{"id":211990,"date":"2025-10-09T15:12:05","date_gmt":"2025-10-09T15:12:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/211990\/"},"modified":"2025-10-09T15:12:05","modified_gmt":"2025-10-09T15:12:05","slug":"a-year-after-setback-at-stanford-smu-tight-end-group-is-realizing-full-potential","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/211990\/","title":{"rendered":"A year after setback at Stanford, SMU tight end group is realizing full potential"},"content":{"rendered":"

Stanford week last year was the week everything changed for SMU\u2019s tight end room and its star RJ Maryland<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Maryland was making a routine catch, running full-speed towards a defender during SMU\u2019s Oct. 19 game when a defender collided helmet-first with his right knee.<\/p>\n

That play caused him to tear his ACL, ending his season and launching a yearlong journey to full recovery from surgery. <\/p>\n

It placed graduate transfer Matthew Hibner into a larger role. SMU was grateful it had the depth at the position to still make a run to the College Football Playoff. But its players and staff always wondered what could\u2019ve been had both of its NFL-caliber tight ends stayed healthy throughout the year.<\/p>\n

Sports Roundup<\/p>\n

Get the latest D-FW sports news, analysis and opinion delivered straight to your inbox. Plus, Kevin Sherrington’s A La Carte.<\/p>\n

By signing up, you agree to our\u00a0Terms of Service<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0Privacy Policy.<\/a><\/p>\n

Last week at Syracuse was the first time the Mustangs reaped the benefits of having its two tight ends healthy<\/a> and in action at the same time. As SMU hosts Stanford Saturday at 11 a.m., it\u2019ll hope to build on what the tight end room can do \u2014 and show what was robbed of them during that same game last season.<\/p>\n

Related<\/p>\n

\"SMU<\/p>\n

\u201cThose two guys are great,\u201d SMU head coach Rhett Lashlee said. \u201cThey\u2019re NFL players. They\u2019re as healthy as they\u2019ve been this season. That\u2019s why it was a lot easier to get them more involved, and we\u2019ll continue to try to do that every week.\u201d<\/p>\n

After his injury, Maryland started counting down the months until he could return to game action. SMU was just hopeful he\u2019d be back for the start of conference play. <\/p>\n

The Mustangs got even more out of their tight end than expected, as he was able to play in the four nonconference games. But the coaches still wanted to ease him back in. <\/p>\n

\"SMU<\/p>\n

SMU tight end Matthew Hibner (88) celebrates his touchdown reception with SMU offensive lineman Andrew Chamblee (74) during the first half of an NCAA football game against TCU, Saturday, Sept. 20, 2025, in Fort Worth.<\/p>\n

El\u00edas Valverde II \/ Staff Photographer<\/p>\n

Maryland caught just nine passes for 76 yards in the first four games of this season. He scored a touchdown in the second half against Missouri State.<\/p>\n

But in the 31-18 win over Syracuse last Saturday, Maryland looked much more like himself again. He made three catches for 40 yards and a touchdown and appeared to be back to full speed.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt felt great,\u201d he said. \u201cThe last touchdown I had versus Missouri State, it was a little freebie, so this one felt pretty good to get in for real.\u201d<\/p>\n

Hibner also wasn\u2019t fully healthy in the first few games of the season. The bye week helped him recover. <\/p>\n

He made eight catches for 49 yards and one touchdown in non-conference play. On Saturday against Syracuse, he had five catches for 55 yards.<\/p>\n

\u201cKevin [Jennings] has a lot of faith in those guys. You saw late in the game, he hit Hibner twice to run some clock and get some first downs,\u201d Lashlee said. \u201cWe were able to spread the ball around. We\u2019re trending towards who we want to be. We\u2019ve just got to put it all together more consistently.\u201d<\/p>\n

SMU may have one of the deepest tight end rooms in the country. Maryland and Hibner are supported by Stone Eby, Adam Moore, Tripp Riordan and Miles Uter. There\u2019s a lot of college football experience in that group, including a national championship-winner in Hibner and players that have won conference championships and made the College Football Playoff.<\/p>\n

Multiple of SMU\u2019s tight ends have the potential to play at the next level. It\u2019s always been believed that Maryland, who has been an impact player in all four of his years on SMU\u2019s campus, would follow in his father Russell\u2019s footsteps and play in the NFL. <\/p>\n

Lashlee said while his injury could have been seen as a setback to those goals, it also better prepared him for them.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere\u2019s this old saying: prepare like you\u2019re a pro before you\u2019re a pro. I think RJ has displayed that this year,\u201d Lashlee said. \u201cI think he attacked his disappointment in the injury, his setback and then his rehab and recovery like a pro, and I think that\u2019s what\u2019s going to help him even more at the next level.\u201d<\/p>\n

Stanford has one of the better run defenses that SMU will face this year, allowing just 113.8 yards per game. It\u2019s imperative that the passing game can be the difference, and that requires Maryland and Hibner to both be factors again.<\/p>\n

SMU had eight different players log a catch against Syracuse and six make multiple catches.<\/p>\n

Having their both tight ends be a part of that effort is a long-overdue goal that the Mustangs are relieved to finally see in action. <\/p>\n

Prediction<\/p>\n

SMU\u2019s offense looked like it finally hit its stride in the first half against Syracuse, the defense made plays it wasn\u2019t making the first four weeks, and the group was able to finish. The Mustangs should be able to build on their first conference win and gain even more confidence against a struggling Stanford team.<\/p>\n

Prediction: SMU 42, Stanford 14<\/p>\n

On X\/Twitter: @Lassimak<\/a><\/p>\n

Find more SMU coverage from The Dallas Morning News here<\/a>.<\/p>\n