SMU showing early interest in Cedar Hill receiver
With the addition of Cedar Hill defensive back Eric Sutton, SMU is hoping to build a pipeline at the traditional local powerhouse.
So it should come as no surprise that the Mustangs are beginning to show interest in three-star 2017 wide receiver Camron Buckley from Cedar Hill.
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While new head coach Chad Morris and running backs coach Claude Mathis were at Cedar Hill to watch a spring practice a couple of months ago, they took notice of Buckley and were intrigued enough to invite the 6-foot, 178-pound receiver to an SMU camp this summer.
After the spring practice, Mathis spoke with Buckley briefly.
"He just wanted to see me play more. He saw a couple spring practices and he was impressed," Buckley told the HillTopics. "He likes how I go up and get the ball and my athletic ability and work ethic."
Mathis has spoken with the Cedar Hill coaches since then about Buckley but direct communication between the two has been limited. Buckley has been unable to plan a camp visit to SMU and has been mostly focusing on his training for next season.
But the few interactions he's had with the SMU coaches left a good impression on Buckley.
"They're trying to build a great program. I love the atmosphere and they're going to build a winning program," Buckley said.
The rising-junior expects his teammate Sutton to play a role in SMU's turnaround.
"He's gonna help the program after he gets over there," Buckley said. "He's trying to get me over there, Stang Gang and all that."
Buckley has managed a couple of college visits this summer. He visited Tennessee and then had a little workout while visiting Auburn.
"They liked my footwork and the way I ran routes," Buckley said.
Buckley plans to visit both schools again during the season to see their game days. He also wants to get out to Oklahoma and UCLA for games this fall.
Next Tuesday Buckley has a visit planned to TCU, which along with Houston are the two schools that have offered the receiver.
"I just want to see what the campus has to offer, see the atmosphere," Buckley said.
"I'm looking for a college that passes the ball, that I can fit in and have the offense fit around me," Buckley said. "Distance doesn't matter, I can go anywhere. I'm not scared to go away from home."
Buckley is working on his strength, speed and blocking this offseason. The next stage of that offseason will take place this weekend as Cedar Hill competes in the Texas State 7v7 Tournament.
"We're excited for this weekend. We're trying to win it all. We haven't done anything different, we're going to just keep doing what we're doing," Buckley said.