Arizona State tight end Nolan Matthews on Sunday announced his plans to return home and finish his college career at SMU. That's big news for an SMU team that will lose seniors Kylen Granson and Tommy McIntyre at the position -- assuming those two choose not to return next season and take advantage of the NCAA player option because of COVID-19.
At 6-5 (nearly 6-6) and 252 pounds, Matthews is a bigger receiving option than Granson. He was underutilized at Arizona State, recording only six catches and but also a touchdown, and a fresh start could be good for both Matthews and SMU.
It also should be said that Matthews is a local kid. He played high school ball at Frisco Reedy.
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We mentioned a while back that Duncanville wide receiver Roderick Daniels still should be considered a player to watch. He was committed to Baylor for some months but parted ways with the Bears on Sunday.
SMU has kept Daniels a recruiting priority, even when he was committed to Baylor, and with him now uncommitted again, look for the Mustangs to put a full-court press on him. He has a strong relationship with running backs coach Ra'Shaad Samples -- who, as we know (but the reminder is never bad) is the son of Duncanville head football coach Reginald Samples.
Stay locked in with The HillTopics for more on Daniels.
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It was a matter of time before we saw Parish Episcopal offensive lineman Austin Uke part ways with Holy Cross. His P5 and G5 offer list continues to grow daily.
On Sunday, Uke decommitted from Holy Cross.
While SMU is a contender, expect the battle in landing Uke to be a competitive one. He also has Florida State, USC and Penn State offers to monitor.
SMU is hoping its relationship with Parish plays to its hand. The Mustangs already have quarterback Preston Stone and defensive end Jayden Jones from Parish committed in the 2021 class.
It must also be noted that Uke is a big fan of SMU's academic reputation and Life After Football program. He is a scholar athlete who originally chose Holy Cross because of its academic partnership with Ivy League school Columbia.
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The race for Duncanville offensive tackle Savion Byrd continues. Byrd on Sunday announced that he'll commit and sign on Dec. 16, the first day of the early signing period.
SMU is very much alive in this race, but Oklahoma, LSU and Texas are three to keep an eye on -- particularly Oklahoma. He's got an excellent relationship with the SMU staff, but he also has linked very good ties with Oklahoma. Auburn may be a sleeper team in this race, as well.
We love how Byrd keeps everything close to his vest, and like the rest of the world, we'll continue to monitor what he does in the long run.
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Thanksgiving will be time for food, NFL football and family. Don't be surprised if there's an SMU commitment on that day, too.
We'll leave it at that.
At 6-5 (nearly 6-6) and 252 pounds, Matthews is a bigger receiving option than Granson. He was underutilized at Arizona State, recording only six catches and but also a touchdown, and a fresh start could be good for both Matthews and SMU.
It also should be said that Matthews is a local kid. He played high school ball at Frisco Reedy.
***
We mentioned a while back that Duncanville wide receiver Roderick Daniels still should be considered a player to watch. He was committed to Baylor for some months but parted ways with the Bears on Sunday.
SMU has kept Daniels a recruiting priority, even when he was committed to Baylor, and with him now uncommitted again, look for the Mustangs to put a full-court press on him. He has a strong relationship with running backs coach Ra'Shaad Samples -- who, as we know (but the reminder is never bad) is the son of Duncanville head football coach Reginald Samples.
Stay locked in with The HillTopics for more on Daniels.
***
It was a matter of time before we saw Parish Episcopal offensive lineman Austin Uke part ways with Holy Cross. His P5 and G5 offer list continues to grow daily.
On Sunday, Uke decommitted from Holy Cross.
While SMU is a contender, expect the battle in landing Uke to be a competitive one. He also has Florida State, USC and Penn State offers to monitor.
SMU is hoping its relationship with Parish plays to its hand. The Mustangs already have quarterback Preston Stone and defensive end Jayden Jones from Parish committed in the 2021 class.
It must also be noted that Uke is a big fan of SMU's academic reputation and Life After Football program. He is a scholar athlete who originally chose Holy Cross because of its academic partnership with Ivy League school Columbia.
***
The race for Duncanville offensive tackle Savion Byrd continues. Byrd on Sunday announced that he'll commit and sign on Dec. 16, the first day of the early signing period.
SMU is very much alive in this race, but Oklahoma, LSU and Texas are three to keep an eye on -- particularly Oklahoma. He's got an excellent relationship with the SMU staff, but he also has linked very good ties with Oklahoma. Auburn may be a sleeper team in this race, as well.
We love how Byrd keeps everything close to his vest, and like the rest of the world, we'll continue to monitor what he does in the long run.
***
Thanksgiving will be time for food, NFL football and family. Don't be surprised if there's an SMU commitment on that day, too.
We'll leave it at that.
