A storm’s brewing in the world of college football, and it’s got three major programs sweating bullets. You ever seen a five-star quarterback have the entire recruiting landscape holding its breath? That’s exactly what’s happening with Brady Smigiel right now. The 6-foot-5, 205-pound gunslinger from California is moving the chess pieces in his recruitment game, and let’s just say—some powerhouse programs are feeling the pressure.

Just when folks thought they had a read on where Smigiel was low-key headed, he flipped the script. Recruiting analyst Adam Gorney set the X on fire on February 28, revealing Smigiel’s next possible visits. Michigan, Washington, South Carolina, and UCLA are on high alert. The nation’s No. 5 quarterback and No. 61 overall player, per 247Sports, is making calculated moves, and the stakes couldn’t be higher. Smigiel is fresh off a dominant high school career at Newbury Park, where he torched defenses for 11,015 passing yards and a ridiculous 144 touchdown passes. The kid’s got a cannon for an arm, ice in his veins, and the type of swagger that turns coaches into full-time recruiters. And now? He’s keeping the whole country guessing.

Brady Smigiel’s upcoming visits aren’t just casual strolls through campus—these are serious scouting missions. Washington will roll out the red carpet for an official visit on June 20, while South Carolina, Michigan, and UCLA are also getting some unofficial visits in the coming days. That Washington visit? Yeah, it’s not just a formality. The Huskies’ literally locked in, trying to secure the future face of their program.

“Relationships are probably my number one,” Smigiel told VC Star. “You want the offense to fit, you want to love the city and the university, but I would say the biggest thing is going somewhere where I’m going to grow as a human being.” That’s big talk from a teenager with offers from just about every school that matters. Then there’s UCLA.

Initially, the Bruins weren’t seen as serious contenders. But after his high school teammate Shane Rosenthal committed, things got real. Plus, Smigiel sat down with new offensive coordinator Tino Sunseri and liked what he saw. “I was able to see how sharp he is,” Smigiel said. “I think that offense and that team is going in the positive direction.” UCLA just went from an afterthought to a serious dark horse.

But let’s not forget about Michigan and South Carolina; they are still in the picture—two programs with rich traditions and quarterbacks who have gone on to the league. Smigiel’s recruitment is wide open, and these visits could shake things up even more.

Brady Smigiel’s Florida State saga

Now, here’s where it gets even juicier. Smigiel wasn’t always a free agent in the recruiting world. In June 2024, he committed to Florida State, but by January, he was out. What happened?

Well, things got messy in Tallahassee. “Some things changed and obviously they didn’t have the season we expected,” Smigiel told On3’s Josh Newberg. “Some changes happened in the offseason with their staff, firing [offensive coordinator Alex Atkins] and I thought it was best for me to open my recruitment back up.” Translation: Florida State fumbled the bag. The offense wasn’t clicking, the coaching staff went through shake-ups, and Smigiel wasn’t about to gamble his future on uncertainty. But “the hardest part is he [Brady] really like Coach Norvell and Coach Tony [Tokarz],” the QB’s father, Joe Smigiel, noted.

Look, it’s not every day a five-star QB decommits, but when he does, the recruiting world loses its mind like it happened with Bryce Underwood. With Ohio State no longer in the picture after Chip Kelly bolted for the Raiders, Washington seems to have the inside track. But don’t sleep on Michigan or UCLA, both of which have strong cases to land him. South Carolina is also lurking, hoping to pull off a recruiting heist.

One thing’s for sure—Smigiel is playing his cards close to the chest. The guy is looking for the perfect fit, a program that’ll help him grow as a player and a person. And until he makes that final call, expect plenty more twists and turns in this wild recruitment saga. Smigiel’s got options. The question is—who’s going to be the lucky school to land him?