Coach Harbaugh gives his thoughts on the '22 recruiting class
There are some real gems in this article (taken from a podcast). Nothing rises to the "blue, twisted steel", or "nervous bird" level, but Harbz is in rare form speaking about these guys.
December 15th, 2021 at 10:55 PM ^
lol he's definitely back.
December 15th, 2021 at 10:59 PM ^
Lots of dudes in this class who love football exorbitantly. Jim is a happy man.
December 15th, 2021 at 10:59 PM ^
Harbaugh literally stargazes lmao
December 15th, 2021 at 11:07 PM ^
Yost Harbaugh
is this real oh my god please be real
December 15th, 2021 at 11:10 PM ^
I like this class, at least now we know they'll be developed by this staff.
Lots of talent at key spots like the DB's and WR's where we needed an impactful influx in this cycle. Adding Connerly and An edge guy would be great, we'll see what transpires.
Good job by everyone.
December 16th, 2021 at 10:36 AM ^
Bo built his classes to beat Ohio State. Jim is doing the same.
December 15th, 2021 at 11:15 PM ^
Backer, Backer, Backbone Cracker - moar meetings at the QB!
December 15th, 2021 at 11:16 PM ^
His energy was really fun to listen to. Dude loves football and you can hear plainly how much he cares for these kids.
What I found interesting was the notable exclusion of Aaron Alexander. Maybe there is something to the rumors previously posted
December 15th, 2021 at 11:28 PM ^
He can't discuss anyone who didn't sign an LOI.
December 15th, 2021 at 11:45 PM ^
Seems unclear at this point. Steve Lorenz was on the MGoPodcast and mentioned he didn't sign his LOI but didn't have any indication that he wasn't part of the class for sure or anything. Seems like there is something up there, and I'm sure we'll learn more in the coming weeks.
Wondering if he was basically asked to wait to join the class to see who they landed for this signing day and then who they think they can still fit in the class by Feb.
December 15th, 2021 at 11:19 PM ^
He really, really loves Erick All.
December 15th, 2021 at 11:45 PM ^
Always has.
December 16th, 2021 at 12:00 AM ^
Get in line.
December 16th, 2021 at 12:38 AM ^
He’s a stud. On running plays if he’s in motion or in the backfield, follow him at the snap because that’s where the RB is going. Dude has been plowing people off the line all year long. Against OSU and Iowa I kept thinking how great he was with his run blocking. I don’t recall him whiffing in either game and he escorted Henning to the end zone for our first TD against OSU by driving his man from the 5 yard line into the end zone.
December 16th, 2021 at 7:15 AM ^
The home run against Penn St with a lower leg injury was fun.
December 16th, 2021 at 8:39 AM ^
If there was one play that changed the fate of the entire season, that was it.
Erick All, down the sideline. Erick All, TOUCHDOWN!
December 16th, 2021 at 9:55 AM ^
Yeah, it's that play that set everything in motion and made the OSU game winnable. There were moments against Washington, Wisconsin, Nebraska, MSU, etc where knew the team was different. Where we expected a really good year. But that TD to beat PSU is what set the season into high gear as something special!
December 16th, 2021 at 9:52 AM ^
I have as high of a confidence level of his having NFL success as almost anyone on the team (Aidan possibly being the exception). Two way tight ends are very valuable- i.e. Gronk.
December 15th, 2021 at 11:22 PM ^
Great vibes from Coach Harbaugh. Thanks for sharing.
December 15th, 2021 at 11:25 PM ^
The vibe and mojo is back!
Luved the hire and only wondered WHEN we would turn the corner to IF we would turn the corner last year.
We have frickin' turned the corner.
Who's got it better than us - NO ONE!
December 15th, 2021 at 11:39 PM ^
Nooobody!!
December 15th, 2021 at 11:40 PM ^
It's a great class. Well done by the new staff across the board.
December 16th, 2021 at 7:22 AM ^
Well done, indeed! We finished much stronger than I thought we would. Top ten class, I believe. Go Blue!
December 16th, 2021 at 12:10 AM ^
Wonder if Graham is gonna be playing OT for us, the way coach talked ...
