2025 4-star QB Carter Smith commits to Michigan Wolverines: 'They check all of the boxes'
Fort Myers (Fla.) Bishop Verot 2025 four-star quarterback Carter Smith visited Michigan for the first time earlier this month. The Wolverines, led by quarterbacks coach Kirk Campbell, made the signal-caller a top priority in the junior class, and got him to campus for the Purdue game.
One visit was all he needed to know he was home. On Tuesday, Smith announced his commitment to the Wolverines.
“Something about the visit connected with me and that was one thing I have been looking for and it happened,” Smith told On3. “The people in the building, the facilities, the school, the stadium being full all hit me at Michigan. When I was standing on the ‘M’ in the middle of the field in pre-game, it really hit me. I stood there, took it all in, spun around and I started to feel Michigan could be the place for me.
… The whole way home, me and my family talked about Michigan. From on the way to the airport to at the airport to when we got home, we talked a lot about the visit and Michigan. We all kind of felt the same way after the visit. It was special. The people are special, what they have going on inside the building is special and it was what I have been looking for.”
One of the top quarterbacks in the cycle, On3 rates Smith higher than every other major recruiting service — ranking him No. 112 overall in the 2025 On300.
Michigan checks ‘all of the boxes’
Smith said he made the decision to commit to Michigan after getting back home before letting Michigan quarterback coach Kirk Campbell know about his choice.
“They check all of the boxes for me,” Smith said. “Academics was big for me and Michigan is a great school. The people in the building were welcoming to me and my family. Everyone is down-to-earth and I feel comfortable. They have everything I was looking for in a school. There was nothing bad about Michigan. The people took us in, I felt taken care of and that sat well with me and my family.”
Campbell played a major role in Smith’s recruitment and ultimately his decision to pledge to the Wolverines.
“Coach Campbell was very impactful in my decision,” Smith said. “When August 1 opened things up, we talked once or twice a week. Those calls helped out a lot. We built that relationship, then I got up there, spent time in person and that went a long way. He is a great person, I like how he operates with his quarterbacks and my time with him in person sped up the process for me. My time with Coach Campbell really helped lead to my decision a little sooner than I thought.”
Smith wants to compete at the ‘highest level’
Over the last two years, Michigan has sprung back onto the scene as a recurring College Football Playoff contender. Currently ranked No. 3 in the nation, Smith doesn’t see that success fading anytime soon.
“Michigan isn’t changing or going anywhere,” Smith said. “There are dudes there that want to win at the highest level and compete there with me. I see Michigan continuing to compete hard, win and dominate college football.”
In the end, it was a fairly easy decision for the 6-foot-3, 180-pound signal-caller.
“The decision was a lot easier than I thought it would be,” Smith said. “I was just waiting for it to click and it happened with Michigan. It happened on the ‘M’ logo, then I had some mature conversations with my parents about the academics and what was going on at Michigan and the decision came pretty easy for me.”