SMU worked quick to replace departed defensive line coach Brett Diersen, who left for Temple over the weekend. Texas assistant wide receivers coach and former Dallas Skyline standout Ra'Shaad Samples was hired as the team's 10th assistant on Wednesday, sources told Pony Stampede. His formal title has yet to be decided.

On Tuesday afternoon, Samples confirmed the news in a tweet announcing his move from Texas to SMU, where he thanked the people around him, including Texas coach Tom Herman. He simply said, "I'm coming home."

"I am very thankful for everything Longhorn nation and my Longhorn family has done for me," Samples said in the tweet. "I've been blessed to spend the past 5 or 6 years with guys who have not only taken me under their wing, but has aided in my grow and everything they have done for me. With that being said, I'm excited to move forward to the next step in my life and I couldn't have picked a better place to do it. Happy to announce I'm coming back to the city and the people who made me who I am and what I stand for. #PonyUpDallas"

Samples is a former Oklahoma State and Houston wide receiver, who saw his career cut short due to concussions. Since his career ended in 2017, he was hired by Texas in February 2018 to be an on-campus recruiter and to be an analyst for the wide receiver group. His impact as a recruiter for Texas has been well-documented as he's the son of Texas high school football coaching legend Reginald Samples.

Reginald serves as the head coach at Duncanville High School, where he's coming off a state championship game appearance in 2018. The elder Samples is a 25-year coaching veteran in the Texas high school ranks, having spent nine seasons at Skyline earlier in his career.

While Ra'Shaad has yet to be a on-field assistant, the move is expected to bolster SMU's recruiting efforts in the Dallas area, particularly in South Dallas, where Samples played his high school ball, becoming a four-star prospect on the 247Sports Composite. In the 2013 class, Samples was an Under Armour All-American after a 1,000-yard season to cap his high school career.

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Samples has been key for Tom Herman and the Longhorns in Dallas, coining #DallasToAustin and being a key recruiter for Longhorn commits like Duncanville quarterback Ja'Quinden Jackson, Highland Park defensive end Prince Dorbah and Bishop Dunne running back Jaden Hullaby. Other 2020 targets like four-star athlete Jahari Rogers, four-star safety Chris Thompson and others were high on Samples.

Looking ahead, the hire is key for SMU to have a shot at 2021 South Dallas like one-time SMU wide receiver commit Quaydarius Davis, who is now committed to the Longhorns, and Duncanville offensive linemen Savion Byrd and Cameron Williams, among other prospects.

“Coach Samples is my boy, for real,” Davis told 247Sports in March. “He’s a great coach. He’s always there if you need something. He’s someone that I can relate to. I always talk to him and have great conversations with him.”

SMU head coach Sonny Dykes saw an opportunity to shore up recruiting efforts in the ultra-competitive and talent-rich South Dallas area, but it'll also help with local 7-on-7 organizations like True Buzz Group. True Buzz coach Joey Moss said as much back in March when talking with 247Sports about Samples.

“He comes from a football family,” Moss said. “His dad has a great legacy in Texas high school football. It shows in what he’s doing now. He has one of the biggest followings because he has such a connection to the city where he’s from. He knows about everyone before everybody else is after them.”

The Mustangs now have their coaching staff completed for the 2019 season, which begins Aug. 31 on the road at Arkansas State.