PonyFans.com

QUARTERBACKS
Ricky Joe Meeks: 6-3, 218, 4.8 -- Mount Vernon, Texas (SMU commitment)
Jordy Bernhard: 5-11, 180, 4.7;1250 SAT -- Coppell, Texas (Air Force, Navy, SMU, Indiana, Baylor)
Travis Wheat: 6-0, 198, 4.55 -- Corpus Christi Ray, Texas (Nebraska, Colorado, Arkansas, SMU, Texas, A&M, TTech, TCU, Houston)

RUNNING BACK
Vince Chukwukelu: 5-11, 215, 4.6 -- Coppell, Texas (A&M, TTech, SMU, Houston, TCU)

WIDE RECEIVER
John Kimble: 5-11, 170, 4.43 -- Dallas (Skyline), Texas (Iowa, Texas, LSU, SMU, Baylor)

CENTER
Austin Russell: 6-3, 320, 5.4, 1110 SAT -- Carrollton (Newman Smith), Texas (LSU, Arizona, Colorado, SMU, Oregon, Iowa)

DEFENSIVE TACKLE
Julius Orieukwu: 6-6, 255, 5.0 -- Houston (Bellaire), Texas (Texas, Colorado, SMU, A&M, K-State, Arizona, Baylor) Offers: 'Zona, SMU, K-State, Baylor

CORNERBACK
Stephen Hodge: 6-0, 183, 4.41 -- Richardson (Lake Highlands), Texas (Boston College, SMU, Oklahoma, West Virginia, A&M, Texas, A&M, UCLA)
Kelon Davis: 6-0, 165, 4.34, 940 SAT -- Austin (Bowie), Texas (Oklahoma, Texas, A&M, SMU, Iowa, Oklahoma State, Houston, Boston College) Offers: SMU, Houston

STRONG SAFETY
Leonard Casmore: 6-1, 210, 4.5 -- Port Arthur (Austin), Texas (Miami, Florida, LSU, SMU, Colorado, Houston)

KICKER
Ryan Wolcott: 5-10, 180, 4.7, 1080 SAT, Dallas (Highland Park), Texas (SMU, Texas, Miami, West Virginia, Oklahoma State, Baylor) Note: Wolcott is the grandson of Doak Walker

DT Joseph Bryant (6-5, 305, 4.9) - Jasper, Texas.
Bama, Arkansas, LSU, SMU, Colorado, Houston, Iowa State, Ole Miss, Notre Dame, OKState, Penn State, TCU, UT, A&M
RIVALS SAYS: A dominant defensive tackle, Bryant possesses all the physical tools that D-I recruiters are looking for at this position. Tremendous leader both on and off the field. More of a run stuffer right now. Recorded 94 tackles as a junior. Also a standout basketball player (25 points, 15 rebounds). Nicknamed Red.
Lists interest in SMU as "MEDIUM"

CB Kelon Davis (5-10, 165, 4.35) - Austin (Bowie), Texas
Houston, OU, UT,SMU, A&M, TCU, OKState, Baylor
RIVALS SAYS: A speedy little cornerback who is getting some strong attention because of his abilty to run and cover receivers.
Lists interest in SMU as "MEDIUM"

LB Aaron Shanor (6-1, 216, 4.6) - Azle, Texas
Nebraska, OU, SMU, UT, A&M, TCU, Houston
RIVALS SAYS: An outstanding linebacker prospect who is being recruited to play the weakside linebacker position in college.
Lists interest in SMU as "MEDIUM"

LB Jeremy Castillo (6-0, 200, 4.56) - Corsicana, Texas
UT, A&M, SMU, TexasTech, TCU
RIVALS SAYS: Perfect weakside linebacker and he is being heavily recruited to play that position.
Lists interest in SMU As "MEDIUM"

CB John Kimble (5-11, 175, 4.45) - Dallas (Skyline), Texas
Iowa, SMU, Houston, TCU, Baylor
RIVALS SAYS: A very versatile athlete who can play any number of positions in college. He has been running varsity track since his freshman year. He has a 21.7 inthe 200 meters to his credit.
Lists interest in SMU as "MEDIUM"