December 16th, 2021 at 1:02 AM ^
This class shaped up nicely.
December 16th, 2021 at 1:32 AM ^
QB: McNamara OR McCarthy, Villari, Denegal, Orji
RB: Corum, Edwards, Dunlap OR Stokes
WR: Johnson, Anthony, Clemons, Dixon
WR: Bell, Wilson, Walker
WR: Sainristil, Henning, Morris, G. Johnson
TE: *All*, Schoonmaker, Hibner, Hansen, Loveland, Klein
LT: Hayes, Barnhart, Persi, Bounds
LG: Keegan, Barnhart, El-Hadi, Lorenzetti
C: Crippen, Atteberry, Anderson
RG: Zinter, Barnhart, Atteberry
RT: T. Jones, Barnhart, Gentry, C. Jones
--------------------------
NG: Smith, Grant OR Graham, *Stewart*, Iwunnah
DT: Hinton, Jenkins, Welschof, Benny, Rooks OR Moore, Guidice
EDGE: Morris OR Upshaw, McGregor, Newburg, Guy
OLB: *Ojabo*, Harrell, Bennett, McLaurin, Mi. Pollard OR Velazquez
ILB: Colson, *Barrett*, Spurlock OR Solomon
ILB: Hill-Green, Mullings, Hood, Rolder
CB: Gray, Gem. Green, McBurrows OR W. Johnson, My. Pollard, Ger. Green OR Perry, Dennis, Green-Warren
CB: Turner, Gem. Green, McBurrows OR W. Johnson, My. Pollard, Ger. Green OR Perry, Dennis, Green-Warren
NB: *Hill*, Moore, Berry OR Jones, Seldon
S: Moore, Paige, Berry, Dent
S: Moten, Morant OR Q. Johnson OR Sabb
-------------------------
K: *Moody*, Doman
P: *Robbins*, Doman
1. All, Ojabo and Hill might all be leaning NFL Draft right now.
2. I could see the Green twins playing their final 1-2 grad transfer years elsewhere, only because Gemon likely isn't going to start and German likely won't get much playing time outside of special teams.
3. Cross your fingers that Moody and Robbins return for one final season.
4. Dixon and Mullings were both potential transfer rumors at one point or another. I suppose understand Dixon, especially now, but Mullings is a Michael Barrett 5th year away from a damn near guaranteed spot in the ILB rotation and we play 3 heavily and a 4th somewhat regularly.
5. OFFENSE: QB sets up perfectly for Dante Moore, he'd be the #3 even next season, the RB rotation is set except for Stokes/Dunlap...but it'll be nice for guys to have stability from Day 1, WR and TE are loaded, give Barnhart the #80 jersey and he's the 6th OL and backup at 4 positions.
6. DEFENSE: BEEF IN THE MIDDLE at NG, more beef at DT...but also some interior pass rush and versatility (for example, I don't think Moore is a tweener, he's a passing down DT, IMO), LB is getting a little thin...plenty of potential PT for the young guys, no way W. Johnson finishes next season as the #4 or #5 CB (he is already on Gray's level, IMO), if Dax leaves...Moore has to play NB and the S spot becomes a trouble spot, Paige will need to have a huge spring because I see Moten as a future Michael Barrett spread LB...meaning Z. Berry or K. Jones could end up at NB so Moore and Paige can play S (watch Berry's film if you haven't already done so...tailor-made for or NB spot, looks exactly like Dax...Jones is more of a slot CB to match up against the Sainristil's and Henning's of the world).
December 16th, 2021 at 2:24 AM ^
For 2023, I think we need:
- A big time QB
- A speed RB
- A speed WR ✔ (Morgan)
- A jumbo blocking TE
- The best OL class in Harbaugh's tenure, 5 elite players...one per position.
