Cedar Hill defensive back Michael Clark open to SMU

SMU has seen a lot of action on the recruiting fronts recently, stealing highly-touted recruits from all over Texas from other prestigious programs. Cedar Hill 2016 safety Michael Clark could be one of them. The current Kansas commit has been taking a lot of time to see SMU and get to know the coaches recently.

"I've been to Junior Day, a camp, and I'm taking a visit on June 18 to see coach Claude Mathis," Clark said. "I've really liked my visits to campus so far. I really like seeing all the renovations that they're getting to and I really like the coaching staff."

The Texas native credits the new SMU coaching staff and his relationships for peaking his interest in the recently struggling program.

"I mostly talk to coach Mathis and coach Van Malone," Clark said. "They're both really good coaches. I went to DeSoto my sophomore year so I'm very close to coach Mathis."

Clark has had the chance to speak with coach Chad Morris one-on-one and he's seen and noted a remarkable change in the energy around SMU since the staff change.

"I talked to coach Chad Morris a little bit and he said he liked me," Clark said. "He's a really cool coach and he gets hyped. I've been to SMU before and there's a whole new feel to it now. It's all about the new coaching staff."

Clark not only saw SMU as a great football program and university but also as an excellent way for him to stay close to his family.

"I was really happy about my offer and I was waiting for it," Clark said. "I always wanted a chance to play close to home and SMU is the perfect way for me to do it."

Despite assuring the HillTopics that he's still fully committed to Kansas at the moment, Clark dropped hints that he's still very open to exploring his full range of options in order to best navigate his future.

"I'm still committed to Kansas right now," Clark said. "I committed really early but my recruitment is still pretty much open. I still want to get out and see other schools. I have to go out and commit to being somewhere for four years so I want to make sure it's the right place."

Clark promptly committed to Kansas after receiving their offer because he felt a close connection to the coaching staff.

"I built a really good relationship with the coaches at Kansas," Clark said. "They've been to my high school a lot and they're tight with my head coach so when they offered me I was really happy with it."

The SMU coaching staff hasn't been the only force trying to turn Clark into a Mustang. Future Ponies have also been after Clark to flip his commitment.

"I've heard a lot from the guys that have already committed," Clark said. "When I was at junior day with Eric Sutton, my best friend who just committed, we were both talking about how cool it would be to continue to play together and that was before either of us had offers. I've also talked to David Moore and Demerick Gary. They tell me, 'Come on bro, come out here.'"

While friends aren't everything, they certainly help making a team feel more like a family and that does play some part in Clark's decision down the road.

"It has some pull on me because I would like to go to school with some people that I already know but I do know some people at other schools too," Clark said.

There are two things that are very important to Clark that could tip the scales in favor of him attending SMU, including its close proximity to his mom and dad.

"I'm really trying to stay pretty close to my mom and academics are also really important to me so I can get a degree and be set for life."