Ex-North Texas RB Tre Siggers explains transfer to rival SMU

TX – Less than a full day passed from when Tre Siggers entered the transfer portal to when he announced his commitment to play for his ex-rival SMU. Siggers, a running back, said that soon after his name appeared in the portal, he heard from the Mustangs’ director of recruiting operations, Tyler Olker.

A short time later he was given an offer. And then Saturday afternoon, Siggers announced his intention to leave North Texas for its biggest rival.

“The culture of SMU really got my attention,” Siggers told The Dallas Morning News. “Just playing against them every year, it kind of got to me.”

Two years ago, Siggers, a Duncanville native, had one of his best games ever in Dallas. He torched the Mustangs for 164 yards and a touchdown in a North Texas loss. He was an All-Conference-USA honorable mention in 2019 when he ran for 853 yards. He ran for 458 yards in 2020.

Siggers said he and the North Texas coaches “just weren’t seeing eye to eye on some things, so we just went our separate ways.”

SMU seemed to play into the rivalry aspect of the choice, with a photo of Siggers in a North Texas uniform running through the word “COMMITTED” being used as the graphic for his announcement.

“It’s kind of like, bittersweet,” Siggers said of going to a rival school. “But at the end of the day, I’ve just got to do what’s best for me.”

Siggers said that coming out of high school, his dream was to go to SMU. He did have offers from Louisville, Texas Tech and Iowa State. But his old DeSoto coach, Claude Mathis, was at SMU. Siggers, though, did not have the grades to get into SMU.

Now he does, and he will graduate from North Texas in May, before joining SMU in the summer. He’ll be immediately eligible and have two years of eligibility remaining.

Siggers already has a relationship with his running backs coach Ra’Shaad Samples, who is the son of Duncanville head coach Reginald Samples.

“It’s always been a dream, even coming out of high school, to go to SMU,” Siggers said.

Siggers was a three-star prospect coming out of Duncanville. He was initially used as a defensive back in Denton. He played some of his high school career at DeSoto.

The Mustangs continue to add big names from the transfer portal. Earlier this week, former Oklahoma tight end Grant Calcaterra announced his commitment to SMU. He’s joining his former Sooners teammate, quarterback Tanner Mordecai.

Siggers could potentially compete for the starting job. Ulysses Bentley IV broke out in his redshirt freshman season in 2020. He broke the school record for rushing TDs by a freshman. There’s also T.J. McDaniel, who was injured for the season on Oct. 3; it’s unclear when he’ll return to 100%.

Of course, Siggers would love the starting job. But he wasn’t promised that and knows he’ll have to earn it.

“I’m just ready to come in there, and just work, put my head down and work hard,” Siggers said. “However the chips fall, is how they fall. I’m not really looking for a handout. Just ready to work.”