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Wolverine TV: On300 LB Jaden Smith gets out of NLI with Michigan

On3 imageby:Zach Libby•02/13/24•

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EJ Holland/On3

Several topics were discussed on The Wolverine live Tuesday recruiting show with recruiting analysts EJ Holland and Zach Libby, including reactions to the departure of former On300 Michigan linebacker signee Jaden Smith, who got out of his National Letter of Intent (NLI) on Tuesday.

Watch the video above.

Smith Recruitment

Smith announced a request for a release from his NLI on Sunday, becoming the first Michigan signee in the 2024 recruiting class to do so following the departures of several coaches from the national championship run. His request was granted two days later.

Smith would have enrolled at Michigan in June. He verbally committed in the late spring of this past year, soon after his first-ever visit to campus. At 6-foot-2.5, 195 pounds, he is listed as the No. 278 overall prospect and No. 19 linebacker in the country, per On3.

Here’s what Holland had to say about the situation.

“There were just so many varying opinions on (Smith),” Holland said. “He really could have been a tremendous player at Michigan. Or he could have been someone we never hear from again. So, I think from an on the field standpoint, it was going to take (Smith) a couple of years for him to make an impact on defense anyway. I thought he could have made an immediate impact on special teams.”

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.

The Wolverines are No. 15 overall on the 2024 On3 Industry National Team Recruiting Rankings.

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