ANN ARBOR, Mich. — Smith Snowden had all of the options on the table. He could have remained at Utah, where he was familiar. He could have transferred to a top-flight program like Oregon or Notre Dame, both of which hosted him on visits. But he decided to follow his head coach, Kyle Whittingham, to another top-flight program and join the Wolverines.
And now that he’s getting acclimated to his surroundings, he’s enjoying every moment of it.
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Snowden feels like he’s been embraced by and is embracing his new teammates. While the previous coaching staff for Michigan football (more so the head coach than anything) has been the subject of derision, Snowden appreciates what he was building. And in the cornerbacks’ room, he feels like there’s the right balance of personalities — which has helped him get comfortable, as well as thrive.
“Yeah, I think I get along with everyone really well,” Snowden said. “I actually just did an interview. I was telling them that this year, the coaching staff and the previous coaching staff did a really good job of just recruiting the right guys and who are team guys and locker room guys who aren’t going to cause straight chaos 24-7. So, yeah, every single corner in the room I bonded with, and those are my guys.”
The thriving aspect comes from the idea that good players help make other players better. Snowden is already a high-caliber player in his own right. But who among the corners has impressed him thus far now that he’s in Ann Arbor?
It starts with the starters, but other players, such as Shamari Earls, freshman Jamarion Vincent, and junior Jo’Ziah Edmond, have also made strong impressions on the veteran corner.
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“Well, you guys know the names, Sug and Zeke. Those two are straight ballers,” Snowden said. “I can’t wait to pick their brains and just continue to work my craft. And, you know, they are going to get better, too, because we’re just going to — iron sharpens iron. We’re going to get each other better.
“And Sug and Zeke, they’re gifted. They’re two-year, three-year starters. They’ve been in the system. They know how it’s ran. And I’m just excited to be around guys like that. Shamari Earls is a big-time player. We have Jam Vincent. He’s a freshman who looks really good right now. JoJo’s a baller. There’s a lot of guys in the room that can make noise, and I’m excited about it.”
Fans will get an opportunity to see all of the above in action on April 18, when Michigan football hosts the annual spring game at The Big House.
This article originally appeared on Wolverines Wire: Smith Snowden: Michigan football ‘baller’ cornerbacks impressing
