On300 Michigan LB signee Jaden Smith requests release from NLI

The departures of every defensive assistant coach from Michigan’s national championship run have been a cloud hanging out the offseason. In a period of turnover, the Wolverines are now reeling from its effects, with a 2024 signee announcing his request for NLI release on Sunday.

On300 West Charlotte (N.C.) High linebacker Jaden Smith wrote on X that he won’t play collegiate football in Ann Arbor, which follows the losses of Jim Harbaugh, Jesse Minter, Chris Partridge, Jay Harbaugh, and other key assistants from last season’s undefeated campaign.

Smith, who would have enrolled at Michigan in June, signed with the Wolverines during early National Signing Day. He announced a verbal commitment in the late spring of this past year, soon after his first-ever visit to campus.

“First off, I’d like to thank God for blessing me with the opportunity to further my education and athletic career,” Smith said. “I’d like to thank Coach Harbaugh, Coach Partridge, Coach Minter, Coach Clink, Coach Jay Harbaugh, Coach JB, Coach Roney, Coach Herb and Coach Rick Minter for believing in me. Y’all are family and I hope our football paths cross again in the future. Christina, Albert, Sam, Abigail, CB, Coach Claiborne, Coach Robinson, Blair and Coach LaTroy… y’all are the best in the business.

“With that said, after much prayer and deliberation, I’ve made the decision to formally request my release from my NLI. This was the toughest decision I’ve ever had to make in my life. Forever grateful for Coach Moore and The University of Michigan.”

At 6-foot-2.5, 195 pounds, Smith is listed as the No. 278 overall prospect and No. 19 linebacker in the country, per On3. He’s also the No. 12 player in North Carolina.

Michigan now has 26 signees in the 2024 recruiting class. Among the notable additions are On300 Charlotte (N.C.) Providence Day quarterback Jadyn Davis, On300 Cincinnati (Ohio) Archbishop Moeller running back Jordan Marshall, On300 Kansas City (Mo.) Rockhurst offensive tackle Andrew Sprague, On300 Rochester (Mich.) Adams tight end Brady Prieskorn, On300 Pittsburgh (Pa.) Central Catholic linebacker Cole Sullivan, On300 Brandywine (Md.) Gwynn Park EDGE Devon Baxter, On300 Austin (Tex.) Vandegrift offensive tackle Blake Frazier, On300 West Charlotte (N.C.) High linebacker Jaden Smith, four-star Harper Woods (Mich.) High defensive back Jacob Oden and four-star Nashville (Tenn.) Ensworth linebacker Mason Curtis, and four-star Belleville (Mich.) High linebacker Jeremiah Beasley.

At the conclusion of the late signing period on Wednesday, U-M  finished No. 15 overall on the 2024 On3 Industry National Team Recruiting Rankings.