Recruiting: What impact *would* (not *will*) Harbaugh have?
Like everyone else here, I'm hoping that Jim Harbaugh becomes Michigan's new football coach within the next week. (And if anyone doesn't want that, I hope you're laying low. And maybe you need to have a mental assessment.)
In the event that Michigan does become Jim Harbaugh's destination, I'd like to know the impact on recruiting. I have heard regular reports that some recruits are waiting and watching to see what happens with the coaching search. Iman Marshall is at the top of that list, with Osa Masina not far behind. (EDIT: I mistakenly accepted Scout's list, which had Cole listed as a recruit and not a commit.)
In addition, there are former running back commitments Damien Harris and also Mike Weber (who has said he is solid to Ohio State, and won't change his mind.) There is Keisean Lucier-South and Chris Clark. There is legacy Tyrone Wheatley. (EDIT: I mistakenly accepted Scout's list, which had Kinnel listed as a recruit and not a commit.)
I literally don't know which "ships have sailed." More than getting uncommitted recruits, or flipping back former commits, I'm wondering if there are any 5 star recruits out there committed elsewhere who would seriously consider an offer from Michigan with Harbaugh in charge.
Ever since Michigan football went into a tailspin, I have stopped following recruiting. It was completely understandable that few recruits would commit to Hoke, and given the last 7 - 8 years, skepticism on coming to Michigan. Now, with Sam Webb and John Bacon so positive, I'm wondering how quickly Harbaugh can turn things around.
Anyone with insight on recruiting, or a link to a post or article covering this, please let me know! I'd like to get back to the normalcy of Michigan competing for recruits, and stocking up to compete on the field.
December 23rd, 2014 at 12:40 PM ^
What happened to Tyree Kinnel and Brian Cole? They are former commits? I must be travelling back from Ceres.
December 23rd, 2014 at 12:44 PM ^
December 23rd, 2014 at 1:35 PM ^
Cole is one of my favorite recruits in recent memory. I know there is circumstances but he's borderline 5 star that is enrolling almost exclusively because he likes the school.
December 23rd, 2014 at 2:45 PM ^
Grant Newsome is another kid that has stayed with Michigan despite the coaching change and being heavily recruited by PSU.
December 23rd, 2014 at 1:02 PM ^
Other recruiting sites are claiming that Tyree Kinnel will be solid to Michigan if Harbuagh is hired.
December 23rd, 2014 at 3:13 PM ^
My guess is that Harbaugh is going to be lights out in recruiting. People underestimate the recruiting bump that new coaches get. Their pitch is a strong one: You are the first members of my football team that I am recruiting. I remember in Rich Rod's first year, everyone thought he was off the charts in terms of recruiting but it turned out not to be the case. On top of that, I think he has the charisma to be a phenomenal recruiter on his own.
Even with the short recruiting window that he will inherit this year, I think we will be very happy with his recruiting skills. I expect top 5 recruiting class for the next couple of years then to level off somewhere in the top 10. My two cents.
December 23rd, 2014 at 12:41 PM ^
Can you jumping the gun ass posters stop jumping the gun
December 23rd, 2014 at 12:46 PM ^
December 23rd, 2014 at 1:02 PM ^
"What impact WILL Harbaugh have" sounds like cart before the horse to me.
December 23rd, 2014 at 1:39 PM ^
The former title of the thread, for those who are new.
December 23rd, 2014 at 12:47 PM ^
It's not safe to jump the gun, man.
December 23rd, 2014 at 12:58 PM ^
Bahahahaaahhaahah!!!! This is why I love MGoBlog. Litterally spit coffee all over my desk.
December 23rd, 2014 at 1:18 PM ^
Sent from MGoBlog HD for iPhone & iPad
December 23rd, 2014 at 12:42 PM ^
I didn't even realize he decommited. I thought he was waiting to see who Michigan hired before he made a decision.
December 23rd, 2014 at 12:47 PM ^
Well, I'm clueless, which is why I posted in the first place. I thought Cole was a commit. Scout has him listed not as a commit, but as a prospect. Like everyone else, I'm eagerly awaiting what happens with the coaching change. But other than those starting class in January, I really don't know what is happening with the current class. It was so depressing to see guys decommitting, I stopped compulsively following recruiting.
