SMU Reloads Again: Five-Star RB Avery Knowles Headlines Ever-Improving Recruiting Class
By Cheryl Smith
DALLAS -- Even when the news isn’t perfect, elite programs find ways to move forward stronger than before.
That was the case this week for SMU, whose already star-studded recruiting class took another massive step forward with the commitment of five-star running back Avery Knowles, one of the most coveted offensive prospects in the country. While the Mustangs did come up short in their pursuit of five-star cornerback Henry Malik, who chose to stay in-state and verbally commit to Oklahoma State, the overall picture remains overwhelmingly positive in Dallas.
In fact, the addition of Knowles may be the most important piece yet.
Knowles, the No. 2 running back in the class and the No. 17 overall prospect nationally, hails from North Royalton, Ohio, and for much of his recruitment appeared destined to remain home with the Ohio State Buckeyes. Instead, he looked south - and saw opportunity.
For SMU, landing a five-star running back from Big Ten country is a statement of national reach. For Knowles, it was about fit and feature.
“I’ve watched how Coach Augustine uses young running backs,” Knowles said. “He trusts them. He leans on them. He doesn’t waste their talents. I want to come in and earn that job as soon as I get on campus.”
At 5-foot-10 with rare acceleration and incredible patience between the tackles, Knowles is widely viewed as a program-changing talent - a back capable of handling volume while still producing explosive plays. Scouts rave about his vision and contact balance, traits that translate immediately at the college level.
Knowles will enter a running back room that already boasts serious young talent.
Brian Volson, the current feature back, is still only a freshman, and has thrived this season while rotating with Justice Spielman, the thundering runner who carried a heavy load during his own true freshman campaign last year. Together, the duo has powered one of the most physical rushing attacks in the nation.
Rather than seeing competition, Knowles sees opportunity.
“That room is loaded,” one SMU assistant said. “But that’s the point. Iron sharpens iron. And he isn’t scared of competition. He thrives on it.”
Given Augustine’s history of rotating backs and riding the hot hand from the days of Jeremy Payne, it wouldn’t be surprising if Knowles finds himself in the mix sooner rather than later.
The one blemish in the recruiting news came with Henry Malik, the five-star cornerback who ultimately opted for Oklahoma State, keeping his college career in-state. Malik was a priority target for SMU, and losing out on a talent of that caliber is never insignificant.
Still, the Mustangs are unlikely to panic.
Sources around the program suggest SMU may not pivot to another high school cornerback, instead choosing to address the position through the transfer portal this off-season - a strategy that has paid dividends in the past for a roster firmly in win-now mode.
With Avery Knowles not in the fold, SMU’s recruiting class remains among the most impressive in the country - stocked with elite skill talent, depth in the trenches, and now a potential cornerstone at running back.
For Avery Knowles, the message is clear.
He’s not coming to wait his turn.
He’s coming to take it.
SMU 2030 Football Recruiting Board
| RECRUIT | POS | HOMETOWN | HT / WT | STARS RATING | NATL (POS) | STATUS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hayden Presley | WR | Dallas, TX | 5'11"/168 |  |
#189 (#40) |  |
| Alex Longoria | FS | Austin, TX | 6'2"/186 |  |
#18 (#2) | |
| Tyree Duke | HB | Mansfield, TX | 6'1"/202 |  |
#1015 (#137) | |
| Kenyon Natson | WR | Tomball, TX | 6'4"/199 | |
#32 (#3) | |
| Taylor Stick | FS | Grand Prairie, TX | 6'3"/198 | |
#30 (#4) | |
| Dwayne Sowells | HB | Springfield, MA | 6'0"/204 | |
#125 (#13) | |
| Stephen Barmore | OG | Cedar Hill, TX | 6'4"/294 | |
#83 (#3) | |
| Bryce Lewis | OG | Cypress, TX | 6'4"/291 | |
#1432 (#77) | |
| Kordell Reddick | EDGE | Virginia Beach, VA | 6'5"/229 | |
#431 (#39) | |
| Eli Nall | MIKE | Oxford, MS | 6'0"/238 | |
#9 (#1) | |
| Avery Knowles | HB | North Royalton, OH | 5'10"/209 | |
#17 (#2) | |
| Dalton Griffen | OT | Lufkin, TX | 6'5"/286 | |
#941 (#65) | |
| Erik Iverson | SS | Baton Rouge, LA | 5'10"/183 | |
#1507 (#22) | |
| Keary Carraway | EDGE | Conway, AR | 6'1"/226 | |
#1472 (#124) | |
| Zack Wilkins | QB | Mesquite, TX | 6'2"/190 | |
#882 (#55) | Top 5 |
| Anthony Vigil | EDGE | Weatherford, TX | 6'2"/241 | |
#1253 (#103) | Top 5 |
| Deontay Homer | EDGE | Fort Lauderdale, FL | 6'6"/242 | |
#153 (#13) | Top 5 |
| Eric Vizcaino | MIKE | Austin, TX | 6'3"/227 | |
#262 (#13) | Top 3 |
| Dan Oben | MIKE | Arlington, TX | 6'2"/213 | |
#1522 (#93) | Top 5 |
| Chad McRoy | CB | Tracy, CA | 6'0"/195 | |
#144 (#13) | Top 5 |
| Alex Lewis | SAM | Houston, TX | 6'0"/226 | |
#932 (#67) | Top 5 |
| Fabian Marcus | WR | Jacksonville, FL | 5'11"/204 | |
#92 (#17) | Top 8 |
| Sergio Lewis | WILL | Shreveport, LA | 6'1"/227 | |
#1866 (#126) | Top 5 |
| Vernon Verrier | DT | Dearborn, MI | 6'3"/284 | |
#370 (#24) | Top 5 |
| Lee Merryweather | ATH | Charlotte, NC | 6'1"/214 | |
#47 (#5) | Top 8 |
| Jamille Dugans | EDGE | Baton Rouge, LA | 6'4"/237 | |
#86 (#7) |  |
| James Doctson | CB | Bakersfield, CA | 6'1"/160 | |
#117 (#11) |  |
| Henry Malik | CB | Broken Arrow, OK | 5'11"/175 | |
#12 (#1) |  |
| DeAndre Brooks | QB | West Des Moines, IA | 6'3"/201 | |
#127 (#9) |  |
| Shaquille Dicker | EDGE | Tyler, TX | 6'6"/247 | |
#21 (#3) |  |
| Juan Arcuri | SS | North Richard Hills, TX | 6'0"/186 | |
#139 (#3) |  |
| Owen McMahon | MIKE | Houston, TX | 6'2"/239 | |
#28 (#2) | |
| Juan Carrizosa | OT | Houston, TX | 6'8"/297 | |
#329 (#30) |  |
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QB Matt Zollers, Rs Sr » 4,205 passing yards, 37 touchdowns, 8 interceptions, 65% CMP, 161.1 QB RTG, 699 rushing yards, 7 touchdowns
QB Julian Lewis, Rs Sr » 3,294 passing yards, 33 touchdowns, 2 interceptions, 68% CMP, 176.2 QB RTG, 345 rushing yards, 6 touchdowns
QB Ify Cashman, Rs Fr » 3,942 passing yards, 31 touchdowns, 13 interceptions, 63% CMP, 145.2 QB RTG, 381 rushing yards, 10 touchdowns
WR Philip Royal (Colorado): 11 catches, 255 receiving yards, 4 touchdowns
CB John Milliner (Nevada): 9 tackles, interception, pass breakup, touchdown
SS Kona Tretola (Georgia Tech): 3 tackles, 2 pass breakups, forced fumble, 2 fumble recoveries
