Michigan Football: Breaking down commitment of 2024 LB/S Jaden Smith

Michigan football added its 19th commitment in the 2024 class on Monday and here are some thoughts on Jaden Smith. 

The roll continues for Michigan football on the recruiting trail as the Wolverines landed their 19th commitment in the 2024 class on Monday.

The latest verbal commitment for the Wolverines came from linebacker/safety Jaden Smith. Smith is unranked in the 247 Sports composite rankings. He’s 6-foot-3, 187 pounds out of Charlotte, North Carolina.

Smith isn’t from the same school as five-star quarterback Jadyn Davis, but getting another commitment from that area isn’t a bad thing for the Wolverines.

Plus Smith is a versatile defensive athlete. Virginia Tech hosted him for an official visit last weekend. Kentucky was expected to host him this weekend before Michigan football on June 23rd.

Now, I’d expect those visits to be canceled as Smith indicated in his commitment Tweet that he’s firmly committed to the Michigan football program.

While Smith tagged Jim Harbaugh, Jesse Minter, Chris Partridge, and Jim Harbaugh in his announcement, Partridge should get most of the credit.

Partridge was the first coach that first really started communicating with Smith. The new linebackers coach also offered him back in May.

Since then, the Wolverines have taken a commanding lead and they were able to finish it off even before getting Smith on campus again for an official visit.

Thoughts on the commitment of Jaden Smith

Some will jump on the fact that Smith isn’t ranked right now. I get it. But the evaluators haven’t really caught up.

Smith is rated as a three-star recruit according to On3. I’m confident that he will at least be a three-star in the 247 Sports composite rankings when it’s all said and done.

Michigan football has some great talent evaluators and Chris Partridge is one of them. Most of the defensive staff has been in on Smith. He’s big enough to eventually be a linebacker, however, he could also play safety.

It’s interesting to take a guy like that but Michigan football has already added some athletes like that this cycle and did at the end of last year as well.

Michigan football has the confidence to develop those players and the recruiting services usually give their commitments a boost. I’m just saying, trust the coaches more than the recruiting analysts.

Linebackers that are as fluid as Smith don’t grow on trees. He’ll need to fill out more and his development in terms of size/weight will probably determine where he plays.

I like the commitment for all those reasons. There is a ton of upside here and I’m betting Michigan football will be able to find the best way to help Smith unleash it.