Carroll's Mitch Enright is in an odd position. He plays for the No. 1 high school program in the country.
However, he has committed to struggling SMU, which finished winless last season and just snapped a school-record 15-game losing streak last Saturday.
Still, that doesn't deter Enright's belief that SMU will improve. Enright and his teammate, outside linebacker Pete Fleps, were in Gerald J. Ford Stadium to watch Saturday's 36-13 win over San Jose State.
"The most important things is that the players are excited and they want to win," Enright said. "And every time I talk to the coaches, they are very upbeat and believe they are going in the right direction."
It may or may not mean anything, but SMU's turnaround could hinge on the number of players it attracts from successful programs. It has oral commitments from Enright and North Crowley linebacker Todd Alexander. North Crowley won the Class 4A Division I state championship last year.
In the 2004 signing class, it picked up Allen running back DeMyron Martin, who led his team to the 2003 5A Division II state semifinals. It also signed LaMarque linebacker Wilton McCray, who helped the Cougars win the 2003 4A Division II state title.
"It's got to help," Enright said. "When you get good players from good programs, they have the mentality that they know how to win."
Fleps said he has not received a scholarship offer from SMU yet.