SMU sets sights on historic 2025 class of Dallas prospects

SMU will have a year under its belt in the Atlantic Coast Conference when the 2025 recruiting class arrives on campus. With the invitation to a power conference, Rhett Lashlee’s staff have its sights set on a historic recruiting class.

If things go SMU’s way, Dallas will once again be a focal point of the class. How historic could it be? The top targets tell the tale of what “could be” on the Hilltop.

The Mustangs already have two highly-touted commits in 2025 from East Texas. Tyler (Tex.) Chapel Hill athlete Demetrius Brisbon, who is a future defensive back for SMU, and running back Rickey Stewart, Jr. are both four-star prospects.

At quarterback back in Dallas, SMU has zeroed in on Duncanville (Tex.) signal caller Keelon Russell. The four-star prospect and On3 Top 100 recruit is unofficially down to SMU and Ole Miss. He’s the No. 81 overall prospect in the country and No. 7 quarterback in the nation for On3.

DeSoto (Tex.) has a few prospects the staff is eyeing. While Stewart is an elite back, SMU will need more depth with talent walking out the door. That’s why Deondrae “Tiger” Riden is a top target for the Mustangs. Wide receiver Daylon Singleton and defensive back Sael Reyes are both four-star prospects that the Mustangs are on.

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Just north on U.S. 75 from SMU’s campus is Lucas (Tex.) Lovejoy, where four-star wideout Daylan McCutcheon plays his high school ball. He’s a Top 100 prospect and No. 15 wide receiver in the country.

In the trenches, SMU is targeting Cedar Hill (Tex.) offensive lineman Jordan Coleman, Addison (Tex.) Trinity Christian Academy offensive tackle Jaylan Beckley and multiple others to address the offensive line.

SMU continues to make Dallas a key in recruiting

Right in the metroplex is one of the nation’s top defensive linemen in America. Mansfield Timberview’s Dilan Battle is a four-star prospect, sitting inside the Top 300. TCU leads the On3 Recruiting Prediction Machine over Texas A&M, Texas and others.

Red Oak (Tex.) defensive lineman Kamauryn Morgan has been a constant visitor to the Hilltop lately. His teammate, Zach Smith, is committed to the Mustangs in 2024. Morgan would be a monster pickup for Calvin Thibodeaux and another Dallas area prospect.

Dallas (Tex.) Skyline linebacker Elijah Barnes could be an EDGE or a linebacker at the next level. Florida State, TCU, Texas A&M and others have been pushing hard for him already. He’s a physical, dominant player on defense that’d continue SMU’s run of Skyline players staying home.

McKinney (Tex.) linebacker Riley Pettijohn now has offers from all over the country. He’s a Top 100 prospect and Top 10 linebacker in the country on On3. The Mustangs do lead the On3 RPM right now. McKinney is stacking talent left and right and the Mustangs would love to get into that program.

Duncanville (Tex.) defensive backs Javion Holiday and Tyren Polley are two prospects off the Panthers team that SMU would love to land. Holiday and Polley both have offers from all over the country and are two of the highest-rated prospects in America.

There are other players to watch across the state and country for SMU, but Dallas is home base for this staff.

History could await this group if they embrace staying home together. With the ACC invite, maybe it’s time that SMU kicks that door down and truly keeps the top talent home.

It’s certainly on Lashlee and his staff, but the decision is in the prospects’ corner.

Will they make history? The blueprint is there.