Jay Harbaugh is getting a chance to validate his own hire
He's in Northern California right now on a recruiting trip. Not very notable in and of itself, but I noticed that Steve Lorenz posted Harbaugh's coach page from 247 sports and it shows that he visited seven(!) different recruits today, including super 5-star LB Caleb Kelly and his teammate Darian Owens. Kelly is the #12 ranked player and #3 OLB on the 247 composite, and Owens is ranked #119.
In addition he visited a number of other very good players, none of which have any listed in Michigan, and none of which were recruited by Hoke's staff. All of these guys seem like extreme longshots, so if Jay can get any of these guys to come he'll be worth his spot on the staff, IMO.
EDIT: These are all 2016 guys, so there's time to build interest.
January 20th, 2015 at 2:23 PM ^
Ooohh I did not know about his resource - coaching visit pages on 247.
MOAR data.... mmmm beer.
January 20th, 2015 at 2:24 PM ^
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January 20th, 2015 at 2:27 PM ^
I am guessing that Jay will always be conscious of the fact that he has to work hard to "validate" his hire as something more than nepotism. However, the school will benefit from having another Harbaugh visiting recruits. The name is an instant door-opener. It's almost like Jim has a clone to send to recruits now.
I like the hire.
January 20th, 2015 at 2:59 PM ^
A reporter asked Jay Harbaugh if people gave him a hard time about working for his uncle, looking at that as the reason he got the job.
His response, "It's my responsibility to not give them the opportunity to confirm that suspicion".
http://www.mercurynews.com/49ers/ci_26279169/jim-harbaughs-son-forges-o…
January 20th, 2015 at 4:32 PM ^
That is a typical Harbaughesque answer to a typical question. The family must implant a computer chip in to each youngen's brain which is programmed with play diagrams, coaching techniques, motivational tools, fashion tips and media responses among other things.
January 20th, 2015 at 6:05 PM ^
Fashion tips, lol.
January 20th, 2015 at 3:05 PM ^
A clone. I turned on the TV last night and Tosh was on, first glance I thought it was JH. M should send him to visit some recruits.
January 20th, 2015 at 3:33 PM ^
WTH? You're crazy—Tosh is the clone of Lane Kiffin.
January 20th, 2015 at 3:44 PM ^
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January 20th, 2015 at 2:29 PM ^
January 20th, 2015 at 2:30 PM ^
2 of the recruits he visited today are 2015 Cal commits, 3 star WR/ATH Austin Aaron and 3 star TE/DE Zeandae Johnson
January 20th, 2015 at 2:34 PM ^
I just like the fact that we have a 25 year old with a superbowl ring on the coaching staff. I think Jay will do well for as long as he's a coch here.
January 20th, 2015 at 3:06 PM ^
January 20th, 2015 at 3:48 PM ^
January 20th, 2015 at 2:49 PM ^
Laying the foundation for a huge 2016 class and beyond. Even if a lot of the 2015 guys don't pan out, they're building inroads into top high school programs and their coaches. Recruiting is like a lot of things - you work really hard in the beginning where results are often very modest, but it pays off big down the road. Alabama has had years now to build up the recruiting juggernaut they are today. I think Michigan can get there sooner.
January 20th, 2015 at 3:37 PM ^
Sow now, reap later.
Losing season = drought.
Competitors = insect pests.
Unfortunately, we can't take advantage of Fertilizer = under the table cash.
January 20th, 2015 at 3:20 PM ^
Maybe Jay Harbaugh's primary role will be recruiting...a surrogate for his dad.
January 20th, 2015 at 3:30 PM ^
January 20th, 2015 at 3:48 PM ^
Jay Harbaugh will be the most scrutinized coach in Maize & Blue. I am sure he knows this. It is true that without his dad being the HC he probably wouldn't be there. Hell, he wasn't even his father's first pick for the position. Still, I have a feeling that if he wasn't ready for it, he wouldn't be there.
January 20th, 2015 at 4:11 PM ^
He's gonna start pulling those guys from the left coast again. It looks like Texas and California are getting hit hard for next year.
January 20th, 2015 at 4:51 PM ^
This very well may be the best Sleeper hire when all is said & done.
January 20th, 2015 at 5:55 PM ^
I thought his entire career to this point was Ravens OQC, then Michigan. Sounds like a trial by fire in recruiting. I have to imagine being a young guy with the name Harbaugh sure helps you get a head start though
January 20th, 2015 at 7:49 PM ^
He was an undergraduate assistant under Mike Riley at Oregon State for four years.
He wasn't out on the road recruiting, but I'm sure he saw how things were done during official visits and the like.
January 20th, 2015 at 10:38 PM ^
Jay Harbaugh is an interesting case. He is so young, but his college days were spent on the coaching side of the ledger. So his coaching like experience is already 7 years and not 3.