SMU Ponies Up, Landing a Commitment From Chinedu Onyeagoro

© Gregory Fisher-USA TODAY Sports

The SMU Mustangs ponied up on July 1, landing two four-star defensive stalwarts from Southern California. As previously reported by College Football Dawgs, linebacker Mark Iheanachor announced his commitment earlier in the afternoon. Coveted EDGE Chinedu Onyeagoro has joined fellow Los Angeles native Iheanachor, giving a shot in the arm to the Mustangs' 2025 recruiting class.

Onyeagoro received offers from Georgia, Mississippi State, UCLA, Washington and others. However, he made an official visit to the Hilltop on June 7 and has now committed to play in Dallas. (The SMU campus is situated on one of the highest points in Dallas County, Texas, and has been nicknamed "the Hilltop" since 1915.)

Onyeagoro's Bio, Stats

Onyeagoro is relatively new to the gridiron. He began his athletic career as a basketball player. However, coaches on the King/Drew Magnet High School football team recruited him to play football in his sophomore year. He displayed talent right off the bat, making 77 tackles and 19 sacks as a sophomore. He followed that up with 103 tackles as a junior, and he led the state with 21 sacks.

Onyeagoro is 6-foot-4 and weighs 225 pounds. He has long arms and huge hands. As revealed by his statistics, rushing the quarterback is his expertise. He has a very quick first step, routinely beats offensive linemen at the prep level and then delivers stinging blows. Even with his big frame, he has elite speed and often chases down plays from behind.

He is ranked by 247Sports as the No. 21 EDGE prospect in the country and the No. 25 overall player in California. A true scholar-athlete, Onyeagoro received an offer on March 5 from the Yale Bulldogs.

Onyeagoro's Impact

At the collegiate level, Onyeagoro projects to play a hybrid role, rushing the edge and playing some snaps at the linebacker position. In light of his athleticism, smarts and work ethic, SMU anticipates Onyeagoro competing for significant playing time during his freshman season.

With Oneyeagoro's commitment, coach Rhett Lashlee and defensive coordinator Scott Symons are picking up momentum in the 2025 cycle. Indeed, after the commitments of Onyeagoro and Iheanachor, the Mustangs have shot up from No. 43 to No. 34 in the 2025 recruiting class rankings.

Stay tuned to College Football Dawgs for continued reporting on the SMU Mustangs and college football recruiting.