Class Grade: B-

It's tough to rate this class, as far as high school signings are concerned; the Mustangs inked some pretty impressive talent with P5 offers, but there is little depth, which resulted in a class that finished outside of the Top 60 nationally. The Transfer Portal remains a major focus, and SMU has already added key figures to the roster there. 

All in all, I like this class because SMU is filling its need with players who can play at the P5 level. 

• SMU finished No. 15 in the ACC
• SMU signed four DCTF Rising Hot 100 members

Key Additions

Who were the highest-rated signees or prospects who might come in and make a significant impact?

S KD Dotson (6'0, 180) - Duncanville: A well-rounded safety with an innate ability to dash to the football and provide valuable run support. He has the coverage skills to play cornerback at the next level, making him a versatile defender. He raises his level of play when the spotlight is brightest and helped lead Duncanville to back-to-back 6A Division I state titles. 

LB Brandon Booker (6'5, 285) - DeSoto: The No. 3 ILB flipped to SMU from Stanford. Booker is another signing with a championship pedigree, as he was the main force on a DeSoto defense that captured back-to-back 6A Division II state titles. His reputation as a high-level tackler is well-earned, as he excels in filling gaps and delivering powerful hits. His versatility extends to pass coverage, where he showcases a knack for creating turnovers—a scheme-versatile linebacker who never needs to leave the field. 

ATH Derrick McFall (5'11, 175) - Tyler: SMU flipped the No. 4 ATH from UCLA. McFall is a dangerous offensive weapon that is extraordinarily slippery and challenging to tackle in tight spaces, making him a very dangerous return man. College coordinators will find creative ways to get him touches and showcase his skills.

Fan Favorite

What prospect was a fan favorite or a local hero who starred near the campus?

William "Speedy" Nettles (6'1, 175) - Dallas Christian: The one-time Purdue commit elected to stay at home to the delight of SMU fans everywhere. Nettles Nettles starred on both sides of the ball, but his upside in the secondary put his name on the map in recruiting because he has the length and attitude to be remarkable.

Super Sleeper

We pick one prospect on the commit list and explain how he might outplay his ranking in college.

Zach Smith (6'1, 200) - Red Oak: Smith just missed being rated in the Hot 100, but his upside as a position-flexible defender makes him an extremely valuable addition to the class. He has experience playing safety and runs well, but he has the mentality and hard-hitting ability to thrive in the box. 

Transfer Portal

SMU continues to go big and already has former four-star WR Ashton Cozart (Flower Mound Marcus) on board with Georgia DL Jonathan Jefferson and former five-star Omari Abor (Duncanville). 

• DL Omari Abor (6'3, 260) from Ohio State
• OL Nate Anderson (6'4, 310) from Oklahoma
• OL Savion Byrd (6'5, 300) from Oklahoma
• WR Ashton Cozart (6'3, 195) from Oregon
• Edge Jahfari Harvey (6'4, 250) from Miami (FL)
• DL Jonathan Jefferson (6'3, 295) from Georgia
• DL Mike Lockhart (6'3, 310) from West Virginia