SMU running back Camar Wheaton suspended for Lousiana Tech game

SMU running back Camar Wheaton is suspended for the season opener against Louisiana Tech on Saturday for violating team rules.
Head coach Rhett Lashlee said the former five-star recruit from Garland Lakeview Centennial didn’t have a perfect attendance record during SMU’s second summer session.
“We have a class attendance policy here. We go to class,” Lashlee said Wednesday after practice. “Here in the second summer session, he decided that wasn’t important to him, and we respect our teachers here too much to allow that in our program. So he understands what the expectations are and our guys know the standard, and that’s why he won’t be there Game 1.”
He will be fully reinstated for Game 2 at Oklahoma on Sept. 9, Lashlee said.
Wheaton, who spent his redshirt freshman season at Alabama, rushed for 322 yards and two touchdowns on 62 carries in 2022. He missed the first few weeks of spring practice this year because of academic issues.
He is competing for the top spot in SMU’s backfield with two other former top-12 running back recruits — Miami (Fla.) transfer Jaylan Knighton and Texas A&M transfer LJ Johnson Jr. Rounding out the Mustangs’ depth at running back is Tyler Lavine, who led the team in rushing a year ago with 642 yards and 10 touchdowns on 142 carries.
The Mustangs open against Louisiana Tech Saturday at 11 a.m. at Gerald J. Ford Stadium. The Bulldogs (1-0) beat Florida International 22-17 in their opener Saturday.
Injury updates
Offensive lineman Cameron Ervin is “improving” from an undisclosed injury but is likely to be a game-time decision, Lashlee said.
Defensive end Jayden Jones (hand) has been cleared and has practiced this week. “How much we’ll see of him, I don’t know just because he hasn’t been able to practice and get in shape,” Lashlee said. “He’ll have to play with a club on his hand, but he has been cleared.”