Carter Smith Has Committed To Michigan
Michigan got a commitment today from 2025 4* QB Carter Smith:
Grateful to have this opportunity! @Hayesfawcett3 @CoachKCampbell @CoachRodeBV @Coach_SMoore @CoachVillegasBV @CoachJim4UM pic.twitter.com/VhdtBglMoM
— Carter Smith (@_CarterSmith9) November 14, 2023
The main reaction to this news has been "WHAT ABOUT BRYCE UNDERWOOD?" so let's address that quickly: all the insiders are united that Michigan's pursuit of Underwood will go on but Kirk Campbell has made it clear that he is not going the all-eggs-in-one-basket route for 2025 QBs by taking Smith's commitment. Michigan famously tried that strategy with 2023 5* in-stater Dante Moore, which backfired spectacularly when Moore spurned Michigan for Oregon (later flipping to UCLA) and left the Wolverines empty-handed. They took Kendrick Bell, Ronnie's Who Dat 3* brother, as their "quarterback" but the chance Bell plays a snap for Michigan at QB is low. For all intents and purposes, Michigan did not take a QB in 2023 and the result of that decision is why the team could have to decide between a true freshman and a transfer at QB next season.
Campbell decided to learn from Matt Weiss' errors in the 2023 cycle and found a match in Smith, a recruitment that escalated quickly due to significant interest from both parties. Michigan will continue to recruit Underwood, but cannot take any chances with a recruit as high profile as him. If you have another guy you like who wants to be in your program, you should take him when you have the chance. If Underwood wants to join the class and you end up with a 2021 OSU style class with two QBs (the Bucks got Quinn Ewers and Kyle McCord), the more the merrier. If he doesn't, you're still in a good spot.
And a good spot they are. Smith should not be overlooked. If Underwood were a native Texan, everyone would be excited about Carter Smith, a 6'3" signal-caller from Bishop Verot HS in Fort Myers, FL. He is On3 and ESPN's #8 ranked QB nationally, ranked near the top 100 in the former. 247 and Rivals are a bit lower at this point in time but obviously there is a LONG way to go. The On3 consensus ranks him 223rd overall nationally and the 247 Composite has him 213th. With offers from such schools as Texas A&M, PSU, Ole Miss, FSU, Florida, and Miami, no one can claim Smith is an outright bargain bin QB. A full Hello will follow at some point, but Smith appears to be a bit of an opposite of Jadyn Davis, less developed/poised as a passer and more raw overall, but taller, more athletic, and with higher upside (Smith is more JJ, so to speak). If they were to be the 2024 and 2025 QBs Michigan takes, they could be effective contrasts with each other.
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November 14th, 2023 at 2:22 PM ^
Michigan has long been focused on being a balanced offense, via run first, since the late Bo years (e.g. Wangler to Carter, but as a play action pass!). They just aren't necessarily balanced within every game, depending on what the defense is giving them and who has the hot hand that day, but across the season they TRY to be. Some years the talent they have shapes that year, though, like 2021 (Hassan, Blake, and that guy who ghosted JJ at QB).
November 14th, 2023 at 2:28 PM ^
It's possible. My sense has been that, given their druthers, they'd rather run the ball through you than throw it over you, full stop. "Balanced" sounds good, but we didn't just run against Penn State because it was all they were giving us. We ran against them because, to win, it's all we needed to do.
I don't think there's a commitment to a 50/50 split in run/pass. I think they'd rather run.
But that's just my opinion. Doesn't matter anyway. Just win, baby.
November 14th, 2023 at 2:30 PM ^
Welcome aboard, Carter!! Happy to have you!
November 14th, 2023 at 2:35 PM ^
This dude looks like an absolute legend from the 70's.
November 14th, 2023 at 2:44 PM ^
Long hair (and even mullets) is coming around in the pre teen and teenage set of boys.
November 14th, 2023 at 4:22 PM ^
Oh I'm aware, I've got a couple of son's with the same do. I meant it as a compliment to the kid. If Frank Frazetta ever painted a QB, it might have been this kid
November 14th, 2023 at 6:17 PM ^
It's like my favorite thing at wrestling tournaments to see the kids with the really good mullets. Usually a kid confident enough to rock that haircut is also usually confident enough to be a really good wrestler. I still await a true mullet on mullet violence match, but alas have had to settle for watching two be-mulleted wrestlers wrestle at the same time and hope they get simultaneous pins to achieve the rarely seen "mullet singularity".
November 14th, 2023 at 5:31 PM ^
Rick Leach personified! Even the baseball component.
November 14th, 2023 at 3:14 PM ^
Good recruiting strategy and I am really excited about him.
Welcome aboard!
November 14th, 2023 at 3:42 PM ^
Per MaxPreps, Carter Smith’s career HS stats include:
6,969 Pass Yards
69 Pass TDs
Very nice!
November 14th, 2023 at 3:47 PM ^
Welcome, Go Blue!
Hey, can someone please ask JJ to stop slapping his teammates on the helmet with his right hand?