OL Ted Tanner (6-5, 295, 5.3) - Waco (Reicher), Texas
Georgia, UT, SMU, TCU, Houston, Baylor

DE Donnie Sommers (6-2, 230, 4.65) - Quitman, Texas
UT, SMU, A&M, TTech, TCU, Houston
RIVALS SAYS: Avery good looking small-school defensive end who is being recruited by a lot of schools. He is a tremendous two-way player, but he will be recruited mostly for defense.
Lists interest in SMU as "MEDIUM"

DE John Granger (6-2, 236, 4. - Irving (Nimitz), Texas
Houston, SMU, UT, A&M, West Virginia, TTech, TCU, Baylor
RIVALS SAYS: A very aggressive defensive end who will be heavily recruited.
Lists interest in SMU as "MEDIUM"

CB Corey Jordan (5-9, 176, 4.4) - Garland, Texas
OU, TTech, UT, SMU, TCU, Houston
RIVALS SAYS: A great little cornerback who plays his best games in the biggest games. He blocked 5 field goals as a junior as he has an uncanny knack for blocking kicks.
Lists interest in SMU as "MEDIUM"

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Incidentally, Rivals.com lists a couple of guys who we've been told SMU is recruiting are not interested in us: Dallas (Skyline) DT Travis Ferguson and Coppell RB Vince Chukwukelu. Don't know if it's true, but that's what Rivals.com is saying. The site lists each kid's top choices, and they don't mention SMU.

If SMU somehow could get Julius Orieukwu and Joseph Bryant -- or either one of them, but especially if SMU can get both -- that would be two cogs in a superior defensive line. These are two major talents, and there's no way of knowing if the big boys will offer scholarships. That depends on each team's number of players at each position, etc. (OK, Kansas State has offered Orieukwu, and the 'Cats count as one of the big boys.)

These two are not out of reach for SMU. They will be tough to get, because there are a lot of schools who like their game(s), but they are reachable, especially if the Ponies get off to a good start on the field. They're both defensive guys who can relate to Coach Bennett, and both players have high school coaches who are familiar with Coach Bennett and/or SMU.

Also, without knowing how close they are, keep in mind that QB-turned-WR Ashton Nixon went to Orieukwu's school, Houston Bellaire.

I've heard some people say that Julius Orieukwu will be better suited to playing defensive end in college. He's playing DT now, because he's one of the biggest and strongest guys on his team, but with that height, he can make a strong pass rusher. He's real strong, and he's pretty quick for a guy his size. Maybe he and Desmond Jones can be bookend DE's in a couple of years?

Austin Russell is playing center at 320 pounds? Talk about a solid anchor for an offensive line. I know Coach Bennett likes offensive linemen who are mobile, but at center, there's not as much movement required. He sounds like a kid we could build the offensive line around.

I have Stephen Hodge listed at 5-10.5, but he's a very talented player. He was at the SMU-Navy game, and says SMU is in his top 3.

by next year the D-line will be reduced by 1 tackle and 2 ends. SMU needs its biggest help at d-tackle.2-3 players there of considerable size and talent will do well long term. the d-ends in place then will be bigger and more experienced.heck ,johnson and karrington are already 280 and 260 respectively and melvin williams will still be there with a ton of support and up and comers. the d-line next year could be much closer to what coach Bennett and Fello are looking for and maybe only two years away from being NFL size. Again more d-tackle help first..

Ryan G is a good bright kid. He went to fast twitch since jan. this last year to work on foot speed. A real good o-line guy,probably guard. Very strong and real in size at 300 and 6'4.5".hard nosed but no exp. @ d-line..

Whichever line he plays on, he's got the dimensions to be a college player.
What's his interest level in SMU, or our interest level in him?

Joseph Bryant, the DT from Jasper, says his top 5 now are:

Arkansas
Texas
Texas A&M
Oklahoma State
LSU

SMU coaches remain hot pursuit. His top 5 has changed several times already, and likely will change again. This is far from a done deal.

Newspapers down here now say that Orieukwu is being recruited as an offensive line prospect. At 6-6, 255, he probably will need a couple years of bulking up before he makes a major contribution. Supposedly he's wide open on schools, but I hear he likes SMU.