Medina, Tennessee’s own Yahya Gaad, a three-star defensive lineman, is headed to SMU. He shared the exciting news with On3 on Wednesday.
"The coaching staff is amazing, and I believe they have a great place for me in the program," Gaad told On3’s Chad Simmons.
He also mentioned how meeting the coaches and seeing their plans for the future really sold him on SMU. Plus, he was impressed by SMU’s business school.
This makes Gaad the third recruit to join Southern Methodist’s 2026 lineup. He’s teaming up with Xzavier Barnett, a four-star wide receiver from Yoakum, Texas, and Cole Leinart, a three-star quarterback from Los Angeles, California. Fun fact: Cole’s dad is none other than Matt Leinart, the former USC Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback.
For more on SMU recruiting, check out On the Pony Express.
Standing tall at 6-foot-5 and weighing 260 pounds, Gaad is ranked as the nation’s No. 675 overall prospect for 2026. That’s according to the On3 Industry Ranking, which pulls together data from the big four recruiting media companies. He’s also the No. 59 defensive lineman in his class and the No. 21 recruit from Tennessee.
Got to admit, that’s pretty impressive!
