We all love an underdog story, don’t we? And when you’re someone ranked 1535 in the nation, you are an utmost bottom dog.

Yes, 1535!

But every now and then, a narrative emerges that feels more like destiny than coincidence. SMU Mustangs’ road to turning around a crisis-ridden program and finding their quarterback of the future involved an incredible stroke of luck, a game-changing high school playoff run, and a coach who trusted his instincts. Rhett Lashlee, and his Ponies, recently sat down with CFB Hall-of-Famer David Pollack to recount how he unearthed this South Oak Cliff, Texas diamond, and the story feels like it came straight out of a sports movie.

In the video conference on the David Pollack College Football Show with the former LB. The playoff-secured SMU head coach had a tale to tell from the past about the four-digit ranked QB, within the nation, Sophomore Kevin Jennings. “When I took over at SMU, we didn’t even have a quarterback on the roster for that recruiting class,” Lashlee admitted, almost chuckling at the absurdity of the situation. Hired in December 2021, Lashlee was barely settling into his new role when he decided to attend a high school playoff game between South Oak Cliff and Lovejoy. The matchup was a big deal; South Oak Cliff was on the verge of making history as the first Dallas Independent School District team to win a state title in 60 years. “I didn’t know what I was doing yet,” a tryna-be coach Rhett Lashlee confessed. “I was just trying to figure out how to be a head coach.”

Initially, the game wasn’t even about finding a quarterback. Lashlee recalled someone handing him a scouting sheet pointing out players to watch—a cornerback here, a linebacker there. Then came an offhand comment: “Oh, by the way, South Oak Cliff’s quarterback is committed to Missouri State. He’s pretty good.” Lashlee didn’t think much of it until the first quarter unfolded. “I looked at our offensive coordinator, Casey Woods, and said, ‘What am I missing on this quarterback? He’s pretty good.”

The quarterback in question was Kevin Jennings, a 6’0”, 185-pound prospect who was flying under the radar. The Hurricanes OC transfer, hired to lead the Ponies, was immediately struck by the flashy dual-threat QB’s poise, athleticism, and command of the game. “He was smooth,” Lashlee said. “He wasn’t just a runner. He could throw the football, keep his eyes up when he scrambled, and his presence on the field—it was just obvious. He was the alpha.” By halftime, Lashlee and Woods knew they’d found their guy. SMU offered Kevin Jennings shortly after that game, and the rest, as they say, is history.

Who knew, the 1500-something-ranked player would go to become of the best players in the CFB? Kevin Jennings this season racked up 3,050 yards and 22 TDs, for reference Ducks Gabriel is chilling in his New York hotel suite, waiting for the Heisman ceremony to begin and chatting with Dan Patrick at, 28 touchdowns and some 3000+ yards.

He went on to lead South Oak Cliff to a state championship, cementing his legacy as one of Dallas’s great high school players. Lashlee credits much of Jennings’ success to his upbringing. “His parents did a great job raising him,” Lashlee said. “He’s incredibly confident, but super humble. He’s just like a big kid playing.” That joy and resilience were on full display in a game against Louisville. As the Mustangs fought to regain the lead in the fourth quarter, Jennings could be seen dancing on the sideline during a timeout. “Our defensive coordinator was like, ‘Are you kidding me?’” Lashlee laughed. “And I said, ‘Whatever, man.’ Then he leads us on a game-winning drive.”

The Mustangs #7’s maturity shone brightly even in SMU’s heartbreaking 34-31 loss to Clemson and it was a championship game, speaking to reporters afterwards. That’s how you know the kid had the demeanor of the greats, as coach Lash said, “He just plays with a very cool calmness, but such a confident demeanor, that all the great ones have.”

Rhett Lashlee was right all along

For a 20 year-old, Kevin Jennings is way too mature. The Alpha of the group took full responsibility for his early turnovers while praising his teammates’ effort. “I’m just very proud of these guys,” he said, his voice tinged with emotion. It’s the kind of accountability that coach Rhett Lashlee saw from day one and why he believes Jennings has all the tools to be one of the nation’s top quarterbacks.

Jennings began speaking on On3, taking ownership of the game’s rocky start. “We just started out pretty slow—not up to our standard. I turned the ball over a couple of times, and that can’t happen in any game, especially not one like this.” The turnovers were costly, creating a deficit that SMU had to claw its way out of. Also shared his thoughts on the team’s final touchdown drive, a high-pressure moment where SMU showed its mettle. “We knew we had to execute on third downs.” He added, “This team, man, we’ve got the clutch gene.”

KJ’s journey from inheriting a program with no quarterback to finding a leader in Jennings is a testament to trusting your gut and believing in untapped potential. “He’s got that perfect balance,” As coach Lash said. “He’ll throw a pick, come off and say, ‘My bad,’ and then go out and rip the next play.”