Charlotte, North Carolina Jaden Smith, a former Wolverine signee and 2024 edge/linebacker from West Charlotte,
announced his commitment to Kentucky on Monday night, according to 247Sports. When the four-star opted to seek
a release from his National Letter of Intent last week—he included a lengthy list of Michigan coaches who were no
longer affiliated with the program—the new Michigan defensive staff never really had a chance to get him back into
the fold. Smith intended to act quickly, according to national analyst Anna Adams.
Adams was informed last week by Smith’s brother Armand Brown that Jaden “doesn’t want to extend things out.”
“Plan is to reconnect with schools that previously recruited Jaden and build relationships with some new programs
(i.e. Auburn and Colorado) that enter the picture, then take two or three visits, maybe a couple more, and make a
decision.”
Smith was considered one of Michigan’s class’s higher ceiling prospects when he was first recruited by former
linebackers coach Chris Partridge. His final ranking showed this, since he had not been ranked or rated at the time of
his commitment to the Wolverines.
“The kid has the potential to become something extraordinary—we haven’t seen his best days yet,” Smith’s coach
Sam Greiner said to 247Sports early in the process. He could play inside linebacker or edge rusher. He is capable of
covering. He’s the kind of linebacker that’s in demand these days. You can expect to see this 190-pound body grow to
230 pounds when he sits down to eat, and he will still be able to run and bend in a respectable 4.5 40s.”
The 2024 247Sports Composite rankings had the four-star prospect ranked 284th overall at the end of the recruiting
period. At first, he preferred Michigan to Kentucky, USC, and a number of other schools.
