When it rains, it pours. The college football will soon be blessed with a new gen Z Leinart. Heard this name before? Sounds familiar, doesn’t it? Cole Leinart, the son of former Heisman Trophy winner Matt Leinart, is ready to make his own mark in the football world. He is an elite three-star 2026 quarterback according to 247Sports with a rating of 82. Don’t just start comparing him to his legendary dad just yet. The kid is in high school.

The fun part is Cole Leinart, who has thrown his commitment to the SMU Mustangs, and the announcement came this Wednesday. Following in the mighty footsteps of his legendary father Matt Leinart, the Heisman Trophy winner who quarterbacked USC to consecutive national championships in 2003 and 2004. He bagged the Heisman with the Trojans in 2004. Looks like the apple didn’t fall far from the tree, right? Known for his strong arm and impressive game vision, Cole brings a fresh yet familiar face to the field. Standing tall at 6-foot-3, Cole Leinart is making waves as a junior at California’s Redondo Union High School.

However, ESPN hasn’t slapped a rating on him just yet. This right-handed QB is already turning heads. With several Power 4 offers in his pocket. The Cali native decided to saddle up with the Mustangs, picking SMU over strong contenders like Colorado, Arizona, and Utah. Coach Rhett Lashlee must be grinning ear to ear as Cole becomes the second recruit in the 2026 class. The party is on for the 8-1 playoff-bound ponies. The kid, however, wants to get out of the shadow of his father. After all Matt Leinart was a three-time All-American with the Trojans. But he gotta get used to the significant attention. “The culture they’re building at SMU — I just want to be a part of it,” Leinart told ESPN.

In just six games this season, Cole Leinart has been lighting up the field! He’s thrown for 732 yards, completing 53 out of 96 passes, and racked up nine touchdowns with only two interceptions. On top of that, he’s shown off his wheels by rushing 19 times for 136 yards and scoring two more touchdowns. A dual-threat! Cole’s been playing like a seasoned pro, making defenses look like they’re chasing shadows. Watch out, SMU – this kid’s bringing the heat!

What SMU saw in Cole Leinart?

Cole Leinart has been catching eyes since he was an 11-year-old beanpole, slinging long passes in Southern California’s flag football leagues. His talent didn’t go unnoticed. Lane Kiffin then Matt Leinart’s old coach at USC, tweeted back in 2018 that he’d already offered Cole a scholarship to play for FAU. Talk about getting a head start! But football wasn’t his only love. Cole also dazzled on the hardwood as a shooting guard in the West Coast AAU basketball circuit. With his mom, Brynn, a former basketball player for USC.

Cole enrolled at Mater Dei, the same high school that his dad had attended, where he got his start as a backup quarterback in his freshman year in 2022. Just like his father his journey was full of high expectations with big shoes to fill now for SMU. The Mustangs are not just getting a seasoned athlete but a presumed superstar with him. Pony Up!