COACH: June Jones — At SMU: 24-28, 4 years
OVERALL: 100-69, 13 years
OFFENSIVE COORDINATOR: Dan Morrison, Jason Phillips
DEFENSIVE COORDINATOR: Tom Mason
LAST LEAGUE TITLE: 1984, Southwest Conference co-champions
LAST TIME DIDN’T GO BOWLING: 2009
RETURNING STARTERS: 11; 3 offense, 7 defense, kicker
PLAYERS TO WATCH: QB Garrett Gilbert, RB Zach Line, WR Darius Johnson, DE Margus Hunt, LB Taylor Reed, LB Ja’Gared Davis
PRIMARY STRENGTHS: The defense had to carry SMU in 2011 and may need to again in 2012, at least early on while the Mustangs break in a young offense. The defense continues to improve under Tom Mason and could have one of the best linebacker corps in the country.
POTENTIAL PROBLEMS: Garrett Gilbert has to learn the run-and-shoot quickly. He’ll be under heavy pressure and scrutiny. The offensive line has no returning starters, just some experience and little depth. The kicking game was a bit of a mess last season.