December 23rd, 2014 at 12:52 PM ^
I pretty much stopped following recruiting midway through the season.
December 23rd, 2014 at 12:56 PM ^
but who wants to go into battle with people who run at the first sign of trouble anyways?
Those Who Stay Will Be champions is going to mean something again very soon.
December 23rd, 2014 at 1:45 PM ^
His father said they want to talk to the new coach. I'd assume if the new coach has the initials JH we are a lock. It may be a lock even if they don't know who the coach is but they would prefer to talk to the coach before enrolling.
December 23rd, 2014 at 12:43 PM ^
December 23rd, 2014 at 12:44 PM ^
All of your recruits are belong to us will happen.
December 23rd, 2014 at 12:44 PM ^
Gerhart floating around, they may be interested
December 23rd, 2014 at 12:44 PM ^
A good one.
December 23rd, 2014 at 12:45 PM ^
Because he isn't the HC yet
December 23rd, 2014 at 12:49 PM ^
are going to be epic (hopefully).....Need 10-11 recruits in 35-40 days. Should be extremely entertaining!
December 23rd, 2014 at 1:44 PM ^
Hope Ace is resting and healing - he has a lot of work coming up.
As for OP I dont know what sort of answer you want. Obviously it helps . Oviously this class is a disaster. Obviously offensive minded players will want to play for him. I mean what do you want us to say? Recruiting with an actual coach is better than without a coach. Recruiting with a coach is better than with a lame duck coach. Recruiting with a high level success coach is better than not. Everything else is just guessing.
December 23rd, 2014 at 2:33 PM ^
Well, obviously, recruiting will be better with any coach, and will be much better with Harbaugh. That's so obvious I don't know what to say. Except, that's not the answer I wanted.
Let me be more clear. There are several categories I was interested in.
- Former commits who have left Michigan for good, and aren't coming back.
- Former commits (even current commits) who are visiting schools, but would definitely be interested in Michigan if Harbaugh is the new coach. (Cole? Clark? Kinnel? Others?)
- Current uncommitted prospects who waiting to see who the new coach is, after which they may commit to Michigan. (Iman Marshall?)
- Former recruits who never considered Michigan, committed elsewhere, but who might consider Michigan with the coaching change. I'm wondering if there are any guys on the West Coast who would fall in this category. It also would be awesome (but unlikely) to pry prized recruits away from MSU or OSU.
Because I stopped following recruiting altogether several months ago, I really don't know the current and anticipated state of things with recruiting. That is what I was asking about.
December 23rd, 2014 at 4:14 PM ^
- Former commits who have left Michigan for good, and aren't coming back.
I wouldn't be a bit surprised if Harbaugh manages to pull one of these guys back.
FYI: I'm completely aware that Harbaugh is not yet Michigan's coach. So yeah, the below is not just speculation, but speculation based on a premise that is not yet certain. FWIW, I believe that Harbaugh will be Michigan's next coach..
- Former commits (even current commits) who are visiting schools, but would definitely be interested in Michigan if Harbaugh is the new coach. (Cole? Clark? Kinnel? Others?)
He gets Cole and Clark beyond question. I don't know as much about Kinnel.
- Current uncommitted prospects who waiting to see who the new coach is, after which they may commit to Michigan. (Iman Marshall?)
Wild guess, we pull in two excellent (high 4/5*) commits in the month of January.
- Former recruits who never considered Michigan, committed elsewhere, but who might consider Michigan with the coaching change. I'm wondering if there are any guys on the West Coast who would fall in this category. It also would be awesome (but unlikely) to pry prized recruits away from MSU or OSU.
Yeah, good analysis. I wouldn't be surprised if we pulled in somebody like this.. St. Brown? Tim Settle? Zach Robertson (ooooh)?
Rob
December 23rd, 2014 at 2:27 PM ^
And flip some kids back to Michigan. Harbaugh will be able to recruit anywhere he wants. It is going to happen.
December 23rd, 2014 at 12:45 PM ^
I think Mike Weber takes the call.
