4-star QB Carter Smith decommits from Michigan amid Wolverines' Bryce Underwood pursuit

Fort Myers (Fla.) Bishop Verot four-star quarterback Carter Smith has decommitted from Michigan in the midst of the Wolverines’ pursuit of LSU commit Bryce Underwood.

Smith pledged to former coach Jim Harbaugh and Co. in November 2023, choosing them over Florida and more than a dozen other reported offers.

“We’ve had multiple schools get back to us and are ready to take him,” Smith’s father Dan said.

Clemson, Penn State and Wisconsin are schools of note.

“I think that’s the direction. There were a couple surprises in there because they have kids right now.”

He has been one of the leaders of Michigan’s 2025 class, which currently sits just outside the top 10 of the On3 Industry Team Recruiting Rankings.

And all signs pointed to him signing with U-M in December and enrolling early.

“I’m locked in,” Smith told TheWolverine.com last week. “I’m not going anywhere. There is not a better place on the planet. There isn’t much going on in my life for anyone wondering (laughs). I’m solid because of the quality of people there. It still feels so right.”

However, Michigan has seriously ramped up its pursuit of Underwood, a Detroit-area native and the No. 1 overall recruit in the class.

There is growing confidence around the Michigan program that they can ultimately flip Underwood, according to On3’s Steve Wiltfong, and the Wolverines are “full-steam ahead” in pursuit of him. Smith, meanwhile, has now re-opened his recruitment with a little more than a month to go until National Signing Day.

Among the schools to watch for Smith — the nation’s No. 199 overall recruit and No. 18 QB — are Penn State, Wisconsin and Clemson, according to Wiltfong. The Nittany Lions currently have a commitment from three-star Bekkem Kritza, while the Badgers have a verbal pledge from three-star Landyn Locke.

The Tigers, though, recently saw commit Blake Hebert back off his commitment and immediately flip to Notre Dame. And according to Wiltfong, it wouldn’t be surprise to see Smith visit Clemson soon.

Wolverines’ pursuit of Underwood includes huge NIL package

According to On3’s Pete Nakos, Michigan donors are all-in on helping head coach Sherrone Moore land Underwood.

“Industry sources told On3 that Underwood is expected to land an NIL package valued above $5 million over three to four years, regardless of the program that lands his signature on National Signing Day,” Nakos wrote earlier this week.

Multiple sources also told Nakos that the Wolverines reconnected with the family in the last three weeks and have offered a competitive NIL package on par with what LSU has presented. The Underwoods have stated previously that while NIL will be a factor in where Bryce plays his college football, it won’t be the only one.

“We try to put the cash in the back of the whole situation because whatever his dreams are, we want him to live those out,” Bryce Underwood’s father, Jaquan, told On3 in June at the On3 Elite Series. “The money is going to come when he’s just living his dreams.

… I don’t want to get it twisted, money is a huge deal. At the same time again, man, it’s about Bryce being able to turn his dreams into goals. So whatever field he goes in football, sports, man, I’m great with it as long as long as he’s happy.”