DMN reports two new SMU commitments

[PonyPride]

From today's Dallas Morning News:

"After orally committing to SMU and switching to Texas A&M after the SMU coaching change, North Dallas offensive tackle Darrin Johnson has again orally committed to SMU .... Beeville Jones tight end Ryan Kennedy has orally committed to SMU."

Johnson is listed at 6-6, 270. Kennedy is listed at 6-5, 230.

[Hoofprint]

Yes! Yes! Yes! Yes! Yes! Yes! Yes! Yes! Yes! Yes! Yes! Yes! Yes!

I've seen Johnson play. He will be a stud for SMU.

[Recruiting Guru]

Hang on there, Hoofprint. The worst thing you can do with Johnson is saddle him with expectations of being a star immediately. Remember, he played defensive end and tight end in high school, so if the reports that Bennett and his staff want to play him at offensive tackle are true, there needs to be a learning period while he picks up the art of playing on the offensive line.

Having said that, Johnson does have the potential to be a star, a full-fledged star. His frame is something drawn up by football coaches in their dreams. He has long arms that already are very strong but can get a lot bigger and stronger, kind of like the size and strength added to Melvin Williams over the past couple of years (and Williams doesn't have half the frame Johnson has).

Also, having run pass routes at TE, anbd rushed the passer from his DE spot, Johnson has better feet than just about any OL prospect I've seen in years. For someone that big, he's incredibly light on his feet. And once he gets working with Coach Faucette, he'll only get bigger and stronger.

Give him time to learn and grow and get stronger. But keep it in the back of your mind that this kid could be something really special.

[Fox 7 Sports]

My friends down in the Corpus area were all raving about this TE from Beeville during the playoffs. His reputation was a little late in blooming but the Ponies may have picked up a real steal with him.

[ProudPonyPa]

Wow, Beeville. Nothing to do with this recruit, but we lived there from 1987-1991 when I was in the Navy. Donnie went to pre-k, Kindergarten, and 1st grade there!

Ryan, did you go to Morena Elementary? Just wondering!

[whatasteve]

ProudPonyPa

Just got off the phone with Peruna Punch, and neither of us have any idea where Beeville is. Being a former resident, can you shed some light?

Thanks.

[ProudPonyPa]

Just south of Stockdale on 181. About an hour north of Corpus. Near the Mathis/Corpus Lake. Follow 123 from San Marcos South, through Seguin, Stockdale.. Near Victoria, Goliad, Refugio, Skidmore, George West.

And that was Moreno Elem, not Morena. And now it's a 7th/8th grade campus. Boy things change after just 11 years....

Chances are I either coached him in soccer or coached against his team. What a small world!

[Fox 7 Sports]

After the naval air base closed down in the Early 90s due to BRAC, it has been revitalized with new prisons built on the old base.

Nice little town about 45 minutes to an hour NW of Corpus depending on your driving speed. 30 minutes for some of us when we had to get late highlights back for the 10 o'clock news.