Name: Smith Snowden
Height: 5’10″
Weight: 188 lbs.
High school: Lehi (UT) Skyridge
Position: Cornerback
Class: Senior
Jersey number: #3
Last year: Snowden played at Utah. He started thirteen games on defense (and started two of those games on offense as well) with 37 tackles, 2 tackles for loss, 2 interceptions, 10 pass breakups, 13 catches for 57 yards, and 8 carries for 40 yards and 1 touchdown.
Michigan lost a lot from the defensive backfield in the transition from Sherrone Moore to Kyle Whittingham. T.J. and Tevis Metcalf decided to get out of town, and so did Brandyn Hillman (Virginia) and Jayden Sanders (now at Notre Dame). So the Wolverines needed to refill the talent pool, and one of the players they decided to bring in was Smith Snowden, a rarity in college football who is capable of playing both ways. Offensive coordinator Jason Beck used him on different kinds of jet sweeps and bubbles, and he was a mainstay at cornerback on defense.
I know some people are excited about Snowden’s potential, but I have some reservations about his ability to compete against the better teams in the Big Ten. There still seems to be some question about whether he will start in the slot or outside, but he’s seen as a starter, regardless. After spending some time over the past few months watching him play, I think his tackling and ability to take on blocks could give him a lower ceiling than some think. This is not to say that I think he will be a hole in the defense, but I’m pumping the brakes a little bit on some of the hype I have seen.
Defensive coordinator Jay Hill has talked about three guys having the potential to play in the slot (Snowden, Jyaire Hill, Zeke Berry), and it sounds like Shamari Earls has been playing well on the outside as the #3 corner. I think it will be important for the cornerbacks to stay healthy, because Michigan has a solid top four and then complete unknowns. We will see a lot of Snowden this fall, perhaps even at punt returner or kickoff returner. And I will be interested to see if Michigan tries to use him on bubble screens and jets like he was used in Salt Lake City, but I’m guessing his offensive usage will be minimal because Michigan has more talent at receiver than Utah had in 2025.
Prediction: Starting cornerback; 35 tackles, 2 interceptions
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