Texas back picks Ponies

SMU has and will make a living out of recruiting the talent rich state of Texas under coach Phil Bennett, and the Ponies have secured another player that falls in to that category.

SMU picked up a pledge today from Andrew McKinney, a 6-foot, 230-pound running back from Decatur, Texas. McKinney was also recruited by Oklahoma State and Texas Tech but decided today to jump on his lone offer from SMU.

“SMU was the first to recruit me and the hardest from the beginning,” McKinney, who rushed for 1,270 yards and 26 touchdowns and helping Decatur to a 12-1 record in his junior season. “The coaching staff was great and it was really the only place that I felt comfortable living at. It’s close to home, so my family can see me play every week.”

SMU’s academics also sold him.

“It’s an amazing school,” McKinney, who has a 3.7 grade-point average and a 24 on the ACT, said. “The education was the first and foremost thing in my mind, but coach Bennett is going to make it into a great school with a great football program. It’s a program on the rise.”

McKinney said assistant coach Eric Roark also played a factor in his decision.

“He’s a great guy,” McKinney said.

McKinney will be labeled as a fullback by Rivals.com, but he expects to play running back for the Ponies.

“I’ve put on a lot of weight here and gone from 6-3 and 215 to 6-4 and 230,” he said. “I’m hoping with my speed and weight that I’m going to be scary out there.”