2026 QB Cole Leinart commits to SMU Mustangs
Los Angeles Redondo Union quarterback Cole Leinart, class of 2026, has committed to SMU, he tells On3’s Hayes Fawcett.
Leinart is the son of former USC QB, Heisman Trophy winner and NFL veteran Matt Leinart.
The 6-foot-3, 180-pound junior signal-caller also held offers from the likes of Arizona, Colorado, Duke, Pitt and Utah.
Leinart visited SMU last weekend and watched the Mustangs roll past Pitt. He now becomes the second commitment for Rhett Lashlee and Co. in the 2026 cycle, flanking Lancaster (Texas) cornerback Victor Lincoln.
“Way to go bud. Proud of you. This is just the beginning!,” Matt Leinart wrote on X following his son’s announcement.
Leinart has thrown for over 700 yards and nine touchdowns amidst his junior season at Redondo Union, according to MaxPreps. The Sea Hawks are currently on a six-game winning streak with the California high school football playoffs approaching.
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He is ranked as a three-star prospect by multiple recruiting services. SMU also has a QB commitment in its 2025 class via San Antonio native and IMG Academy (Fla.) standout four-star Ty Hawkins, a top-200 overall prospect who flipped from TCU at the beginning of July.
Mustangs grab another Golden State commitment
SMU’s 2024 class — which ranks No. 28 in the nation, per the On3 Industry Team Recruiting Rankings — currently features three commitments from California prospects: Los Angeles King Drew three-star EDGE Chinedu Onyeagoro, Harbor City Narbonne three-star linebacker Mark Iheanchor and Corona Centennial three-star offensive lineman Drew Hill.
“One of the main reasons why I picked SMU is because of the development,” Onyeagoro told On3. “The coaches do a good job of that. They helped SMU go from ranked at the bottom in sacks per game to No. 2 in sacks per game in the country the next year. I think if you want to get developed as a defensive player, SMU is the place.”
SMU signed a high school prospect out of California in both the 2023 and 2024 cycles and are en route to signing multiple in the coming weeks. Leinart could continue that trend next year when the 2026 cycle signing period rolls around.