Kevin Jennings' Stats Last Night (Week 2): Looking at SMU QB's performance against BYU Cougars
The SMU Mustangs surprised many when they opted to give the reins to Kevin Jennings over starting quarterback Preston Stone against the BYU Cougars on Friday. After the first two drives, where Stone ended in three-and-outs, netting -18 yards, coach Rhett Lashlee brought in Jennings, who handled the majority of snaps from thereon, leaving the Mustangs' coaches impressed with every snap.
Though the Cougars won the game 18-15, Jennings gave them a run for their money after throwing for 140 yards on 15-of-32 pass attempts while being intercepted once. His dual-threat ability was also on offer, as he ran for 38 yards on nine carries.
In comparison, Preston Stone gobbled another one of his chances on the fifth offensive drive. It was another three and out for Stone after two missed blocks from his offensive line, as the Cougars defense sacked him once and hurried his rush pass attempt on another.
Rhett Lashlee clarifies why he opted for Kevin Jennings to handle bulk of the snaps
Coming into this game, both Stone and Jennings were expected to share the snaps, as they did in their last two games against the Mountain West’s Nevada and FCS Houston Christian. Stone was still expected to take most of the snaps this game. However, his botched attempt on the first offensive drive forced Rhett Lashlee's hand.
“The first two drives were really poor, really poor, offensively,” Lashlee said via LoneStar Live. “We went to Kevin, which was part of the original plan, he gave us a spark...moved it, had our best drive yet so we made the decision to give him another drive.
“It’s not personal, it’s not on a person. It’s, when Kevin was in there the offense was at least moving the football down the field and we were getting either points or opportunities to get points. As a staff we all made the decision to go with that the way the game was going," he added.
Though the game didn't end the Mustangs' way, Lashlee was all praise for Jennings, whose run-pass plays evaded the Cougars' defense most of the time:
“He made plays, he was confident throwing it. We still made plenty of mistakes... I was proud of how he battled, he made a lot of really good plays for us, especially when things weren’t going well," Lashlee said.
ACC's Mustangs (2-1) will face the TCU Horned Frogs next on Sept. 22.