- A mammoth NG
- A NG/DT hybrid type (e.g., Mike Martin or Mo Hurst)
- A high ceiling/high floor EDGE (Winovich/Hutchinson/Paye)
- An ultra high celing/low floor OLB (Uche/Ojabo)
- 2 LBs ✔ (Wilson)...still need one more
- Another 5* CB
- A "top 100" type NB
- 2 top-end/highly rated safeties
- 1 kicker ✔ (Samaha)
That's 20, then still need 2? 3? to round out the class. Already have one of those in Starlings, who is a DT, but not like Martin or Hurst (the wrestler types)...Starlings is more like Calais Campbell without the same speed. Another one of those 4-5 has to be an outside WR.
Moore is obviously the QB, Senda looks to be the first OL with Herring not far behind, that could be the future right side of the OL. Both of Zak Zinter and Raheem Anderson's little brothers could be the ideal blocking TE. Although Zinter's brother would have to put on the pounds, he's a TE/DE prospect right now.
December 16th, 2021 at 10:09 AM ^
Alex Bowman slots in at either #3 or #4 QB. Barring injuries, Denegal and Orji should both be able to redshirt.
December 16th, 2021 at 5:56 AM ^
It’s refreshing to hear a coach compliment a players GPA efforts in the same breath as their athletic abilities.
December 16th, 2021 at 5:58 AM ^
Damn! Got me excited!!!
December 16th, 2021 at 6:06 AM ^
I don’t think I ever used myself in the third person until right there! Hahaha! This article is fantastic.
December 16th, 2021 at 7:08 AM ^
How in the hell he remembers all those player GPA. Wow. Coach loves these guys. He is gushing over this class
December 16th, 2021 at 8:01 AM ^
You know some of these guys won’t cut it as Big Ten players, or will get stuck behind someone and leave for a better opportunity. You know some will get homesick or discouraged and transfer out. But for today at least, they are all stars, and Harbaugh’s enthusiasm is palpable.
December 16th, 2021 at 8:41 AM ^
This is the problem with media. All the shitty narratives that exist around Harbaugh - mostly, because he lost some games he shouldn't have - paint an inaccurate picture of the man. This article shows his true colors - he's a straight shooter who just loves football. We are lucky he stayed around after the way he got pissed on, esp. last year.
December 16th, 2021 at 9:11 AM ^
Loves football, likes guys who love football and guys who love football like him. Or something like that.
December 16th, 2021 at 10:06 AM ^
Dude is still getting crapped on for the third base comment. All he did was answer a direct question about the disparaging comments a rival's coach made. When did that rival coach get crapped on for making such a statement? He didn't... The 'media' thought it was a funny comment.
All Harbaugh has ever done is react to others that attacked his players or his program. He's never said a thing to/about those that attacked him. He's never attacked someone/some place for no reason aside from self-defense.
And the media hates him. I don't get it...
December 16th, 2021 at 10:40 AM ^
Everybody loves that comment.
Because it stings of the truth.
It's all good.
December 16th, 2021 at 1:28 PM ^
The media hate him, other coaches hate him, the refs hate him, his own conference, that Michigan prints money for, hates him to the point of at least toeing the game-fixing line for.....whatever.....purpose? For MSU and an up-and-coming coach? They also had one of the jackass officials from the 2016 OSU game in this year's version, making more homer calls as the back judge.
I just don't get it.....he's a straight shooter who loves football, his players, character, and academics. And he's a total moneymaker for the conference.
He's literally everything the conference *should* love.
December 16th, 2021 at 8:43 AM ^
Any word on the center from VA?
December 16th, 2021 at 8:52 AM ^
This is quite the geographical diverse class. Athletes from 15 different states plus two countries (USA not included).
December 16th, 2021 at 10:19 AM ^
Not only does Alex Orji have the best name, but also the best Harbaugh comp: "It’s like looking at Herschel Walker playing quarterback who can really throw the ball." Somewhere, Fred Jackson is beaming.
December 16th, 2021 at 10:35 AM ^
The man sounds excited.
The old Jim Harbaugh is back, baby!
December 16th, 2021 at 11:56 AM ^
Proof that he follows the star ratings of recruits, countering narratives that he/coaches ignore them.
Love his enthusiasm for this class.
Most important however is he needs to keep this coaching staff intact for several years. That will be the hardest part.