4-star DL Jerod Smith sets commitment date

Cheshire (Conn.) Cheshire Academy four-star defensive lineman Jerod Smith is announcing his commitment on April 25. He shared the news Monday over Twitter.

Smith is the No. 316 overall prospect and No. 28 defensive lineman in the 2024 cycle, according to the On3 Industry Ranking, a weighted average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies. He is also the No. 4 player in Connecticut.

I’ll be announcing my commitment tomorrow!! 👀@Hayesfawcett3 @Coach_Mella @CAcatsFB1794 pic.twitter.com/NPoyjbJexe

— Jerod Smith (@Jerodsmith44) April 24, 2023

The 6-foot-2.5, 255-pound recruit previously announced a top 10 alongside his brother, Cheshire (Conn.) Cheshire Academy four-star EDGE Jacob Smith. According to the On3 Recruiting Prediction Machine, Michigan is leading for Jerod’s commitment at 72.4%.

Smith has visited multiple schools this spring. They include Notre Dame (March 30), Michigan (March 28), Nebraska (March 25), Alabama (March 22) and Georgia (March 21).

While Jerod is announcing his college destination tomorrow, Jacob recently announced his top six schools. They included Michigan, Notre Dame, Kentucky, Nebraska, Alabama and Georgia.

“I feel we’ll probably end up going to the same school, just because we have similar interests and the same goals,” Jacob told On3’s Chad Simmons on Oct. 7.

 “We’re brothers, we already have that built-in connection,” he added. “We just build off each other and especially during the games, I know he’ll have his stuff and I’ll do my job. It’s build-in trust.”

However, Jerod is okay if he and Jacob end up heading to different programs.

“I don’t think it’s a no-brainer,” he told Simmons. “If we both like School A, we’ll both go to School A. But if I like School A and he likes School B, then I guess we’ll split up.”

Smith is not the only Michigan target committing tomorrow. The RPM gives the Wolverines a 93.8% chance to land Rochester (Mich.) Adams four-star tight end Brady Prieskorn, the No. 5 tight end in the On3 Industry Ranking.

Smith discusses two of his recent visits

Both Jacob and Jerod visited Nebraska last month. It marked their first time seeing the Cornhuskers.

“I saw everything on the tour,” Jerod told Bryan Munson of Husker Online. “We saw the facilities, the academics, the campus, and everything. The new facility is going to be great. It’s going to look really nice.”

“It was a seven-point-five or an eight (out of 10) for me,” he added. “I liked everything about it. Nothing crazy, nothing was bad, I liked everything about it.”

Jerod’s time in Alabama also impressed him. He watched defensive line coach Freddie Roach work with the Crimson Tide’s players.

“Overall with the defensive line, they’ve put talent in the league each year,” Smith told Joseph Hastings of BamaInsider. “Notable this year is Will Anderson. No. 41 on the team this year is predicted to be a first-or-second rounder. They’re putting dudes in the league every year at the defensive line.”