BREAKING: Malik Morris, the No. 2 Linebacker in the Nation, Shocks College Football World with Stunning Commitment to SMU
In one of the most unexpected twists of the 2025 recruiting season, Malik Morris—the nation’s No. 2-ranked linebacker and a five-star phenom from Atlanta, Georgia—has announced his commitment to Southern Methodist University (SMU), sending shockwaves through the college football community.
Morris, a 6-foot-3, 230-pound powerhouse from Grayson High School, had been heavily courted by blue-blood programs including Alabama, Georgia, Ohio State, and LSU. Most recruiting analysts had him pegged as a lock for the SEC. But in a jaw-dropping live stream late Wednesday night, Morris unzipped a jacket to reveal a bold red SMU polo, stunning fans and coaches alike.
“I wanted to build something, not just join something,” Morris said in his announcement. “SMU showed me vision. Coach Lashlee, Coach Samples—they believe in me not just as a linebacker, but as a leader who can redefine what this program is.”
SMU, set to enter its second season in the ACC, has been aggressive in rebranding itself as a national powerhouse. With the backing of major Dallas-area donors and one of the most robust NIL infrastructures in the country, the Mustangs are quickly becoming a disruptive force on the recruiting trail.
“Malik Morris is not just a game-changer on the field, but a culture-setter off it,” said SMU head coach Rhett Lashlee. “This is a program-defining moment.”
Morris has already recorded 134 tackles, 16 sacks, and 3 interceptions in his senior year, and was named the Defensive MVP at the Under Armour All-America Game. Known for his freakish athleticism and sideline-to-sideline dominance, Morris is expected to be an immediate starter as a true freshman.
With his commitment, SMU vaults into the top 15 nationally in recruiting rankings for the first time in program history.
College football may never be the same.
