The standout of SMU's 2014 football recruiting class took a roundabout way to end up with the Mustangs.
Fort Worth All Saints running back Daniel Gresham was originally committed to the University of Texas. Then he changed his commitment to Louisville, which was then coached by Charlie Strong.
Gresham, rated the No. 1 fullback by Scout.com, also had offers from Alabama, Auburn and Florida State, among others.
In an ironic twist, Strong left Louisville to take the job at Texas. New Louisville coach Bobby Petrino rescinded Gresham's scholarship offer.
That led the 5-10, 237-pound Gresham to commit to SMU, where he fits the mold of a fullback-type runner often deployed in coach June Jones' Run and Shoot offense.
Gresham maintained his commitment to SMU despite some late offers from Kansas State and Miami, according to The Dallas Morning News.
Thus SMU ends up with a top-rated running back recruit at the top of its a 24-man class unveiled Wednesday.
"We believe in this class," Jones said. "There is some tremendous talent in this group and we think they will become great players at SMU. We have developed numerous NFL players in our time here and this group will be no different. This class will helps us compete for championships."
A couple of members of SMU's recruiting class already have close NFL ties. Highland Park offensive lineman Tony Richards is the son of former SMU offensive line great David Richards, who played for four NFL teams, most notably the Chargers.
Quarterback Darrel Colbert of Houston Lamar is the son of former Kansas City Chiefs receiver Darrel Colbert Sr.
The younger Colbert is one of four players signed from Houston Lamar, to go along with two former Lamar players who signed last year.
The Mustangs also signed quarterback Jordan Severt from Austin Westlake, the school that produced current NFL quarterbacks Drew Brees and Nick Foles.
Euless Trinity linebacker Inoke Ngalo was likely the second-highest rated prospect SMU signed.
Ngalo even got a personal welcome from former SMU great Eric Dickerson via Twitter.
I like to welcome Inoke Ngalo to the @SMU Family. Looking forward to watching this young man. #ponyup
— Eric Dickerson (@EricDickerson) February 5, 2014
SMU may have found its next Margus Hunt in Bozidar Antunovic, a 6-6, 270-pound defensive line prospect from Serbia. Like Hunt, who was drafted by the Cincinnati Bengals last year, Antunovic is a track and field standout from Europe.
The class features six offensive linemen and five linebackers. The Mustangs also signed three defensive backs and three wide receivers, including Dallas Carter standout Jordan Ingram.
Two players each were signed at quarterback, running back and defensive line, plus punter Jackson Koonce from Oceanside, Calif.
Follow Keith Whitmire on Twitter: @Keith_Whitmire
