant head coach/offense Dan Morrison said Mitchell is the No. 1 for now.

“After going through all of the tapes, I felt like Bo and Braden had a better understanding of the offense,” Jones said. “I think they’re executing a little bit better, so we’re going to give them the reps. We will continue to give the other guys reps too, but those guys will get the focus.”

Morrison said he and Jones focused on accuracy, quick releases and a thorough understanding of the run-and-shoot and that Mitchell and Smith fit the bill perfectly.

“Their maturity level is well beyond what most freshmen truly are,” Morrison said. “They have that same kind of moxie, that same kind of confidence and maturity that we have to see and, truthfully, the other players have to see, too.”

Mitchell, one of Jones’ first recruits to sign at SMU, led Katy High 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.”

Tough break for Willis, who set a school record with 3,643 total yards last season and has a school-record 51 career touchdown passes. At least Jones told Willis to stay ready to play.

“I told Justin he’s only one or two plays away from being the guy, so he’s got to be ready,” Jones said. “We’re going in the other direction right now, but the other guys have got to be ready.”

One other thing working against Willis was that he was suspended and missed spring practices.

Give Jones credit in that he wants to put his stamp on the program. He is the rare coach who doesn’t want a mobile QB (like Willis) always leaving the pocket. He wants a gunslinger like Colt Brennan was at Hawaii.