SMU QB Kevin Jennings on ACC Network: ‘We haven’t finished business yet’

SMU quarterback Kevin Jennings went on ACC Network this morning at ACC Kickoff and got asked a bunch of questions from the crew. Here’s everything he said on Friday. On managing pressure at SMU: “Yeah, I mean, I look at it as a blessing, honestly. If you have pressure, you’re doing something great. So I’m just looking at it like that. Pressure’s been with me my whole life, and I just think it’s something, you know, the game of football has been my whole life since I was 8 years old. So it’s nothing new to me, but, um, just trying to go with it and just win some ballgames throughout this year.” On thought process behind returning to SMU for final year (feedback from NFL, unfinished business): “I think more of both. As a quarterback, it’s definitely things I can work on. I’m not perfect, so it’s definitely about getting in the lab and work on mechanics and things like that. And also there’s some unfinished business in Dallas. I’m from Dallas. I’m a kid from Dallas. You know, we haven’t finished business yet. So I think it’s my goal just to come here do what needs to be done in Dallas.” On what he has been working on this offseason: “Yeah, I think number one goal is definitely mechanic-wise. Being more stable in the pocket, just having the right footwork and all that type of things. As a quarterback, it’s all about the little things. The little things can take you a long way. So I think just working on mechanics, working on my game above the neck, just knowing more ball is. I think that’s the main thing for me coming back.” On what kind of work that entails: “I think the ball that’s just more film. Just getting in the lab with coach King, Coach Lashlee, and all that. Just diving in, asking them more questions. I think that’s the main thing.” On Instagram video of him hitting SMU goal post from 50-yards: “It was real. Everybody keeps saying it’s AI. It was real.” On how many tries it took: “It was the first try. I got videos of me hitting it 2 times in a row.” On what offense has been working on this spring: “I think we’re good at a lot of things, but I think just being more consistent. I think, throughout the past year, last year, we kind of was on the rocky road. Some games we’ll come out firing, rock and rolling, and some games will come up, not doing as well. So I think just being more consistent as a whole group.” On what he needs to do as a leader to elevate those at SMU around him: “I think it starts at practice, just continuing to be on guys. We got young guys coming in that’s gonna play really early or something, just trying to get greatness from them, just putting pressure on them and making them rise to the challenge.” On who are some young players that could step up: “Yeah, you mentioned Jalen Cooper, he’s gonna have a really big year this year. He has an important role. We got two transfers that came over. We got Yannick Smith, we got Jalen Hale, we also have Dramekco Green, we call him Chunky, our running back. So, it’s a lot of young guys on the team. I think they’re willing to step up for the challenge. I’m just ready to see them rock and roll up and play.” On if a younger Kevin Jennings would have believed all that has come his way the past few years at SMU: “Probably not, honestly. It’s been a great couple of years for me. I’m just blessed. I’m blessed from God. He’s blessed me with all these great things. So, honestly, as a kid, if I was to look back at this, probably not.” On if he has to pinch himself: “It’s amazing. I’m super blessed to have this opportunity. I’m just honored.” On relationship with Rhett Lashlee: “I definitely think so. We’re really close each and every year. It’s my 5th year with him, so it’s a great relationship. I know he has the most confidence in me and I have confidence in him, so it’s a really great combination.” On if his responsibilities have increased at the line of scrimmage: “I can see this past spring we had, more challenges for sure. More with checking runs. We have a B gap defender right here, check the opposite. Just things like that. The confidence they have in me, I think, is going to grow each and every week. And I have a lot to say.” On D’Eriq King as SMU QBs coach: “He definitely got the stuff for sure. It’s natural. He played quarterback at a high level and he just fit in the role. He’s saying stuff on the fly, telling me what to look at, telling me the keys to look at, and just helping me tremendously, honestly. You know, having a great quarterback like that, and now he’s calling plays for me at practice. It’s really great just to have him on.” On difference between his communication style and Rhett Lashlee’s: “I think, because I told D’Eriq, I was like, just be more subtle, tell me the play once and I’m good. I’m ready. Lashlee will be like [imitates reading play out], I’m like, alright, bro. I think King is more so he knows like what I need to hear and all that.” On top play in an SMU uniform: “Oh, top play, definitely. That’s tough. I like that TCU clip. Maybe the Louisville clip, it was like a crosser I threw to Jordan Hudson. Probably one of those, but there’s a lot of memories.” On Kevin Jennings Recovery Center at SMU: “Yeah, I’m super grateful for that. The recovery center is inside our facility, it’s on one of our levels. But, I’m grateful to be able to have this place at SMU. Being able to get my teammates things to recover better. We talk about it within the team, within the players. We got saunas, cold plunges, recovery table, just all those type of things. So it’s just It’s a blessing just to have that thing, have the legacy after me.” On relationship with Gio Lopez: “Yeah, it went back to two years ago to the Manning Passing Academy. I actually met him there. We clicked like no other, you know, right off the rip. But that’s been my guy ever since, we communicate each and every time, just stuff like that.” Scouting report on Gio Lopez: “Scouting report, he’s a lefty, strong arm. We at the Manning Camp, just taking 5-step drops trying to launch it as far as we can. He’s slinging it out there. So yeah, he’s a great player.”