The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1499505
54 THE WOLVERINE ❱ JUNE/JULY 2023 ❱ COMMIT PROFILE BY EJ HOLLAND J erod Smith surprised many in the recruiting world when he began to trend towards Michigan last month. After all, the four-star de- fensive lineman from Cheshire (Conn.) Academy was consid- ered a Notre Dame lean for sev- eral months. However, Michigan made a big push for Smith, who eventually picked U-M over the rival Irish. "I decided to commit to Michi- gan because I felt like it was the best fit for me — academically, professionally and for football," Smith said. "They are ranked No. 1 for public schools. My family strives for great academics. They also have the No. 1 business school, so that played a huge part as well." Even his own mother was caught off guard by the decision. "It was a surprise," said Susan Smith. "We had visited a lot of schools in the SEC like Alabama. We had also been to Notre Dame a few times. "Michigan came in late in the game. He made a visit, and whatever Coach [Mike] Elston did really impressed Jerod. He said, 'This is where I want to be.' My reaction was 'Wow.' But it was great to see him make the decision." As Susan mentioned, Jerod made an unofficial visit to Michigan this spring, getting his first in-depth look at the U-M program. "I liked everything about the visit," Jerod said. "They have beautiful facilities and great people. They also have a great city and a great coaching staff. After I made the visit there, I just felt like it was the best fit for me." Relationships also played a big role in Jerod's decision. Elston, Michigan's defensive line coach and recruiting coordinator, led the way in his recruitment and made him feel like a top priority. The second-year U-M assistant has strong ties to Connecticut's pre- mier boarding schools, and he did a tremendous job of bond- ing with Smith and those around him. "The relationship with Coach Elston played a huge role in my decision," Smith said. "He reached out to me and my family all the time. The relationship we built since December grew even stronger during the recruiting process. I also love the way we talk ball." Elston envisions Smith, who is the No. 29 defensive lineman and No. 318 overall prospect nation- ally, per the On3 Industry Rank- ing, in the same role as Michigan defensive lineman Kris Jenkins, a player with a similar frame com- ing out of high school. "They said I'm playing the de- fensive end to the field," Smith said. "From a development standpoint, to make it to the league, being able to play that type of role is huge for me. I love the scheme." Overall, Michigan simply offered the best of both worlds. "It has a huge tradition," Susan said. "Even when I was growing up, Michigan was a big name for football. It's always been impressive. It's right up there with Alabama, Georgia and Ohio State. It's an impressive program. "I looked at their education, and it's top-notch. I'm more on the education side, and I was impressed with what they have to offer." Susan could soon see both of her sons in the Maize and Blue. Jerod is the twin brother of four-star edge rusher Jacob Smith, who is set to make an official visit to Michigan on June 2. With his own decision out of the way, Jerod is now focused on getting Jacob to Ann Arbor with him. "I tell him all the good about the school," Smith said. "I don't try to pres- sure him. I just tell him about the good and what Michigan can do for both of us. "We complement each other well on the field. One of us is always making a play. It would be amazing to have him play with me at Michigan." ❏ Connecticut Defensive Lineman Jerod Smith Is Coming To Ann Arbor Smith, who is listed as the No. 29 defensive lineman and No. 318 overall prospect nationally, per the On3 Industry Ranking, commit- ted to the Wolverines on April 25 over Notre Dame and Alabama, among others. PHOTO COURTESY JEROD SMITH PLAYER EVALUATION STRENGTHS: Smith plays with elite technique and has an extremely high floor. An intelligent kid in the classroom, he also displays a high football IQ and is one of the safer defensive line takes in the country. While not an overly impressive physical specimen, Smith has plenty of room to add weight to his 6-foot-3, 255-pound frame. He has had an impressive offseason so far, earning an invitation to the Under Armour All-American game. AREAS OF IMPROVEMENT: Smith is limited athletically and doesn't have ideal height or length. Because of this, he doesn't have much of ceiling. Right now, Smith is a bit of tweener and will need to get bigger and stronger in the Michigan strength and conditioning program. He can also improve his flexibility and play with a lower pad level. PLAYER COMPARISON: Michigan views Smith in the same mold as senior defensive lineman Kris Jenkins, who has blossomed due to his work in the strength and conditioning program. Smith will need to experience a similar weight gain as Jenkins to have a large impact at U-M. Like Smith, Jenkins was ranked outside the top 300 but was considered a technical defensive lineman with a great baseline. — EJ Holland