She helped USC land nation's top recruiting class, now she'll build SMU football
She helped USC land nation's top recruiting class, now she'll build SMU football
John Brice, USA TODAY Fri, May 1, 2026 at 11:56 AM UTC
0
SMU football’s recruiting personnel gain is USC’s loss.
Rhett Lashlee and SMU have hired Zaire Turner away from USC to serve as the Mustangs’ senior director of recruiting, USA TODAY Sports has learned.
Turner confirmed the news in a homecoming move that was a few years in the making.
TOO-EARLY TOP 25: New No. 1 leads college football after spring practice
LATEST NEWS: What we know, what's next for Brendan Sorsby
“SMU had reached out two years ago,” said Turner, a Dallas native who had been USC’s assistant athletic director of recruiting. “There were a few factors that I didn't feel like it was the right move for me at the time...
“But, I always kept thinking about wanting to go home and actually work there. Everything happens for a reason, and I’ve been blessed to be in so many great places and programs with great coaches and people like Chad (Bowden, USC general manager). I knew this time it was time. I never thought I'd get a second offer but felt that if I did, I had to do it.”
Under Bowden, Turner helped USC land college football's top-ranked 2026 recruiting class, per the 247Sports Composite. She is set to start immediately for the Mustangs, who are entering their fifth year under Lashlee, third year in the ACC and seeking a return to the College Football Playoff after appearing in the 2024 edition.
She will work directly with Lashlee and J.R. Sandlin, SMU assistant athletic director and general manager of football.
Advertisement
Beginning her career as a student-worker in then-coach Kliff Kingsbury’s Texas Tech program, Turner was hired as a recruiting assistant at Virginia Tech and then was hired by Bowden at Notre Dame to serve as the Fighting Irish’s director of player personnel.
When Bowden left the Irish after their run to the 2025 CFP title game, he made Turner among his first hires at USC.
It’s that move, Turner told USA TODAY Sports, that helped further prepare her for a return to her roots.
“Now moving forward, I feel more confident because when you have great people around you like I have and I will at SMU, it’s easier to be in that position to grow for yourself and always be learning,” Turner said. “Learning from the younger generation in this industry also is a great thing. On paper, I'm running a department but in my mind, I’m just as equal as they are.
“Dealing with the budget at Notre Dame was fine, but at USC, I think getting involved in those conversations in different rooms with administration, various departments with Chad and Dre Brown was a great experience and chance to learn more about their impact on the football program and other sports and departments. Coach (Lincoln) Riley helped empower me and cares so deeply about the players and program. It was great to see a little bit of everything and how comes together.”
After growing up an SMU fan, Turner is eager to show off her hometown and the SMU campus and program to prospective recruits.
“This is it. It's that moment in time,” Turner said. “Being able to talk with people like J.R. and coach Lashlee and the coaching staff, it was great. I had been really impressed the first time talking to them.
“It's still what I thought was a great environment and two years later they all still feel the same way. It was hard to leave people like that at USC, Chad makes it such a family atmosphere and like coach Riley, just genuinely cares about the players, but it also shows you how Coach Lashlee runs his program and treats staff.”
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Rhett Lashlee, SMU bringing top USC recruiting staffer Zaire Turner home
Source: “AOL Sports”
