Hello: Antwuan Johnson (LB) - 2018
ends up in the winged helmet, it's impossible to take away what both had to say about UM and what now has been read by a large number of h.s. ballers playing in the same area(s). Harris's statements about no other coaching staff matching up to Michigan at his particular position sends a much louder message than if the words had been uttered by the no. 1 db from MT. Even though he is not the no. 1 db from his home state, his rankings, both in-state and nationally, and his addition to being a representative of UM, albeit in an unofficial capacity, spreading the words the staff wants players from the south to be aware of, basically a reiteration of the message delivered via the Citrus Bowl is, no matter how you view it, nothing but good for UM at this point.
His impression of the program is more than favorable. His impression of the combined athletic/academic opportunity, for those interested in that type of thing, will motivate, at minimum, two more players who weren't planning on visiting UM to do just that.
Johnson, if he wants an OSU offer, will now receive one. The UM staff, in a very short period of time, is already in a position to advise both players to advance forward at a slower speed. Consider how these early and soft (on the part of the UM staff) commits would have been viewed just one year earlier and the difference in terms of excitement suggests their recruiting strategy has changed drastically in a very short period of time. What would have been accepted immediately and trhen trhough continuous effort and displays of interest in hopes that commitments would remain were greeted with a significant difference. This is not suggesting that interest on the part of UM is not there. It is, however, suggesting that UM has other considerations than immediate acceptance of top 300 ball players, i.e., there has been interest shown by others or areas of interest in that given class might be focused elsewhere.
Regardless, both the news and UM's reaction is keeping Harbaugh and UM football just where he wants it, of interest to high schoolers from around the nation. And if it should feel like a viscious back hand, with extremely bad intentions on the cheek of one Gus Malzhan from down yonder, well I guess it would be difficult in finding anything wrong with that.
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