In May 2023, as the eighth grader Brady Smigiel attempted his very first pass at Moorpark College, he clarified “I’ve been a ball boy for seven, eight years, going to all these seven-on-seven tournaments and just been dreaming of this day.” That practice showed more of what the touted ‘game-changer’ could truly do. As the referee and his HC father, Joe, disputed over a call, he would huddle up his teammates to plan the next play. And just like that, the verdict was out– “He’s more mature than me,” Joe stated. Three years into his career at Newbury Park, he has proven his mettle. But it all started with his attitude.

The young QB was already in the headlines when he visited Kobe Bryant at his Mamba Sports Academy in 2020, stating how “I always looked up to him for being a hard worker and such a competitor.” And he didn’t stop there. He later also joined the Proactive Sports Performance in Westlake Village, California to hone his skills in football alongside the likes of Larry Fitzgerald, Micah Parsons, Justin Herbert, and dozens of other NFL stars. One that stood out to him, though, was Aaron Rodgers. And the two hit it off right from the start.

Last Summer, the two practiced together at the Academy when Rodgers was sidelined with a season-ending injury for the New York Jets. Of course, along with the training, the Super Bowl MVP has also been sharing key guidance that will help the Ann Arbor-bound. Interestingly, Rodgers was once rejected by Florida State and back in January, the Seminoles commit Smigiel backed out to instead play for Sherrone Moore. If these connections aren’t enough to show how serious the 4-star recruit is in his quest to be amongst the NFL superstars, he landed in California’s Academy once again to train with the now-Steelers signal caller.

Brady Smigiel is turning heads with his latest Instagram post, captioned, “Off-season 25.” He shared a carousel of pictures of him training with the Pittsburgh Steelers stars, including Aaron Rodgers and rookie RB Kaleb Johnson. There’s also a photo of him standing side by side with Cameron Rising, former Utah QB who now serves as the OC of his alma mater Newbury Park HS. If you were wondering whether Brady Smigiel is serious about taking the leap into college football’s elite, that’s your answer.

Brady Smigiel wasn’t always a Wolverine. He first committed to Florida State before flipping to Michigan in late April after a coaching shakeup in Tallahassee. He visited Ann Arbor during their spring game on April 19 and didn’t need much convincing after that. “We just thought it was time to make the decision, and when I went out to Michigan, I knew it was the spot for me,” he told On3.

“Being able to see the strength staff and how they handle the players — the discipline within the program — it was all really impressive.” And the pro-level mentorship gives off a clear message that Smigiel isn’t resting on hype.

This training with Aaron Rodgers isn’t a one-time thing either. Like we mentioned, last summer in July, the Super Bowl champion worked directly with Brady Smigiel at Proactive Sports Performance in California, establishing a bond that still holds. Still, the 4x MVP is passing on the kind of cerebral football that separates good QBs from generational ones. That’s the level of prep that has Michigan fans excited for what’s coming. And the Newbury Park junior already flashes all the potential.

Brady Smigiel’s arm talent and Michigan’s 2026 class

While Bryce Underwood might be the headline act for 2025, Brady Smigiel is setting himself up as the next man up for next year. Standing 6’5″ with elite arm strength, he threw 3,521 yards and 49 touchdowns last season, becoming The Times player of the year. Joe being his head coach at Newbury Park adds a bonus layer of discipline and system mastery baked into his development.

He also made several school records, including single-season records with 52 passing TDs and 282 completions. Then there are career records in his three years as a starter which are 11,222 passing records, 147 passing TDs, 729 completion, and 11,900 total offense.

Meanwhile, Michigan’s 2026 class is quietly becoming lethal. Currently ranked 9th nationally and 4th in the Big Ten, they’ve stacked talent like Titan Davis (DL, No. 10), Malakai Lee (OT, No. 11), and Carter Meadows (Edge, No. 6). And now, they’ve also added Julian Walker, a 6’6, 250-pound pass-rushing machine whose announcement on X got Brady Smigiel’s double stamp of approval.

If you thought Moore’s hot streak was over, think again. Brady Smigiel’s offseason grind with Aaron Rodgers is just the appetizer.