Colorado defensive back transfer Jaden Milliner-Jones commits to SMU

FaceProfileby:Thomas Goldkamp•05/01/24

Colorado defensive back Jaden Milliner-Jones has committed to SMU out of the NCAA transfer portal, he announced on his Twitter account on Wednesday afternoon.

Milliner-Jones spent just one season with the Buffaloes, playing in 12 contests while starting one. He recorded 25 tackles, including 19 solo stops, with three pass breakups.

Some of Milliner-Jones’ best work came late in the season as he continued to develop. He turned in 19 tackles in the final five games of the season, after recording just six in the first seven games.

That kind of upside, displayed against quality Pac-12 competition, will have SMU excited about what he can bring to the table.

As a recruit, Jaden Milliner-Jones was not the highest-rated prospect. He checked in as the No. 1,455 overall recruit in the 2023 recruiting class, a three-star prospect, according to the On3 Industry Rankings.

He also checked in as the No. 143 safety in the class and the No. 239 overall player in the state of Texas, hailing from DeSoto (TX) DeSoto.

SMU lands an EDGE from the portal

Former Texas Longhorns EDGE Billy Walton has committed to join the SMU Mustangs via the NCAA Transfer Portal, he announced via social media.

“Texas EDGE transfer and former Dallas (Tex.) South Oak Cliff standout Billy Walton committed to SMU, he announced on Twitter. He’ll have four years of eligibility remaining,” Billy Embody of On The Pony Express wrote. “Walton played in two games during the 2023 season. He did not record any statistics for the Longhorns during his lone season in Austin. Walton announced plans to enter the NCAA Transfer Portal on April 15.”

Before college, Walton was a three-star recruit, per the On3 Industry Ranking, a proprietary algorithm that compiles ratings and rankings from all four primary recruiting media services. He was the No. 488 player in the class of 2023 and the No. 42 EDGE. 

He held offers from over 20 schools during his high school recruitment, including Texas A&M, Tennessee and Oklahoma State, among a slew of others.

To keep up with the latest players on the move, check out On3’s Transfer Portal wire.

On3’s Steven Samra also contributed to this report.