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Four-star linebacker Jaden Smith of Charlotte, N.C., a one-time Michigan commit, announced Tuesday that he will play his college football at Kentucky.
He is a top 300 player nationally in some recruiting rankings and initially picked Michigan over Kentucky, Louisville, USC, Virginia Tech, Utah and Georgia Tech. However, when coach Jim Harbaugh and some assistants left Michigan, Smith asked for a release from the scholarship he signed in December and got it.
“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,” Smith posted on social media when he decommitted from Michigan.
Smith was named The Charlotte Observer high school football defensive player of the year last season when he had 91 tackles, 25 tackles for loss, 10 sacks, three blocked punts and two blocked field goals.
USC, Miami and Florida State went after Smith, who runs a 4.5 second 40-yard dash, but the relationship defensive coordinator Brad White made earlier with Smith paid off in a big way for Kentucky as he is the sixth four-star defensive signee for UK and fifth off-ball linebacker in the 2024 recruiting class as he joins Atlanta (Ga.) Westlake’s Antwan Smith, Powell’s (Tenn.) Steven Soles, Brunswick’s (Ga.) Devin Smith and Covington (Ga.) Newton’s Quintavion Norman.
CatsPause/247 recruiting analyst Josh Edwards thought Kentucky might have landed Smith last summer if he had not gotten the offer from Michigan.
“Those relationships he built with the UK coaches during his initial recruitment is what allowed them to earn his commitment the second go around,” Edwards said. “He can be that SAM linebacker in the defense capable of serving as a big nickel. He moves really well and can be relied upon to play in space.
“His skill set just allows the UK defense to be more flexible where his presence on the field isn’t clear evidence that UK is playing with an extra man in the box or another defender in coverage.”
One Response
He moves very well and very fast for a linebacker. He needs to gain 15-20 pounds of muscle mass. I think if he does he will be a multi year starter. We need to sign 1 maybe even 2 more offensive lineman. I see that nik hall and tanner Bowles are no longer on the team. We have enough depth were it shouldn’t hurt us to bad but from a extra depth standpoint at least 1 late transfer would only help even more. Maybe go after some Michigan offensive lineman since there coach bolted or Alabama?.?