4-Star WR Chooses SMU 'Brotherhood' As Mustangs Get 2029 Boost

The SMU Mustangs got their 2029 recruiting cycle off to a strong start by landing 4-star wide receiver commit Sip Cooper, as he announced on social media this week.

At 6-1, 175 pounds out of Frisco Panther Creek (TX), Cooper is among the top prospects at his position in the country.

He shared a bit of what went into his decision to stay close to home and choose Rhett Lashlee's program over power programs like Texas Tech, Georgia, Ohio State, Oklahoma and Texas A&M.

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"Every time I go over there, it’s like the same, really family over there,” Cooper said to On3. "I got a good relationship with coach [Rob] Likens, [Ryan] Jenkins and Coach Lashlee. I’ve been knowing them since 8th grade and they’ve never changed up or nothing. It was like the same every time."

That proximity advantage has payed off for the Ponies, who were able to watch Cooper put up over 2,000 yards of offense and score 25 touchdowns last season at Dallas Life Oak Cliff.

Although he's still early in his recruiting journey, Cooper saw the opportunity to impact a hometown program as significant and led him to his commitment.

"It would be big for the city,” Cooper said about SMU’s message during the process. "(I like) the way they’re big on family. It’s been cool, I can talk with them about anything. It’s a brotherhood right there."

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The Mustangs are coming off a 9-4 season in 2025, which followed an exceptional 2024 campaign where SMU finished 11-3 in it's debut season in the ACC.

Now, SMU isn't a secret. Many national publications have the Mustangs inside the preseason top 25 as a contender to compete for a conference title.

Their work on the recruiting circuit is evident of that momentum, too.

For Cooper, he also found importance of the lifestyle SMU provides off of the field.

"I really love how it took my name off of football for a little bit," Cooper previously told Rivals. “The way they treat me every time I come down here, it’s like home. I have a great relationship with the coaches and assistant coaches."