Smith twins decommit from Michigan, pick UK

• Blake Baumgartner, ESPN Staff WriterSep 16, 2023, 12:15 AM ET

Mark Stoops and Kentucky football scored two big recruiting victories Friday night, as twin brothers Jacob Smith and Jerod Smith Jr. chose to switch their dedications from Michigan.The additions

of Jacob (No. 97 general in the 2024 ESPN 300) and Jerod (No. 153 overall in 2024), a pair of four-star defensive linemen, offer the Wildcats’ class an instant boost.Born in Lexington and starting their prep careers at Somerset High School(Kentucky), the twin siblings played their sophomore and junior seasons for Loomis Chaffee School (Connecticut)prior to moving to another school in Connecticut( Cheshire Academy )in January.But the chance to come back home and play their senior

year in Kentucky for Corbin High School and eventually for the Wildcats proved too much to skip.” [Associate head] Coach [

Vince] Marrow simply began to talk with the boys and essentially offered them on being the hometown hero,” the boys ‘dad, Jerod Smith Sr., told ESPN.”They’re the very best kids in the state, and that would enable them to have more success now and after college football for that reason.Editor’s Picks 2 Related “The young boys really purchased into that, and not

only did they purchase

into that,

they like to be back house. This state implies a lot to them. “Currently unranked in ESPN’s most current team rankings, Kentucky lands 2 more ESPN 300 promises

in the Smith siblings, who sign up with cornerback Terhyon Nichols (No. 297 total in 2024). Kentucky’s success on the path has actually appeared in current cycles: 34th total in 2023, 15th in 2022, 39th in 2021 and 22nd in 2020. Jerod was the first to reveal for Jim Harbaugh and the Wolverines in April, and Jacob followed

fit in mid-July.”They just have a huge support system here, “Smith Sr. stated of the Wildcats.

“Kentucky was able to utilize that to get the young boys to come. Because up until last week, Jerod was still using his Michigan gloves and his Michigan cleats.” Now looking ahead to life in Lexington, both will contribute to a Wildcats defense that finished third in total defense(320.2 YPG )and scoring defense (19.1 PPG)in the SEC last season. Off to a 2-0 start this season, the Wildcats host Akron on Saturday before starting SEC play at Vanderbilt next week.Michigan’s class, which is ranked 10th, now has 10 ESPN 300 prospects.