INDIANAPOLIS — Watching one of their players head to the NFL is a point of pride for college coaches. There’s been a little bit of a role reversal when it comes to SMU safety Ahmaad Moses. He’s not the only one from the Mustangs defense making the jump to the NFL.
Moses’ college defensive coordinator, Scott Symons, is now the linebackers coach for the Dallas Cowboys.
“Being with him the four years and knowing the type of guy he is and being able to get that jump up to the next level is great for him,” said Moses, who’s competing at the combine and on the verge of entering the NFL himself. “I’m so proud of him.”
Because of that dynamic, Moses was able to actually give a scouting report on what the Cowboys are getting in Symons.
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Moses is appreciative of Symons’ direct impact on his college career. He credited Symons with helping him become a two-time, all-conference player, including his first-team All-ACC selection this past season. He said Symons impacted not only how he played the game, but understood it.
“Coming into college I was really just a ballplayer. I just knew how to go out there and make plays and work on my instincts. He knew how to basically change my instincts into learning the playbook,” said Moses, a Mansfield Summit alum. “Each year I was able to learn the playbook more, getting with him more to know why are we calling this call? What are the weaknesses of this call? Why is the offense running this? What to expect on third and short and on money downs and stuff like that. He basically upped my game in so many different ways.”
There was one play in particular where Moses really felt Symons’ impact. Moses recalled Symons making an in-game adjustment against TCU in 2024.
“I remember he had a call in mind and I was going to the wrong key,” Moses said. “He told me to pass that off to someone else and you’re going to be in this window right here. I ended up doing that and ended up with a pick-six.”
Moses indicated that having a positional coach with coordinator experience, like the Cowboys have with Symons, will be an asset for them.
It’s early, but there’s excitement from the Cowboys about the hire, as well. Cowboys head coach Brian Schottenheimer called Symons an “incredible” coach. Schottenheimer added that linebacker DeMarvion Overshown has already voiced his excitement about working with Symons and new Cowboys defensive coordinator Christian Parker.
Moses is excited for Symons, as well.
“They’re getting a great leader,” Moses said. “For four years he coached me. I was able to learn from him in so many different ways. I was able to understand football way more.”
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