FREE: Jeanlys Explains SMU Commitment
As was reported here on PonyPride first, Monday night the SMU coaching staff received a verbal commitment from 2014 Florida athlete William Jeanlys. The Mustangs were the first to offer the two-way player this past spring.
"I called coach Odum and was talking to him about SMU," explained Jeanlys. "He was talking to me about the school and got me thinking about committing. So we hung up and I talked about it with my mom and decided it was the right time for me to commit. So I called coach Odum back and told him."
Advertisement
Along with SMU the 6-foot-1, 169-pound prospect holds an offer from Tulane and is getting interest from schools such as Florida. One big roadblock in the recruiting process for Jeanlys, however, was an injury that he suffered this past spring.
"We were practice on May 6th and coach Odum from SMU was there. I was doing fine and everything, running my routes. Then on the last play, a fade route, it was too far inside and I tried to swim move and jump for the ball.
"As I came down I was sideways and landed on the side of my foot. All my weight went to my knee and I heard a big pop. I went to the doctor and got an MRI which showed that I had torn my ACL and meniscus."
Since having surgery the 2014 prospect says that he has been rehabbing everyday and that doctors say he is recovering quickly.
"I feel better already. I went last Friday and was working on the eliptical and some other things. As soon as I got off it felt like my knee was stronger. I'm back in the weight room too trying to get my strength back."
Even with the quick recover the athlete is, unfortunately, likely to miss his entire senior season.
When it comes to the Mustangs Jeanlys says that he appreciated the support that coach Odum and the rest of the staff has shown to him.
"Even after my injury they kept in contact and were checking on me. That's why I'm not looking around at other schools anymore. They stuck it out with me and still want me to play for them so I think that they are going to be the perfect fit for me."
INSIDE: Jeanlys' Junior Year Highlights
When healthy Jeanlys, who plays safety and wide receiver, is a phenomenal athlete who is electric with the ball in his hands. Just a quick glance at his junior season highlight tape will show his potential.
Since being recruited by the Mustangs the senior has not had a chance to visit the Hilltop but already has one planned for this season.
"I talked to coach Odum about making an official visit and he told me they do them in December, I think around the 7th. So I am going to be going down there around that time."
Despite the injury this is a great pickup for SMU as Jeanlys can fill needs at either safety or wide receiver. Beyond that, if it weren't for the injury this is a prospect who would likely have a long list of offers from around the country.
We will have more on Jeanlys coming soon, including this Friday in The Pony Express.
FOOTBALL TEAM: SMU Fall Practice #8: News and Notes
