Four-star QB Carter Smith has withdrawn from Michigan football

Four-star Michigan quarterback Carter Smith, ESPN’s No. 3 player in the 2025 class, committed to withdrawing his pledge from the Wolverines on Wednesday night, marking what could be the first step in a potential major change at quarterback in the late stages of the 2025 cycle.

Smith’s decommitment comes as Michigan has ramped up its efforts in recent weeks to lure LSU quarterback pledge and top prospect Bryce Underwood to a late-round rotation move to the Wolverines.

Underwood, a 6-foot-4, 210-pound passer from Belleville, Michigan, is ESPN’s No. 1 recruit in the 2025 cycle and has been committed to LSU since Jan. 6, 2024. After Smith decommitted, all eyes are now on Underwood — who plays football In high school 18 miles from Michigan Stadium — a little more than a month into the early signing period.

Smith, a 6-foot-3, 185-pound native of Fort Myers, Fla., announced his decision on social media, writing in a statement: “I would like to start by thanking the Michigan coaching staff for everything they have done for me.

“I would especially like to thank Coach (Kirk) Campbell for everything and for giving me this amazing opportunity. However, I would like to announce that I have resigned from the University of Michigan.”

@CoachRodeBV pic.twitter.com/3pgphuv9P0

– Carter Smith (@_CarterSmith9) October 31, 2024

Smith is ESPN’s No. 155 prospect in 2025 and was the sixth member of the Wolverines’ incoming class before decommitting. With recruiting reopened, Michigan now has commitments from just seven of ESPN’s top 300 2025 prospects.

Smith threw for 2,223 yards and 29 touchdowns with four interceptions during his junior season at Florida’s Bishop Verot High School en route to being named state player of the year. He committed to coach Jim Harbaugh’s Wolverines in November, choosing Michigan over Florida, Penn State, Miami and Cincinnati.

Carter’s decommitment leaves a hole at quarterback in Sherwin Moore’s inaugural recruiting class and opens the door for the Wolverines to land Underwood.

Underwood led Belleville High School to its third straight state title game as a junior last fall and began the 2024 season as ESPN’s No. 1 prospect in the class of 2025. He committed to LSU in January, choosing the Tigers over Michigan and Alabama after a junior season he threw He has 3,165 passing yards with 40 touchdowns and two interceptions.

“They offered me as a sophomore and have been recruiting me ever since and the history of the program,” Underwood said at the time. “They have a great program history, and a great quarterback history, as well.”

Underwood has remained the crown jewel of LSU’s 2025 class in the 10 months since his pledge. However, Michigan maintained contact with the state’s 2023 Gatorade Player of the Year before ramping up its pursuit of Underwood in recent weeks. And with Smith out of the Wolverines’ 2025 class, the hype around Underwood’s potential face will only intensify in the final weeks before the early signing period opens on Dec. 4.

Michigan sat at No. 14 in ESPN’s latest team rankings for the 2025 cycle before Smith decommitted, and could rise significantly in recent weeks. On top of the Wolverines’ pursuit of Underwood, Michigan remains in the mix for four-star safety Jordan Young (No. 106 in the ESPN 300) and Georgia hosted cornerback Shamari Earls (No. 71) last weekend.

The Wolverines host No. 1 Oregon on Saturday at 3:30 PM ET.