Four-Star DL Jerod Smith commits to Michigan

On3 imageby:Hayes Fawcett•04/25/23•

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Four-star defensive lineman Jerod Smith of Cheshire (CT) Academy announced his commitment to Michigan Tuesday afternoon.

The 6-foot-4, 255 pounder chose the Wolverines over Notre Dame, Nebraska, and others.

Smith on why he chose Michigan

“The great coaches coach Eltston is a great coach, one of the best in the country. Their defense runs an NFL style defense which is crucial in developing me to the next level. The defense coordinator coach minter is a really smart coach that knows what he’s talking about. The level of football they play is really high. There 

constantly putting great edge/Dl players in the league! And the high level of academics that Michigan has over me. Ann Arbor is a great city. I’ll have a good mixture of football academics at Michigan!  So it’s really why not Michigan?”

Relationship with coaching staff stood out

“I’d also like to say the relationship me and the coaches have is a big reason. My relationship with the coaching staff is great. I talk with coach Eltson 2-3 times a week and coach Minter weekly. We always talk ball and then talk about how school is going and always checking in on the family. They make an effort to also talk to my parents weekly. That was huge for them to include my family in it as well.”

The Connecticut defensive lineman joins coach Harbaugh and the Wolverines’ Top 5 class in the 2024 team rankings. He is accompanied by Jadyn Davis, Jordan Marshall, and others.

Smith ranks as the No. 316 player in the On3 Industry Ranking, a weighted average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies. He also tabs in as the No. 28 defensive lineman and the No. 4 player in the state of Connecticut.

He currently has an On3 NIL Valuation of $34K. The On3 NIL Valuation is the industry’s leading index that sets high school and college athletes’ projected annual value (PAV). The NIL valuation does not act as a tracker of the value of NIL deals an athlete has completed to date. It rather signifies an athlete’s value at a certain moment in time.