SMU head coach Chad Morris has made it clear that he wants to land some of the top prospects in the Mustangs' own backyard.
While Morris has a heavy influence in recruiting, SMU's local success really depends on its assistants like running backs coach Claude Mathis.
In his first year on the Hilltop, Mathis was instrumental in helping the Ponies lure in a number of prospects from DFW. But according to ESPN.com's Jeremy Crabree, Mathis still has something to prove this cycle.
"Mathis had success in his first full recruiting class at SMU, but he will asked to step it up even more with South Dallas prospects in the 2017 cycle," Crabtree wrote.