CB Smith Snowden Makes Painful Michigan Admission After Facing Bitter Reality
When Kyle Whittingham took the head coaching seat at the University of Michigan, four players followed him from the University of Utah to Ann Arbor. Out of the four, one player made a painful admission about how travelling 1,661 miles was never part of his plan.
On January 13, former Utah cornerback Smith Snowden committed to Michigan. Months later, he appeared on the In the Trenches podcast with Jon Jansen when Snowden opened up about what went wrong for him in Utah, after playing for three seasons.
“So I’m from Utah, went to Utah for three years, and my plan was always to be a three-year, three-and-out type of guy, to play three years and you know go to the next level,” Snowden admitted.
But Snowden got hit with a bitter reality and had to accept his fate.
"But my grade wasn't where I wanted to be, and I knew I left a lot of unfinished plays," admitted Snowden. "I want to make and create more plays and just continue to grow in my craft, and this opportunity came up, I hit the transfer portal."
Snowden's 2024 season came with 48 total tackles, while the number dropped to 37 in 2025. In his three years at Utah, the cornerback racked up 92 tackles (59 solo). At the same time, he defended 17 passes and had four interceptions to his name.
Hailing from Lehi, Utah, he made his mark as a two-way standout at Skyridge High School. Winning the 2022 Deseret News Mr. Football, Snowden aimed for the next step in his development.
The highly sought-after cornerback had offers from the Oregon Ducks and the Notre Dame Fighting Irish. Yet he made his way to Ann Arbor to reunite with Coach Whittingham.
Smith Snowden's commitment to Kyle Whittingham played a big role
He underwent a minor procedure to address a sports hernia. Now, Snowden is focused on returning at full strength and making his presence felt on defense. But beyond personal goals, he’s all in on the team’s bold vision to lead the league in everything this season.
For Snowden, Michigan is the best fit.
“I committed to Coach Whittingham from the University of Utah. I’ve seen what he’s put in the NFL and seen what he continues to do,” Snowden said. “I know that he has a winning culture, and I think sky’s really the limit for coach Whitt at Michigan. I think he has the opportunity to get the best guys in the country, and he’s going to really make things shake.”
Snowden may be the new face in Ann Arbor, but he brings relevant experience. He is expected to slide right into a starting role alongside Jyaire Hill and Zeke Berry.
Will Michigan provide better opportunities for Snowden to grow and chase success than Utah? Share your thoughts in the comments.
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