Where every 2024 Michigan decommit ended up on early National Signing Day

Michigan signed 27 prospects in its 2024 recruiting class during the early window of National Signing Day on Wednesday.

The Wolverines are listed No. 17 overall on the On3 Industry National Team Recruiting Rankings, with 15 four-star signees, including three ranked in the Top 100.

The rollercoaster ride of recruiting this cycle also brought three former pledges who elected to sign elsewhere. The Wolverine takes a look at who didn’t wind up in Michigan’s class.

Four-Star EDGE Jacob Smith, Corbin (Ky.) High

On3 Industry Ranking: No. 230 Overall, No. 23 EDGE, No. 1 in Kentucky 
Committed to Michigan: July 13, 2023
Flipped: September 15, 2023
Signed With: Kentucky

Michigan had a verbal commitment from Jacob Smith‘s brother prior to his July pledge, so in the early summer, it was a matter of keeping the wins close. They each traveled to Ann Arbor twice in June, including for an official visit, which led to Smith joining his brother. Pass rush specialist Dylan Roney and defensive line coach Mike Elston were instrumental in landing Smith, who cited Michigan’s EDGE development and production as the main reason he was looking at the program to begin with. However, once the brothers transferred to Corbin High from Cheshire (Conn.) Academy in late July, they ended up visiting Kentucky around the same time and later in early September. The brothers are native to the Bluegrass State, so representing the home state and playing for the Wildcats was too much to pass up.

Four-Star DL Jerod Smith, Corbin (Ky.) High

On3 Industry Ranking: No. 230 Overall, No. 24 Defensive Lineman, No. 2 in Kentucky 
Committed to Michigan: April 25, 2023 
Flipped: September 15, 2023
Signed With: Kentucky

Jerod Smith joined a growing defensive line class in the spring and was the second pass rusher attending a Connecticut high school whom Elston successfully recruited. Smith’s commitment to the Wolverines happened less than a month after he visited Ann Arbor for the first time in late March. He was a major asset in helping secure his brother to the fold. But like with Jacob, as soon as they transferred from Cheshire Academy to Corbin, there was an open window for Kentucky, which never stopped communication, to keep the twins home.

Four-Star EDGE Elias Rudolph, Cincinnati (Ohio) Taft

On3 Industry Ranking: No. 382 Overall, No. 34 EDGE, No. 13 in Ohio 
Committed to Michigan: July 3, 2023
Flipped: August 12, 2023
Signed With: Miami

Michigan was experiencing heavy momentum in recruiting the state of Ohio, with Elias Rudolph becoming the fifth 2024 recruit south of the border to choose the Wolverines. He was also the third Cincinnati native to side with the three-time reigning Big Ten Champions. Area recruiter and co-defensive coordinator Steve Clinkscale maintained contact with Rudolph in the offseason, even when the latter temporarily moved to Deerfield Beach, Florida. However, his commitment didn’t last long, as Rudolph flipped to Miami in August, just six weeks after he originally picked Michigan. Rudolph told The Wolverine earlier in the fall that Clinkscale and the U-M staff were still in contact, but he stuck with the Hurricanes.