SMU Aims to Land Coveted 4-Star Defensive Back for Official Visit

Montre Jackson, a top-ranked cornerback, will visit the Mustangs' campus in June.

Published on Mar. 2, 2026

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SMU is making a strong push to land 4-star cornerback Montre Jackson, who has officially scheduled an official visit to the university's campus on June 5. Jackson, a top-200 recruit and the No. 23 cornerback in the 2027 class, has been heavily recruited by in-state programs like Texas and Texas Tech, but SMU is hoping to capitalize on his local ties and the program's recent upward trajectory.

Why it matters

Securing a commitment from a highly-touted defensive back like Jackson would be a major recruiting win for SMU, as the Mustangs look to build on their No. 24 ranked 2026 recruiting class and return to the top 25 in 2027. Landing Jackson could also help SMU solidify its secondary and continue its climb as a program to watch in the state of Texas.

The details

Jackson, a 6-foot-1, 170-pound cornerback from Garland, Texas, has taken numerous visits to SMU's campus and has developed a strong relationship with the coaching staff, particularly defensive coordinator Rhett Lashlee. The Mustangs will host Jackson for an official visit on June 5, as they look to fend off competition from Texas and Texas Tech, who have also offered the 4-star recruit and scheduled official visits with him.

  • Jackson will officially visit SMU's campus on June 5, 2026.
  • He is also scheduled to visit Texas Tech on May 29, 2026 and Texas on June 11, 2026.

The players

Montre Jackson

A 4-star cornerback from Garland, Texas, ranked as the No. 192 overall prospect and No. 23 cornerback in the 2027 recruiting class.

Rhett Lashlee

The defensive coordinator for the SMU Mustangs football team, who has been heavily recruiting Jackson.

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What they’re saying

“I love the consistent communication and how often the coaches have been coming to see me, especially Coach Lashlee, who's been coming to see me and telling me how important I am to this class.”

— Montre Jackson (on3.com)

“At SMU, I feel like I can go in and play early and do something for the city. Being from here, as close as I live to SMU, I love the trajectory and the path that they're on. They're definitely on an uphill climb.”

— Montre Jackson (on3.com)

What’s next

The judge in the case will decide on Tuesday whether or not to allow Walker Reed Quinn out on bail.

The takeaway

Securing a commitment from a highly-touted defensive back like Montre Jackson would be a major recruiting win for SMU, as the Mustangs look to build on their recent success and continue their upward trajectory as a program in the state of Texas.