November 14th, 2023 at 4:10 PM ^
Welcome Carter! It's going to be a competitive QB room if we can keep 2 of Orji/Denegal/Warren - in addition to Jadyn. Go Blue
November 14th, 2023 at 5:33 PM ^
JJ should come back, given the incredible QB class going into this draft. He could elevate himself into the top 5 next year ( #1 QB).
November 15th, 2023 at 12:43 AM ^
That's another potential obstacle for a 5-star. I think smart money says JJ returns unless we win it all this year. He would be the Heisman favorite. And he could use a bit more seasoning.
November 15th, 2023 at 12:07 PM ^
He's already spicy.
November 14th, 2023 at 4:34 PM ^
Strong addition to the class. Excellent athlete, looks very competitive (throwing blocks on pitch sweeps), threat once outside the pocket, and throws a variety of passes. Davis warren comp.
Numerous comments about concerns with his arm strength - I don’t agree. He throws some short/intermediate balls with velocity. His deep ball relies on hip turn to generate power, which is a classic sign of a younger QB who needs to build shoulder and rotator strength. Great example is a throw at 2:05 when he rolls left and needs to stop, plant and use his lower half to throw deep. Maturity/strength will enable him to turn while running and throw with more rotator tension. That is also typical baseball tendency rather than QB skill. Herbert and Campbell have a really good starting point with Smith.
November 14th, 2023 at 4:58 PM ^
Man, this is about as bad a piece of news as I can imagine. :( I really thought we had recruiting figured out in March, and had gotten to be in an operational spot in the NIL era. Since then.. very little has gone right. Underwood was my last hope that we could compete for big time guys on a national stage. It's hard to swallow that you can potentially win 3 big 10 championships in a row, go to 3 playoffs in a row, and just not be in it. It seemed we were in close with Underwood, but apparently not.
Rob
November 14th, 2023 at 5:18 PM ^
The 2024 class is basically done.
It's relatively early on 2025.
You don't have to sign your comments, we can see your username.
November 14th, 2023 at 7:56 PM ^
Now that was unnecessarily combative!
November 15th, 2023 at 4:31 PM ^
Thank you for your advice.
Rob
November 14th, 2023 at 5:05 PM ^
HOW IS DANTE MOORE DOING?
November 14th, 2023 at 6:18 PM ^
Benched and injured at a program about to fire the head coach.
Gonna go with "Not great, Bob"
November 15th, 2023 at 12:11 PM ^
He has thrown a pick 6 in every game he saw action.
November 14th, 2023 at 5:07 PM ^
Day has come we are disappointed with 4 star QBs cumong man
November 14th, 2023 at 5:08 PM ^
My (obvious) take: More than any other school (not named Georgia or Alabama), Michigan can go far with a very good but not great QB. Guaranteeing a 'floor' for the QB position every year leads to conference championships (while Penn State, unless their OL improves, essentially needs a JJ to contend in the BIG).
November 14th, 2023 at 5:20 PM ^
Alan Bowman beat Oklahoma.
That's my take for any and all contending QB's considering Michigan.
November 14th, 2023 at 6:39 PM ^
Welcome young man!
November 14th, 2023 at 7:12 PM ^
Welcome Home, young man! Yes, it will be home for some time. Best wishes for great success in football and academics! Go Blue!
November 14th, 2023 at 7:50 PM ^
Welcome to the Blue, Carter!
The kid looks legit; I know we are only looking at his highlights, but the kid has wheels, a quick release, a good eye for the field. My inner Fred Jackson says Dan Marino with wheels.
November 14th, 2023 at 8:14 PM ^
Underwood’s not coming here LSU is my guess with nana the back up bag. This take all but seals that premise. Would’ve be nice to get number one QB commited but it is what it is.
November 15th, 2023 at 12:12 PM ^
Underwood will be well paid ($millions +) if he comes here. Keegan is making @ $500k this year.
November 14th, 2023 at 10:52 PM ^
I'd love to land Underwood, but Michigan is smart to cover its bases with another great QB. No doubt the staff told him that they would continue to pursue Underwood.
Nice to not worry about QB in 2025 as Smith looks to be a kid that can play.
November 15th, 2023 at 7:53 AM ^
I do not want to use money from our NIL consortium to pay for unproven talent. That is a recipe for a toxic locker room and the team will eat itself from the inside out if we have that. I don’t blame any kid for taking the money (I would do the same) but if this is a situation where other schools are offering him a lot more money than we are, then he can leave and I am 100% fine with that. Just find a smart, accurate QB who has plus mobility. That has proven time and time again to be the recipe for success. I’d pay a transfer every year before I would pay a high school kid. At least the rest of the team can look at that person and see that they have earned whatever it is we are paying them. Although not identical there is some precedent for what is happening with NIL that I think we can learn from. In college hoops the one and done heavy teams have really struggled to win championships. There have been some good ones, and they are talented, but is is very clear that they do not have the experience or commitment level (because you cannot deny that they are essentially looking forward to the NBA from the day they step on campus.)
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