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Jaden Smith, elite linebacker out of North Carolina, announces B1G commitment

Keith Farner

By Keith Farner

Published:

Jaden Smith, who is listed as a linebacker and an athlete in recruiting circles, has become the latest Charlotte, North Carolina-area recruit to choose Michigan.

Smith on Instagram announced a commitment to play for the Wolverines. The West Charlotte High School player is the 3rd Mecklenburg County standout to choose the Wolverines in recent weeks. He joins Providence Day quarterback Jadyn Davis and Providence Day wide receiver Channing Goodwin to get ready to play in Ann Arbor. Smith is listed at 6-foot-3 and 200 pounds and had offers from Charlotte, Georgia Tech, Kentucky, Miami and Southern California among 22 reported offers.

Smith was recruited to Michigan by Jay Harbaugh and Chris Partridge.

West Charlotte coach Sam Greiner told the Charlotte Observer that Smith ran a 4.48-second 40-yard dash, hand timed, during the program’s spring workouts.

“He’s a wheel linebacker at the next level,” Greiner said. “Out of all the guys I’ve ever coached, his ability to ‘bend’ (around offensive lineman while rushing the quarterback) is the best I’ve ever seen. He can literally touch the ground when he makes moves. His shins can scrape the ground. It’s his ability to do that and not lose speed that everybody loves.”

Here are his highlights from Hudl:

Keith Farner

Keith Farner has written about college football for newspapers and web sites since 2005.