Cole Leinart, the son of former Southern California star quarterback and Heisman Trophy winner Matt Leinart, announced on social media Wednesday that he has committed to SMU.
A quarterback at Redondo Union High School in Redondo Beach, Calif., Cole Leinart is a three-star prospect rated the No. 81 quarterback in the Class of 2026 and No. 158 player in California, according to 247Sports.
“The culture they’re building at SMU — I just want to be a part of it,” Leinart told ESPN. “I love the coaching staff. They’re literally like family now. I just want to be part of what they have there.”
The recruiting service had Leinart, a 6-foot-4, 190-pound junior, choosing SMU over offers from Colorado, Pittsburgh, Georgia State and UNLV. He formerly attended Mater Dei High School and Newport Harbor before transferring to Redondo Union this fall.
His father played for USC in 2003-05, winning the Heisman in 2004 and national championships in 2003 and 2004. Leinart played in the NFL for the Arizona Cardinals (2006-09), Houston Texans (2011) and Oakland Raiders (2012). The Cardinals selected him 10th overall in the 2006 draft.
SMU (8-1) is No. 13 in the first College Football Playoff rankings, which were released Tuesday. The Mustangs are also No. 13 in the latest Associated Press poll.
