J.R. Sandlin aims to bring the process to SMU, help 'goldmine' take off

When Rhett Lashlee brought in Oklahoma director of player personnel and recruiting J.R. Sandlin as SMU’s next General Manager earlier this month, it was a major move for the Mustangs.

With an eye toward the program’s move to the ACC coming this summer, Lashlee wanted to add another experienced leader to the recruiting department that will bring more synergy between recruiting and scouting.

“When I decided to hire J.R. as our new General Manager to lead our personnel department, I felt we needed to add to our already successful recruiting staff members and continue to grow the department,” Lashlee told On3. “Structure and leadership are important and J.R. has a ton of leadership experience in recruiting at the Power Four level (Alabama, Tennessee, Notre Dame and Oklahoma). It’s a different level to compete at moving to the ACC. He also has been a position coach for 8 years which helps him understand how to help our personnel department and coaching staff functional efficiency together.”

On3’s Josh McCuistion, who covers Oklahoma recruiting for Sooner Scoop, said Sandlin was vital to the Sooners’ recruiting efforts. With Sandlin in Norman, Okla., the program signed Top 10 classes in 2023 and 2024.

“J.R. was a guy that became part of just about everything in Oklahoma’s recruiting,” McCuistion said. “Was always seen at camps next to Brent Venables, keeping him up to speed on all the players for Oklahoma’s head man to be aware of. Sandlin is a guy who brings a lot of positive energy to recruiting and was well-liked by numerous Sooner commitments.”

From the identification process, evaluation process, marketing and communications, visits and more, Sandlin is diving into how to improve SMU. With his background from working under Nick Saban, a piece of “The Process” is now coming to the Hilltop.

“You want to see the system that’s in place and see where some of the improvements can be made,” Sandlin told On3. “It all starts with the structure, getting some of the people in the right locations of the bus then building it that way because everything starts with the process. Gotta have a process to create a product.”

From his stops at some of college football’s premier programs, he’s gained experience, knowledge and information to bring to his next stop. At each stop, that experience helps him design what’s best for that program.

“Every experience that you have is a great experience, but every one of those experiences helps you create something special for us. That’s what it’s about,” Sandlin said. “Taking some of the experiences you have. Listening to the people you have here, learning and gaining that knowledge, and figuring out what’s the best system for us.”

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Sandlin’s evaluating SMU’s department, which Lashlee hopes will elevate the recruiting efforts from the program. SMU sits inside the Top 25 recruiting classes for 2025 and has plenty of opportunity to add more quality pieces. To do that, further alignment in that department is a goal.

“We’ve done a good job in scouting and recruiting in our first two years, and as we head into the ACC we have to continue to do everything we can to raise our level throughout the organization,” Lashlee said. “Recruiting is the lifeblood of any program. We can never get too comfortable.”

Lashlee has high goals for the program and Sandlin’s initial impressions are a program that has all the support necessary to make serious noise.

“SMU’s a goldmine. I think it can just take off,” Sandlin said. “Brand new facility, great season, heading to ACC, a Power Four program, coaches that care, people that are bought in. That’s motivating, that’s inspiring when you see so many fans and alumni and donors that are bought in. You don’t just hear it, you see it as well. You want to be around a group of people and program that’s literally doing that everyday.”

Lashlee felt like Sandlin saw that type of potential in SMU when he offered him the job. While some new hires will be made, that’s just a step in the direction Lashlee wants.

“I think the trajectory and potential of our program is what attracted JR to the opportunity,” Lashlee said. “Anytime you make moves like this it will come with some personnel shuffling internally, but I feel confident once everything settles we will be poised to take the next step as a program as we enter the ACC.”

Sandlin aims to showcase SMU degrees. He’s been a part of Notre Dame, another impressive academic institution, which offers athletes a chance to succeed on and off the field.

“You’re coming here to change your life forever. You’re changing the trajectory of your life with a degree from SMU. No different than I was at Notre Dame. You’re coming there to get a degree,” he said. “It’s going to change you and connect you to a network of people that’ll support you and care about you, that want to see you be successful. It’s so much more than just ball. It’s Life After Ball.”

At the end of the day, SMU’s recruiting footprint starts in the State of Dallas, which Lashlee coined with a nod to Miami’s history. Sandlin heads up a department that wants to keep DFW’s best at home while sneaking into other major metroplexes from time to time.

“Location is everything. We’re sitting here in Dallas. You couldn’t ask for a better location than that amongst high school football. Also, college football,” Sandlin said. “Not far from Love Field so it gives you the ability to hit some of those national cities, but we want to be inside out and focus on honoring our state and our city first. That DFW area. Being a premier location for Dallas, Texas kids so they can go play Power Four football.”

The process of SMU taking off is in progress. Sandlin’s just beginning creating the approach best for SMU.

“Creating a system that fits us best with our location, people and school. There’s no cookie cutter approach to that. A lot of the systems are very similar, but it’s custom to who we are and where we’re at.”