Michigan has scored another big win on the recruiting trail.



Four-star Cheshire (Conn.) Academy EDGE <a href="https://www.on3.com/db/jacob-smith-147692/">Jacob Smith</a> gave the Wolverines a verbal pledge on Thursday afternoon, just a few weeks following his unofficial visit. 



Michigan didn’t have to sell much to Smith. The Wolverines’ EDGE production speaks for itself. After all, U-M has sent multiple pass rushers to the NFL over the last few years.



“That’s the reason I started to look at them,” Smith said. “They are EDGE Rush U. If they can develop the guys they’ve developed, then why can’t they develop me?” 



Smith committed to Michigan over offers from Alabama, Georgia, Kentucky, Nebraska, Notre Dame, Penn State, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas A&M, USC and others. 



Michigan defensive line coach Mike Elston and staffer Dylan Roney, who works closely with U-M’s pass rushers, led the way in Smith’s recruitment and helped seal the deal. 



“Coach Mike is my guy,” Smith said. “I talk to him the most. I’ve also talked to Coach Roney a few times. They are both nice guys and easy to talk to. They’re straightforward. They don’t have to sell a lot.”



Smith will no have the opportunity to team up with his twin brother, Jerod, in Ann Arbor. Jerod, a four-star defensive lineman, committed to Michigan earlier this offseason.



“(Jerod) is powerful, strong, has a good get off and gets to the point,” Jacob said. “We complement each other well. If the first one doesn’t get the tackle, the second one is.”



At 6-foot-4, 225 pounds, Smith is ranked as the No. 16 EDGE and No. 255 overall prospect in the country. He is also ranked as the No.6 overall prospect in the state of Connecticut, per the On3 Industry Ranking.



Michigan now has 26 commits in its <a href="https://www.on3.com/college/michigan-wolverines/football/2024/industry-comparison-commits/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">2024 recruiting class</a> — Top 100 Charlotte (N.C.) Providence Day quarterback <a href="https://www.on3.com/db/jadyn-davis-52766/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Jadyn Davis</a>, Top 100 Rochester (Mich.) Adams tight end <a href="https://www.on3.com/db/brady-prieskorn-150122/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Brady Prieskorn</a>, Top 100 Cincinnati (Ohio) Archbishop Moeller running back <a href="https://www.on3.com/db/jordan-marshall-150211/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Jordan Marshall</a>, On300 Austin (Tex.) Vandegrift offensive tackle <a href="https://www.on3.com/db/blake-frazier-155399/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Blake Frazier</a>, On300 Kansas City (Mo.) Rockhurst offensive tackle <a href="https://www.on3.com/db/andrew-sprague-150803/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Andrew Sprague</a>, offensive tackle On300 Harper Woods (Mich.) High defensive back <a href="https://www.on3.com/db/jacob-oden-52126/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Jacob Oden</a>, On300 Nashville (Tenn.) Ensworth linebacker <a href="https://www.on3.com/db/mason-curtis-150936/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Mason Curtis</a>, On300 Bellevue (Wash.) High tight end <a href="https://www.on3.com/db/hogan-hansen-48169/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Hogan Hansen</a>, On300 Belleville (Mich.) High linebacker <a href="https://www.on3.com/db/jeremiah-beasley-60037/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Jeremiah Beasley</a>, On300 Brandywine (Md.) Gwynn Park EDGE <a href="https://www.on3.com/db/devon-baxter-152787/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Devon Baxter</a>, On300 Pittsburgh (Pa.) Central Catholic athlete <a href="https://www.on3.com/db/cole-sullivan-158357/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Cole Sullivan</a>, On300 Charlotte (N.C.) West linebacker <a href="https://www.on3.com/db/jaden-smith-157318/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Jaden Smith</a>, four-star Chicago (Ill.) Kenwood Academy wide receiver <a href="https://www.on3.com/db/imarion-stewart-151585/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">I’Marion Stewart</a>, four-star Cheshire (Conn.) Academy EDGE <a href="https://www.on3.com/db/jacob-smith-147692/">Jacob Smith</a>, four-star Cheshire (Conn.) Academy defensive lineman <a href="https://www.on3.com/db/jerod-smith-147693/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Jerod Smith</a>, four-star Avon (Ohio) High interior offensive lineman <a href="https://www.on3.com/db/luke-hamilton-150189/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Luke Hamilton</a>, three-star Ijamsville (Md.) Oakdale EDGE <a href="https://www.on3.com/db/dominic-nichols-150071/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Dominic Nichols</a>, three-star Charlotte (N.C.) Providence Day wide receiver <a href="https://www.on3.com/db/channing-goodwin-19971/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Channing Goodwin</a>, three-star Lakewood (Ohio) St. Edward offensive tackle <a href="https://www.on3.com/db/ben-roebuck-147635/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Ben Roebuck</a>, three-star Cincinnati (Ohio) St. Xavier defensive lineman <a href="https://www.on3.com/db/ted-hammond-153160/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Ted Hammond</a>, three-star Las Vegas (Nev.) Bishop Gorman running back <a href="https://www.on3.com/db/micah-kaapana-158410/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Micah Ka’apana</a>, three-star Ponte Vedra (Fla.) Beach interior offensive lineman <a href="https://www.on3.com/db/jake-guarnera-53506/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Jake Guarnera</a>, three-star Wallingford (Conn.) Choate Rosemary Hall defensive lineman <a href="https://www.on3.com/db/manuel-beigel-156252/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Manuel Beigel</a>, three-star Princeton (N.J.) Hum School defensive lineman <a href="https://www.on3.com/db/owen-wafle-151574/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Owen Wafle</a>, and three-star South Park (Pa.) High linebacker <a href="https://www.on3.com/db/zach-ludwig-177484/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Zach Ludwig</a>.



The Wolverines are currently ranked No. 5 overall in the <a href="https://www.on3.com/db/rankings/industry-team/football/2024/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">2024 On3 Industry National Team Recruiting Rankings</a> and No. 2 in the Big Ten Conference behind only Ohio State.

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