Four-star LB CJ Smith interested in Michigan after early offer

Four-star 2025 linebacker CJ Smith already holds more than 20 offers.

The Baltimore (Md.) St. Frances product is taking it all in early on and is in no rush to make any decisions.

“I’ve picked up a couple of offers from schools like Colorado and Miami,” Smith said. “I feel like I balled out in the spring. Alabama is another school that offered me, so I might be going there for a visit. It feels great to get all the offers.”

Michigan actually jumped in the mix for Smith more than a year ago when the Wolverines offered multiple recruits in the Virginia Beach-area — Smith grew up in Norfolk but elected to play at St. Frances.

Since then, Smith has been getting to know new linebackers coach Chris Partridge, who offered him during his stint at Ole Miss, and is looking forward to making his first-ever trip to Ann Arbor in the near future.

“I’m hoping to see them soon,” Smith said. “I want to see the campus and meet with the coaches. I know a couple of players from St. Frances go there like Blake Corum and Derrick Moore. I’d love to check it out.”

Corum, of course, is Michigan’s star running back and one of the best players in all of college football. Corum’s success at U-M has definitely opened the eyes of St. Frances recruits, including Smith.

“It’s huge to see what Blake is doing,” Smith said. “Everybody in our program looked up to him, including me. He set an example of what to do and how to make it at the next level.”

Along with Michigan, Smith holds offers from Alabama, Florida, Miami, Notre Dame, Ole Miss, Penn State, Tennessee and others.

So where do the Wolverines stand early on?

“Michigan is playing a huge part in my recruitment,” Smith said. “They are a great program. I really like the culture they’ve built and the integrity that they’ve shown recruiting at my high school.”

At 6-foot-1, 210 pounds, Smith is ranked as the No. 24 linebacker and No. 247 overall prospect nationally, per the On3 Industry Ranking. He is also ranked as the No. 7 overall recruit in the state of Maryland for next cycle.

Michigan has two commits in its 2025 recruiting class in Top 100 Miami (Fla.) Chaminade-Madonna defensive back Chris Ewald and rising Buford (Ga.) High linebacker Mantrez Walker. The class is tied for third nationally.

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