Virginia Tech defense aims to take another step against SMU and Kevin Jennings
Virginia Tech safety Tyson Flowers runs in to make a play during the first half against Boston College in Sept. 26 in Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts.
SMU quarterback Kevin Jennings prepares to deliver a pass during the second half against Virginia on Oct. 17 in Dallas.
BLACKSBURG — First starts are memorable. And making a first career collegiate start against another program from Texas made Tyson Flowers’ initial appearance in the starting lineup even more unforgettable.
Flowers, who was born in Arlington and raised in Fort Worth, finally cracked the starting lineup at safety with Rice late in the 2023 season when the Owls hosted SMU. It was a good showing for Flowers, a sophomore that season, with a season-high eight tackles and three pass breakups.
Three years later, he still remembers every detail from the Mustangs’ 36-31 win over the Owls.
One detail in particular still stands out for Flowers. He recalls how Kevin Jennings, also a sophomore, handled the pressure in the fourth quarter when he was pressed into duty after SMU starting quarterback Preston Stone got banged up. It was only one drive. Those 11 plays were all Flowers needed to see to know Jennings had the potential to develop into a skilled playmaker.
“I think the thing I remember the most was just him being confident when he was out there,” Flowers, now a fifth-year safety at Virginia Tech, said Monday.
Jennings surely doesn’t lack confidence. He’s entrenched himself as SMU’s QB1 ever since taking over the role in 2024, and he’s the wrangler to the Mustangs’ galloping offensive attack.
The 6-foot, 195-pound Jennings is putting up gaudy numbers in his third season as the starter. He’s thrown 21 touchdown passes to five interceptions and is completing 73.7% of his passes for 2,414 yards.
Slowing him down is crucial for the Hokies when they play at SMU for the first time as ACC foes on Friday at 7 p.m.
“Especially this week watching some more film, I think you can just see that even more just how confident he is as a passer,” Flowers said. “I think, again as a competitor, those are the guys you want to go against. You want to go against the best competition. You want to test and see where your skills are up against the best. So I think, we as a secondary, we’re excited for the challenge that he brings and excited to continue to get to work and prepare for the game.”
This matchup is the first between the Hokies (6-2, 3-2 ACC) and Mustangs (6-2, 4-2) since SMU joined the ACC in 2024. Flowers, though, isn’t the only person in the Virginia Tech football program that has seen Jennings up close.
Hokies coach James Franklin coached against Jennings and SMU in the 2024 College Football Playoff first round when Franklin’s Penn State squad secured a 38-10 home win.
Jennings has improved since that contest. The offensive scheme has changed, as well, after Casey Woods left as offensive coordinator to lead Missouri State. SMU coach Rhett Lashlee calls the plays and three assistant coaches (Rob Likens, Garin Justice and D’Eriq King) serve as co-offensive coordinators.
“There is some familiarity there, there’s no doubt about it. And then obviously we spend a ton of time on studying this team, not only our Virginia Tech team during the bye week, but also their team and what they’ve been able to do,” Franklin said Monday. “They’ve put up big numbers. Whenever you have a quarterback that’s been this successful, pretty much holds all of their records, but also has been playing there for a long, long time, within the system, surrounded by a bunch of weapons as well, and they do a really nice job.
“So it’s going to be a real challenge when you play this type of quarterback with this type of athleticism, this much experience, and surrounded by that talent is always a challenge. So we’re looking forward to it. I know our defense is excited about the opportunity, but it is definitely going to be a challenge.”
Jennings’ receiving corps certainly helps him pad his passing numbers. Yamir Knight, Yannick Smith and Jalen Cooper have combined to catch 98 passes for 1,349 yards and six touchdowns. Tight ends Randy Pittman Jr. and Theo Melin Öhrström each have four touchdown receptions.
Think that’s enough? Running back Kendrick Raphael has rushed for 692 yards and nine touchdowns while adding 127 yards and a score on 15 receptions.
“You’ve got to account for the quarterback in the running game, which always helps the running back out as well, forcing the defense to defend all those types of things. The wide receivers, the splits, the spread emphasis that they put on you, which again can cause stress on the defense,” Franklin said before addressing Raphael. “And then just the combination, he’s 5 foot 11, he’s over 200 pounds, he’s able to break tackles, he’s able to make people miss. … But just a guy that makes a ton of different plays, and they do a nice job within their offensive scheme of making it hard for you to overload the box and be able to stop the run when they’re stretching you so much vertically, horizontally. It makes it difficult.”
SMU dropped out of the Associated Press Top 25 after Saturday’s 30-27 loss at Syracuse, and Franklin said Monday that he watched that game completely once and wanted to watch it more to see what the Orange did well and what the Hokies can do to take another step forward and build off a 20-16 win at Clemson on Oct. 24.
The Hokies’ pass defense held Clemson to 153 yards — snapping a streak of two straight games allowing more than 300 passing yards — and the defense limited the Tigers to 288 yards of total offense to mark the third time of limiting a Power Four opponent to less than 300 yards.
Virginia Tech has another chance to take more steps forward against SMU.
“I think the past couple of weeks, the emphasis I guess for us defensively has been let’s try to force more turnovers, right? Coach Franklin and his staff do a great job of reminding us every week that the two most important stats in football are turnover margin and explosive plays,” Flowers said. “I think for us as a defense, trying to force more turnovers and emphasizing that in practice has been a big part for us.
“Then, I think also just being as present as possible. Can we maximize and make sure we’re getting better, getting better this week at practice? This Tuesday, what am I getting better at? That’s been a focus for us on defense, but as a whole team as well. How can I get better?
“So I think when your focus is on improving, improving, improving, little incremental improvements, then I think you’ll start to see more progress being made and, again, that’s all we’re trying to do this week, too, is just get a little bit better and get a little bit better and put us in the best position possible to have success this weekend against SMU.”
Damien Sordelett (540) 981-3124
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