Smith, No. 3 dual-threat ’25 QB, to join Badgers

• Eli Lederman, ESPN Personnel WriterNov 24, 2024, 01:42 PM ET Close Eli Lederman covers college football and recruiting for ESPN.com. He joined ESPN in 2024 after covering the University of Oklahoma for Sellout Crowd and the Tulsa World.Wisconsin protected a commitment from the nation’s top uncommitted quarterback possibility Sunday afternoon with a pledge from four-star passer Carter Smith, No. 155 in the ESPN 300. Smith, ESPN’s No. 3 dual-threat quarterback in the Class of 2025, committed to the Badgers 8 days after taking an official visit to Wisconsin during the program’s 16-13 loss to No. 1 Oregon on Nov. 16. With his pledge, Smith becomes the greatest rated member of the Badgers ‘2025 class.The passer from Fort Myers, Florida, likewise held late-cycle interest from Florida State before the Seminoles flipped previous Oklahoma quarterback devote Kevin Sperry previously this week.Initially dedicated to Michigan in November 2023, Smith spent almost a year in the program’s 2025 class before pulling his pledge late last month amid the Wolverines’ pursuit of top total prospect Bryce Underwood, who flipped his commitment from LSU to Michigan on Thursday.Editor’s Picks

“He felt extremely dissatisfied in how they managed whatever,” Smith’s dad informed ESPN earlier this month.Upon resuming his recruitment Oct. 30, Smith received interest from nearly two lots programs, consisting of Penn State, Clemson, Illinois, Cal and Virginia Tech. Smith invested the weekend at Wisconsin in Week 12, determining a lot of the same blue-collar qualities that previously drew him to Michigan in Luke Fickell’s Badgers program.A three-year starter at Florida’s Bishop Verot High School, Smith was called the state’s Gatorade Gamer of the Year following his junior season last fall when he tossed for 2,223 backyards and 29 touchdowns with 4 interceptions, including another 19 scores on the ground.Smith is now the 25th pledge in Wisconsin’s incoming recruiting class, which ranks No. 31 in ESPN’s latest team class rankings for the 2025 cycle. He joins fellow ESPN 300 possibility Mason Posa, a four-star inside linebacker from Albuquerque, New Mexico, amongst the top-300 prospects set to sign with the Badgers when the early finalizing duration opens Dec. 4. Wisconsin fell to 5-6 on Saturday with a 44-25 loss to Nebraska and will host rival Minnesota next weekend with bowl eligibility on the line.