December 23rd, 2014 at 12:45 PM ^
so many have thought to ask, but seem content enough to wait until the coaching search is over to start talking about it. But I think that its safe to say a positive effect is expected, but will we get back any of the decommitted players?
Really tough to say, some may have decommitted due to the uncertainty of the program, some because they weren't really ours to begin with. I hope that is more of the former in which case they know what they would be getting into.
I estimate we get 2-3 commits in the week immediately following an announcement, IF Jim is indeed the new coach. February 4th is just around the corner afterall...
December 23rd, 2014 at 1:48 PM ^
I think we get 2-3 of the former commits back within a week and then we go from there.
December 23rd, 2014 at 12:45 PM ^
entertainment scale from 1 (floating in a white abyss of nothingness for eternity) to 10 (Seachbits!!). This is a 4.
December 23rd, 2014 at 12:48 PM ^
December 23rd, 2014 at 12:46 PM ^
Positive.
December 23rd, 2014 at 12:46 PM ^
Blue Chips will be lining up to come to Michigan.
December 23rd, 2014 at 12:46 PM ^
I posted his tweet last week where he hoped "Coach Harbaugh" would come to Michigan. Outside of Saban and maybe Meyer, I think Harbaugh has the credentials to make a kid open up their recruitment, especially if they grew up M fans.
December 23rd, 2014 at 12:59 PM ^
with Saban and Meyer when it comes to those credentials.
December 23rd, 2014 at 1:10 PM ^
December 23rd, 2014 at 1:39 PM ^
Plus none of our recruits are looking at LSU. Meanwhile Saban and Meyer have been thorns in our side.
December 23rd, 2014 at 4:54 PM ^
not sure of the exact # but stanford has tons of TEs currently playing in NFL - im guessing clark prob knows the exact # though. i saw the bengals using that rookie hewlitt last night.
and along with numerous high picks like fleener, ertz, etc teams have even signed backup TEs from standford.
harbaugh, shaw and crew excelled at locating great TE prospects and then molding them into well rounded college players and pro prospects. id think harbaugh would be very attractive new coach to dudes like clark
December 23rd, 2014 at 12:47 PM ^
I'm guessing the impact will be good. He may not be able to flip all of Hoke's commits back to Michigan (hell, he may not even want some of Hoke's commits), but I'm guessing if he, for instance, gives Mike Weber a phone call, Mike will take the phone call.
Regardless, this is pointless until we know for sure that Harbaugh is taking the job.
December 23rd, 2014 at 12:52 PM ^
You're really going out on a limb there with that prediction, huh?
Good grief, the man is one of the premiere coaches in the NFL, having been to 3 consecutive NFC championship games, and resurrected Stanford from 1-11, and we are guessing his impact on recruiting will be "good"???????
This is pretty much a no-brainer question. DUH, his impact on recruting will be huge. Compared to our current situation, which is NO COACH, he is pretty much the best possible result. Some kids probably don't want to play for him because he is a noted hard-ass. But for every kid that doesn't want to play for him, there will be one that wants to win and or get to the NFL, and that is what Harbaugh will sell.
December 23rd, 2014 at 12:47 PM ^
Im hearing Roseboro would be back in the fold and we would get a strong look from Iman Marshall (he wants to play with Peppers).
Other than that Jim would take a rather large swing at the west coast top 250 type guys.
All of the Weber, Kirkland, etc types would most likely stay out of the picture.
It will be a smaller class regardless but a few names will pop in before it's over.
December 23rd, 2014 at 12:55 PM ^
That's exactly what I wanted to know. Thanks for your post. I didn't have Roseboro's name in front of me, but I wondered about him. Marshall and Roseboro would be great additions. And I'm sure that some who have committed are gone for good. I did notice that Damien Harris still hasn't made a commitment anywhere. In some ways, having a small class is very helpful. It would be much easier to sign 9 - 10 more guys than 15 - 20 more.
December 23rd, 2014 at 1:07 PM ^
I'm hoping he'd get/recieve first phone call from 'Coach Harbaugh',before leaving west coast.
December 23rd, 2014 at 1:22 PM ^
December 23rd, 2014 at 3:01 PM ^
Jim could swing by his school for some face time...following up phone call.