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Ashcraft Joins SMU Football Squad
Texas Graduate Enrolls On the Hilltop; Will Be Eligible In 2013

June 4, 2013

DALLAS (SMU) - Offensive lineman Thomas Ashcraft has enrolled at SMU and will be eligible for the 2013 season, Head Coach June Jones announced today. Ashcraft, a Cedar Hill native, comes to the Hilltop after four years and three seasons at Texas, where he appeared in 35 games and earned his bachelor's degree in corporate communication in Dec. 2012, making him immediately eligible per NCAA rules.

As a prep, Ashcraft was an All-American at Cedar Hill and was ranked as one of ESPNU's top 150 national prospects. The two-time all-state selection played in the 2009 Under Armour All-America Game and was a member of Rivals' top 250 and ESPNU's top 150 national prospects. He was rated as the fifth-best guard prospect in the nation by ESPNU, and started at left tackle and guard for a Cedar Hill team that went 36-6 in his final three seasons, going 16-0 and winning the 5A Div. II state championship in 2006.

At Texas, the 6-5, 315-lb. guard played in 35 games - 13 in 2012, 12 in 2011 and 11 in 2010 - and earned two letters. While most of his time was spent on special teams, he also saw time on the offensive line. He will have one season of eligibility at SMU.

"We think Thomas can make an immediate impact for us," said Jones. "We're happy he's chosen SMU and look forward to seeing him in an SMU uniform this fall."

SMU starts fall practice on Aug. 3 and kicks off the season on Friday, Aug. 30, with a nationally-televised game match-up with Texas Tech at Ford Stadium.

For tickets, call 214-SMU-GAME (768-4263) or visit SMUMustangs.com/Tickets.

http://rivals.yahoo.com/ncaa/football/r ... raft-57550

I'm assuming that he will come in and start?

Nice get JJ and co.

Wow, nice pickup this late in the game. Rent a starter for one season.

I would think he almost has be a guaranteed starter, right?

Left tackle seems like the obvious spot although that is probably our most solid spot already. It will be interesting to see how this works out and if there is any shuffling.

Gottschalk will be moved to guard or possibly RT. This will be our LT.

BCS STANG wrote:Gottschalk will be moved to guard or possibly RT. This will be our LT.

Why do you say that? He was a guard at UT.

Ignorant question. How difficult are our blocking schemes to just step right in and learn?

Not ignorant - I wondered that myself, right off the bat.

Hope he pans out better than Lowe has. Could the arrival of Ashcraft be why that other OL left this past week?

We could be on to something...kinda like the one-and-dones at Kentucky in basketball. We could have the one-and dones on the backend. guys who have graduated but still have eligibility left due to redshirt or injury years. After all, with most of the big time programs the high school graduates can enroll early in the spring of their senior years or in summer and with a little effort graduate in three years leaving a year or two of eligibility. Think of the savings by not having to recruit any more. We would be able to evaluate them at the college level rather than the high school level and all those questionable star ratings. Don't have to worry about academics because the kids would have already graduated....brilliant. And the players would be over the glamour of bigtime facilities and huge crowds and more focused on playing time and making one last impression and a shot to the NFL. Of course some would actually be interested in the masters programs too.

Does anyone know what the University of Houston lobbyist thinks about this transfer?

I would think he takes one of the guard spots, and Weeks/Rice can battle it out for the other. Gottshalk seems pretty entrenched as the LT, I would hope that a special teams/reserve interior OL from Texas couldn't beat him out for the premiere position on our OL. If RT is more of question mark with Myers or Walling then perhaps Ashcraft could play there, if we're more comfortable with Weeks and Rice.

All in all, it never hurts to add OL depth.

AustinPerson wrote:Does anyone know what the University of Houston lobbyist thinks about this transfer?

Does it really matter or do you just want to boast? I like the latter.

PonySnob wrote:Hope he pans out better than Lowe has.

I've been wondering about that; what happened with Lowe? He came in out of shape but was supposedly doing the work to get where he needs to be, and now he is nowhere to be found. Curious to hear from those who saw him practice how someone who seemed pretty well-regarded fizzled out before playing a down of football here.