Yet another commitment for SMU

The recruiting trail is hot for the SMU football program and the most recent commit for the Mustangs is a big one in more ways than one. Sugar Land (Texas) Fort Bend Austin offensive center Ben Hughes stands at 6-foot-5, 245 pounds and holds offers from Houston, Syracuse, UCF and Rice but on Thursday evening he ended his recruitment, committing to SMU.

"Yes sir, I just committed to SMU," Hughes confirmed. "I'm in Dallas right now eating at a steakhouse."

The trip to Dallas was his third visit to the SMU campus only this visit had a very specific purpose.

"That's why we're here. We figured we'd do it in person. I actually got to talk to Coach Reinbold first. I think he thought I came to say I was going to Rice so he we were talking for a little bit and when I committed, he jumped out of his chair and hugged me. We were all laughing. .

The decision came down to SMU and Rice for Hughes and though it was not an easy decision the mobile center is confident that he made the right call.

"I like SMU," he said. "It was really between Rice and SMU. It's kind of like they're both big jigsaw puzzles and I was just the right piece at SMU. It was so hard to decide. Everything about Rice was great and everything about SMU was great but it just felt right at SMU."

More than any single factor that played into his decision, Hughes trusted his gut.

"There wasn't anything in particular," he said. "Both schools were great. The coaches at both schools were great. I just knew that SMU was the right place."

Hughes looks as though he won't be taking the coach's confidence in him lightly. As a Mustang, Hughes is excited to prove himself on the field.

"I'm going to bring myself as a whole and work as hard as I can for that football team because I believe Coach Jones can turn that program around. I'm just going to let them mold me into the best player I can be."