Bo Levi Mitchell already has the name of a big-time college quarterback, and he’s also got the arm and the winning pedigree.

All he needs is more time and repetition.

The true freshman quarterback has been handed the keys to Southern Methodist’s run-and-shoot offense, less than a year after driving Katy High School to the Class 5A Division II state championship with 2,451 passing yards, 37 touchdowns and only four interceptions.

“He’s the right kind of kid. He’s a winner, he’s a competitor and he’s tough,” said new SMU head coach June Jones, whose Mustangs (1-1) will face Texas Tech (2-0) at 6 p.m. today at Jones AT&T Stadium. “He’s just young.”

Mitchell said it’s been a “fast” transition from the high school ranks to the college game, and he knows he’s got a lot to learn and plenty of room to improve. But the 6-foot-1, 199-pound Texan said he’s having “fun at the same time,” and he seems to be a fast learner.

Mitchell threw for 244 yards and three touchdowns in SMU’s season-opening loss at Rice, but he also accounted for four turnovers – three interceptions and a lost fumble. He cut out the turnovers while passing for 370 yards and five TDs the following week, when the Mustangs snapped an 11-game losing streak with a 47-36 win at home over Texas State.

“Bo’s been doing very good for a freshman,” said SMU junior receiver Emmanuel Sanders, who has been Mitchell’s favorite target along with sophomore Aldrick Robinson. “He’s going to be a leader on this team, and we look to him for great things. I’m anxious to see what he’ll do against Texas Tech.”

Even if Mitchell falters today or at some point later in the season, Jones is likely to stick him with as he tries to rebuild the SMU program. Mitchell was originally headed to Hawaii – where Jones spent the last nine seasons and developed 2007 Heisman Trophy finalist Colt Brennan – but after Jones was hired at SMU in January, the coach convinced Mitchell to follow him to Dallas.

“I feel like when you commit to a school, you’re really committing to the school and the coaching staff,” Mitchell said. “When he went to SMU we talked about it, and he told me the best decision was to come with him, so I did.

“It’s been great. It’s a quarterback’s dream to get out there and throw the ball all the time.”