SMU suffers major blow with loss of veteran quarterback Matt Davis

The SMU football program has made strides under Chad Morris, but the second-year coach and his Mustangs’ turnaround job just got a little more challenging.

Senior quarterback Matt Davis, who missed his team’s 40-13 loss at No. 19/23 Baylor on Saturday due to a knee injury sustained in the opener versus North Texas, received news on Monday that he’s done for the season with a torn ACL.

The 6’0”, 214-pound signal-caller, who presented Mustangs’ opponents with a dual-threat to defend, spent the 2012 campaign redshirting at Texas A&M before playing the following year at Tyler Junior College.

Since arriving in Dallas, Davis had started in 17 of the 23 games in which he has seen action. He became the starter midway through 2014 and compiled 1,468 yards of total offense (855 passing, 613 rushing) during that sophomore year.

Last season, the Houston, Texas native accounted for more than 3,000 yards of total offense—including 761 on the ground—and 26 total touchdowns (10 rushing).

As a result, he was named to the preseason Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award Watch List prior to this year.

Davis was 8-for-17 for 155 yards, two touchdowns and an interception in SMU’s season opening 34-21 victory at North Texas. He also ran for 91 yards on 14 carries.

With Davis out of the equation and hopeful to get a medical redshirt that would allow him to return in 2017, the Mustangs will turn to redshirt freshman Ben Hicks.

Hicks, who was one of the most-highly touted quarterbacks in the country in the Class of ‘14, received his first start last week in the loss to Baylor.

The return to his hometown of Waco was a rough one, as he went 17-of-44 for 229 yards and a touchdown, but was picked off 3 times.

He was 5-for-9 for 145 yards and a score when he came off the bench for Davis in the opener against North Texas.

SMU hosts Liberty this week in its home opener. Kick-off is scheduled for 6pm (Central) and it can be viewed on ESPN3.