On the day SMU was supposed to start spring football, safety Mikial Onu entered the NCAA transfer portal, sources confirmed to Pony Stampede. SEC Network analyst Cole Cubelic was first to report the news on Monday.

The rising senior has played in 36 games over his SMU career, starting 20 of those contests. In 2017, the Sugarland, Texas native started every game for the Mustangs while leading the team in tackles with 105 while adding seven pass breakups, two interceptions, a tackle for loss and a forced fumble.

This past season, the former George Ranch standout had 59 tackles (41 solo), 1.5 tackles for loss and 0.5 sacks. The 5-11, 205-pound safety also added an interception, three pass breakups and a quarterback hurry.

With Onu and returning starter Elijah McQueen also not on the roster for spring, SMU now has a depth issue at safety with Rodney Clemons being the lone returning player with serious experience. Head coach Sonny Dykes said on National Signing Day that there's always players looking to return to Dallas and with Onu's departure, a graduate transfer could now be an option for the staff to shore up the position.

"There's a lot of people that want to live here and lot of people that want to go to school here," Dykes said earlier this month. "The number of people that have left DFW, went and played someplace and want to come back and be a part of our program is kind of staggering. We've had the opportunity to get some really good players."

SMU also has some depth in true freshmen with Roderick Roberson, Donald Clay and Chace Cromartie coming in at the safety position. With the four-game redshirt rule, SMU could explore options out of that trio.

"I think that's a big deal," Dykes said of the rule implemented last season. "We'll treat em all as if they're going to play next year so we'll have the approach that we're going to play all the freshmen. Good thing is you can stick your toe in the water and see if they're ready. If they are then you can play them, if they're not, then you can play them in some games and use your four games wisely. We tried to do it the best we could last year and sometimes it doesn't work out the way you had it planned."

His senior year at George Ranch, Onu had nine interceptions, 40-plus tackles, three forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries en route to a state championship. Onu was a first-team All-District 24-5A selection and first-team All-Greater Houston pick by the Houston Chronicle.

Onu chose SMU over Air Force, Army, Fresno State, Navy, Nevada, New Mexico, Northwestern and Rice among others in the recruiting process. According to the 247Sports Composite, Onu was ranked as the No. 171 overall cornerback and No. 214 overall prospect in Texas.

Stick with Pony Stampede for the first day of media availability for spring football on Friday after Monday's practice availability was cancelled due to freezing temperatures in the DFW area.