SMU isn't wasting any time putting together its inaugural roster.
According to reports from National Lacrosse Federation and Inside Lacrosse, the Mustangs already have seven graduate transfers lined up for their 2028 debut season — Luke Gilmartin (Cornell), Ryan Goldstein (Cornell), Jake Melchionni (Villanova), AJ Nikolic (Cornell), Matthew Till (Penn), Matt Tully (Cornell) and Tucker Wade (Princeton).
Six of the seven come from the Ivy League, which is not at all unexpected given the NCAA's new 5-in-5 rules and head coach Jim Mitchell's connections to the Ancient Eight during his time as Princeton's offensive coordinator.
Wade headlines the group as a USA Lacrosse first-team All-American and 2026 NCAA champion under Mitchell. He's a star in the midfield and immediately profiles as one of the SMU's top offensive talents.
Melchionni earned second-team All-American honors and Big East specialist of the year in 2026 and is an eraser at the long-stick midfield position. Goldstein was an honorable mention All-American and 2025 NCAA champion who can step in as the Mustangs' X attackman.
According to the Inside Lacrosse report, this is just the first wave of players to be publicly linked to SMU. More is expected in the near future, and as many as 20 players are already committed to take their fifth years in Dallas.
