Jun 28, 2026 12:00 PM
SMU missed on four-star cornerback Montre Jackson, but the Mustangs’ push for the Dallas-area standout proves they’re swinging bigger.
SMU football took a recruiting punch Saturday when four-star cornerback Montre Jackson committed to Texas, choosing the Longhorns over the Mustangs, Ole Miss and Texas Tech.
For the Mustangs, this one stings because Jackson wasn’t some faraway target with a polite offer.
He’s a Garland Lakeview Centennial standout from the Dallas area, the kind of local blue-chip defender SMU wants to keep home.
Texas won the headline. SMU has to live with the miss.
Jackson, listed around 6-1 and 185 pounds, is a consensus four-star prospect in the 2027 recruiting class. He’s ranked No. 223 nationally and No. 27 among cornerbacks in the 247Sports Composite.
He also held nearly 40 offers, including programs such as LSU, Florida State, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Baylor, TCU, Texas A&M, Nebraska, Stanford, Tennessee and Vanderbilt.
That offer list says plenty. This wasn’t a flyer. Jackson is a real national recruit.
The appeal is easy to understand. Jackson has the frame to play outside corner, track-verified speed and the coverage flexibility to work in press or off-man looks.
He doesn’t always see a ton of action because quarterbacks often avoid him, but he’s shown enough growth as a cover man to project as a high-major starter. He’s also physical enough on the perimeter to tackle and chase plays from behind.
That’s exactly why SMU wanted him.
The Mustangs have made it clear they’re not content being a polite regional player in recruiting anymore.
Rhett Lashlee’s program wants to battle for Dallas-Fort Worth talent against anyone, including the SEC brands and the Longhorns.
Losing Jackson doesn’t erase that push, but it does show the gap SMU still has to close when Texas gets rolling.
The Longhorns now have 20 commitments in their 2027 class and are charging toward another top-five national group. SMU, meanwhile, has to regroup and keep swinging.
The lesson is simple ... getting to the finalist table matters, but winning these DFW recruiting fights is the next step.
Jackson is headed to Austin. SMU can’t let the next one leave town so easily.
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