Four-star quarterback Carter Smith is leaving Michigan football

Four-star Michigan quarterback Carter Smith, ESPN's third-ranked dual-threat passer in the Class of 2025, withdrew his pledge from the Wolverines on Wednesday night, marking the first step in what could be a massive in-season quarterback shakeup Late phases of the 2025 cycle.

Smith's resignation comes as Michigan has increased its efforts in recent weeks to entice LSU quarterback commit and top prospect Bryce Underwood to join the Wolverines late in the cycle.

Underwood, the 6-foot-1, 220-pound passer from Belleville, Michigan, is ESPN's No. 1 overall recruit in the 2025 cycle and has been committed to LSU since Jan. 6, 2024. With Smith's retirement, all eyes are now on him over Underwood – who plays his high school football 18 miles from Michigan Stadium – just over a month before the first signing period begins.

Smith, a 6-foot-1, 185-pound passer from Fort Myers, Florida, announced his decision on social media, writing in a statement: “I want to start by thanking the Michigan coaching staff for everything they have done. ” Me.

“I especially want to thank Coach Campbell for everything and for giving me such an incredible opportunity. With that in mind, I would like to announce that I have withdrawn from the University of Michigan.”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-ranked member of the Wolverines' incoming class before retiring. With the resumption of its recruiting, Michigan now has commitments from just seven ESPN 300 prospects in 2025.

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

Carter's retirement now leaves a hole at quarterback in Sherrone Moore's initial recruiting class and opens the door for the Wolverines to sign Underwood.

Underwood led Belleville High School to its third straight state title last fall as a junior and began the 2024 season as ESPN's No. 1 overall pick in the Class of 2025. He committed to LSU in January, deciding after a junior season in which He threw for 3,165 yards with 40 touchdowns and two interceptions for the Tigers ahead of Michigan and Alabama.

“They offered me as a sophomore, have been recruiting me ever since and the program history,” 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 ten months since his commitment. 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 opting out of the Wolverines' 2025 class, excitement over Underwood's potential move will only intensify in the final weeks before the early signing period begins on Dec. 4.

Michigan was ranked No. 14 in ESPN's latest team rankings for the 2025 cycle before Smith's retirement and could move up significantly in recent weeks. In addition to the Wolverines' pursuit of Underwood, Michigan remains in contention with four-star safety Jordan Young (No. 106 in the ESPN 300) and hosted cornerback Shamari Earls (No. 71) from Georgia last weekend.

The Wolverines host No. 1 Oregon on Saturday at 3:30 p.m