Shane Buechele – Noteworthy
How quickly can Shane Buechele, receivers get on the same page? This might seem like a minor, picky issue to bring up — especially six months before the season begins. But when thought about in a larger context, it can be seen why it’s worth talking about. Shane Buechele’s transfer to The Hilltop was a godsend for a SMU program which had no experienced options to fill its void at quarterback. Even though Buechele spent last season as the backup QB in Austin, some SMU fans will argue that he’s an upgrade over school-record setter Ben Hicks — who opted to follow Chad Morris to Arkansas this offseason.
Buechele, a graduate transfer with two years of eligibility remaining, looks to be locked in as SMU’s starting QB through the 2020 season. All good, right? Sure. But let’s not let the glare beaming off of SMU’s shiny new toy blind us from the obvious: Buechele will be returning to a starting role, having to learn a completely new system. Hicks, at least, had the advantage of pre-existing chemistry with SMU’s receivers. Completed passes to wide receiver James Proche accounted for 26 percent of the Mustangs’ total offense in 2018, and most of those passes came from Hicks. The duo had been working together since their freshman season in 2016 and had a good working relationship. It’s safe to say that SMU’s offense relies on getting the ball to Proche, no matter who’s under center. For both Buechele and Proche, there’s acclimating to do. – Dallas Morning News
