27-YO Alumni Returns to Program as Coach After First College Football Playoff Run

Arkansas State is on the verge of losing one of their key support staff before they could even get most of his services. They have loaded the roster after this off-season, adding head athletic trainer Vince Blankenship, strength and conditioning coaches Cole Forney and Zach Reed, offensive analyst Christopher Browne, defensive analyst Demerick Gary, and many more. Guess who’s stepping down to reunite with his old home?

Demerick Gary is making the talk for a rampant return to the SMU defensive unit with an SEC assistant in the process. Sources tell FootballScoop that Gary is working on finishing his tenure as a defensive quality control coach at Arkansas to rejoin his alma mater, SMU. CBS Sports seconded the intel. Gary looks to be the assistant defensive line coach for the Mustangs. A career stretching over the 49 games in the span of three years from 2016, Gary earned his stripes to elevate to the coaching ranks.

SMU is expected to hire Arkansas’ Demerick Gary as an assistant defensive line coach, a source tells @CBSSports/@247Sports.

A return to SMU for Gary, who was a defensive lineman at SMU from 2016-19 and finished his career with 23 tackles for loss and 10 sacks. pic.twitter.com/xGRP8veCnt

— Matt Zenitz (@mzenitz) May 23, 2025

With the ACC Championship and a College Football Playoff appearance under their belt, SMU looks to start off on a fiery note on Aug. 30 against East Texas A&M. The emotional homecoming of a previous cornerstone might add to their spark to make it big against the Aggies.

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