Collin Rock played multiple positions in high school, but said the SMU coaches told him they still are not sure where he will play at SMU (photo by Rock family).

Collin Rock, the versatile athlete from Cypress Ranch High School in Cypress, Texas, knows he made the right decision when he announced earlier this month his commitment to sign in 2016 with SMU.

What he doesn’t know is what position he will play when he joins the Mustangs.

Rock is one of those do-everything athletes whose versatility gives his coaches a lot of options, as far as how to use him. As a high school freshman, he played a few games in the secondary. Last year, he played some wide receiver during the spring, but spent the fall directing his team’s run-first offense from the quarterback position.

Some reports have suggested that Rock was recruited to SMU to play safety, and while that might turn out to be what happens — Rock said he thinks that’s where he will end up — he said that is not what was presented to him during his recruitment.

“Honestly, I don’t know,” Rock said. “I played a few positions (in high school), and (the SMU coaches) said they liked that. But they also said they’re not quite sure where they’ll play me. They recruited me as an athlete.”

If his defensive back-to-receiver-to-quarterback journey wasn’t confusing enough, Rock also is a standout pitcher on his high school baseball team. Attention from colleges dictated which sport he will play at the next level, but he said that given the choice, he would remain on the gridiron, anyway.

“I love baseball — I have been playing since I was five — but I love football more,” Rock said. “Honestly, I didn’t get as much interest (as a baseball recruit). I’m planning to play one more season (of baseball), but if it conflicts in any way (with football), I’ll put away the glove.”

Rock’s versatility, not surprisingly, starts with his running ability, which helped him pick up “about 1,000” rushing yards as a junior in 2014. The 6-foot, 187-pound Rock has good speed — he clocked a 4.54 in the 40-yard dash — but said his success comes more from his shiftiness, his quick change of direction. He also is more than willing to put his shoulder down and try to run through a would-be tackler, which is part of the reason many, including Rock, think he still might end up on defense once he gets to SMU.

“I don’t mind hitting somebody at all,” Rock said. “Maybe that’s what opened up the opportunity to play safety. I think it fits my skill set better than any position on the field.”

Rock also said that if he does end up in the secondary when he gets to SMU, he will benefit from the time he spent playing quarterback.

“I think that would help me a lot, actually,” Rock said, “just knowing what quarterbacks are looking for in certain coverages, understanding what they’re doing.”

Rock, whose father, David, played safety at Texas A&M, had other options, having received offers to play for Army, Air Force and Navy. Part of the reason he is heading to Dallas is his desire to study in SMU’s Cox School of Business.

“At the start of my junior year, I wasn’t 100 percent sure of what I wanted to major in in college,” he said. “But once I learned about the Cox Business School, I wanted to go. It’s a great business school.

“As far as football, though, there’s no doubt it was the coaching staff, how they made me feel at home. I love what Coach (Chad) Morris has been able to get going there in such a short time, and there’s a real family aspect to it. I think the way the coaches make you feel, how everyone is part of the team, the way the coaches carry themselves … they’re so professional, and you can just tell they do things the right way.”

Once his decision was made, Rock said he saw no reason to prolong the recruiting process.

“It’s just because of how sure I was,” he said. “I just knew SMU is where I wanted to be, and once I knew that, why wait? I wanted to commit, and to help get some other guys to commit.”

As he prepares for his senior season at Cypress Ranch, Rock said he will play quarterback again. Beyond that, he doesn’t know if he’ll have additional roles. Once he gets to Dallas, his position is even more unclear … but he said he knows that SMU is the right place to continue his playing career.

“I don’t know what they’ll do with me, and that’s OK,” Rock said. “I knew I wanted to play for Coach Morris and the assistant coaches I met, and I’m fine with whatever position they want me to play.

“I’ll play on offense, defense or special teams. But I’ll be playing at SMU.”