SMU football: All-time leading passer Ben Hicks to transfer

By Will Leverett

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SMU quarterback Ben Hicks will leave the program as a graduate transfer, according to a report from Pony Stampede.

Hicks is the all-time program leader in passing yards, total offense, passing touchdowns, career touchdowns responsible for and completions. The three-year starter graduates with 9,081 passing yards, 71 touchdowns and 34 interceptions.

However, Hicks struggled to acclimate when former coach Chad Morris took the Arkansas job. Sonny Dykes benched Hicks at halftime of a 45-20 loss against Michigan after he threw a backbreaking pick-six. Freshman Will Brown started against Navy and Houston Baptist, though Hicks led an overtime comeback against the Midshipmen.

Brett McMurphy reports that Hicks “wanted assurance he would be the guy next year.” Dykes, who did not recruit Hicks, declined to give it to him.

It’s unclear what Hicks will do next. Arkansas would seem to be an obvious target; Hicks could join former coach Morris in Fayetteville. There are also several other openings at both the Power Five and Group of Five level that Hicks could choose.

With Hicks’ departure, SMU has four quarterbacks left on its roster: Brown, Austin Upshaw, Jacob Oehrlein and Derek Green. All four were freshmen in 2018. Brown threw for 625 yards, seven touchdowns and just one interception. Upshaw threw for 10 yards on three attempts. The other two have never passed in a college football game.

Brown was the only quarterback to sign a letter of intent under Dykes. He was still a recruiting holdover from the Morris era.

The Mustangs also have a commitment from Houston Westfield quarterback Terrance Gipson. Gipson is the fifth-rank commit in SMU’s 2019 recruiting class, which is ranked best in the American Athletic Conference. The Westfield product won district offensive player of the year as a junior. However, he also suffered a torn ACL and partially torn meniscus, so it’s unlikely that he will be ready to play right away.

Dykes runs an air raid offense, so quarterback play is critical. Figuring out the next in line at SMU will have a major effect on whether the Mustangs can make a jump next season.

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