SMU Football Misses On Elite 4-Star Cornerback

SMU football took a recruiting shot at a high-upside Texas defensive back, but Michigan just beat the Mustangs to the punch.

Four-star cornerback Blake Jenkins, a 6-1, 190-pound prospect from Katy, Texas, announced his commitment to Michigan on Thursday.

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The decision came roughly two weeks before his scheduled official visit to Ann Arbor and after SMU had already worked hard to make itself a serious player in his recruitment.

For the Mustangs, this one stings a bit because Jenkins was clearly more than a casual target.

SMU began recruiting him in October 2025, got him on campus for spring practice on March 28 and hosted him for his first official visit on May 1. 

Michigan still closed first.

Jenkins plays at Tompkins High School and is ranked by Rivals as the No. 260 overall prospect in the 2027 class, the No. 29 cornerback nationally and the No. 39 player in Texas.

Across two varsity seasons, he has totaled 38 tackles, four pass breakups and three interceptions.

247Sports analyst Gabe Brooks described Jenkins as a “natural man corner with size and athleticism to matchup with outside targets” and a “willing tackler with a lean, wiry frame that can add mass to enhance finishing strength.”

That profile explains why SMU wanted him.

It also explains why Michigan had to fight off several Power Four programs to land him.

Jenkins now joins Darius Johnson as the second four-star cornerback in Michigan’s 2027 class.

SMU, meanwhile, is still looking to add defensive backs to its own group.

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The Mustangs signed three-star corner Deuce Gilbert in the 2026 cycle, while three-star defensive lineman Amari Vickerson is currently their lone defensive commit for 2027.

SMU didn’t win this battle, but the pursuit shows the Mustangs are aiming higher.

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