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 6:27 PM ^
I hope not because meeting with the kid would be a recruiting violation during the dead period. Would not be a good way to start the Harbaugh Era.
December 23rd, 2014 at 1:29 PM ^
was really close to an official visit with Hoke, and still strongly considered it when we went coachless. I have to imagine Harbaugh's strong west coast ties would be good enough to get him on campus once the dead period ends. That would probably be the biggest short time recruit get we've had a in a while.
December 23rd, 2014 at 2:33 PM ^
Weber will not stay out of the picture...
December 23rd, 2014 at 12:48 PM ^
Masina has no interest, regardless of who the hire is. He's down to three schools.
December 23rd, 2014 at 12:56 PM ^
Good to see you on here, Steve. Cool. I miss your updates.
December 23rd, 2014 at 1:43 PM ^
Pretty sure you still can, if you are into the whole premium thing. Hard working kid seemed to be going punch for punch with Webb and Balas with the whole coaching search. Which is pretty impressive considering how new he is.
December 23rd, 2014 at 2:19 PM ^
I've been on the fence with premium subscriptions. I'll probably jump on 247 after the coaching hire to get recruiting info first hand.
December 23rd, 2014 at 1:03 PM ^
December 23rd, 2014 at 12:51 PM ^
Having Harbaugh as head coach will speak for itself and if a former commit doesn't want to come then he's pretty much saying he thinks Hoke is a better coach than Harbaugh..
December 23rd, 2014 at 1:11 PM ^
Or an easier coach.
Harbaugh is jalapenos . . . not for everyone.
December 23rd, 2014 at 2:00 PM ^
Or he simply likes the school/coach to which he flipped.
December 23rd, 2014 at 12:51 PM ^
I have to figure that 4 and 5 star recruits think that they have more than a sliver of hope that at some point they will be paid to play football on a Sunday at some point in the future.
And who better to play for than a coach that has led a team in 3 NFC conference championship games and a Super Bowl.
IF Jim Harbaugh is the next head coah at the University of Michigan, it will pay off in a small way for the upcoming class and in a big way for the classes that come after.
December 23rd, 2014 at 12:52 PM ^
Many of us have been privately contemplating the same question, but I refuse to truly ponder it until IT HAPPENS.
December 23rd, 2014 at 12:52 PM ^
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December 23rd, 2014 at 1:01 PM ^
He's 40 and over the hill.
December 23rd, 2014 at 1:05 PM ^
But what did Webbest say?
December 23rd, 2014 at 12:53 PM ^
assuming he accepts the job on Dec 30, he will have a lot of quick work to do.
1. get his coaching staff together (maybe manning, mattison and/or nussmeier stay) in a matter of days
2. get those dudes on the phone immediately calling potential recruits
3. personally calling those recruits who may have interest
4. get those coaches on the road the following week making visits
5. harbaugh then makes individual visits to close the deal
all in a month. simple really.
December 23rd, 2014 at 12:54 PM ^
December 23rd, 2014 at 12:54 PM ^
I'm not sure how the 2015 will finish, even with Harbaugh as HC, UM has lost quite a few really good players. I'd imagine some of those guys would become interested again. I think they could fill the class, no problem, probably with 3* guys. I think it's the 2016 class that would really take off, especially if JH comes in and wins 9 or more games and also beats MSU and/or OSU.
December 23rd, 2014 at 12:55 PM ^
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December 23rd, 2014 at 1:06 PM ^
1) Longtime NFL starter with solid career who can tell them what it takes to make it as a pro
2) Successful NFL coach who can tell them what an NFL coach looks for in a player
3) Successful College coach who can tell them what they are going to do to win at this level.
On top of that, I believe a lot of parents will like his "no bullshit" attitude towards recruiting. From what I've read, he doesn't snow job kids or promise them the moon. You play for him, you're going to have to earn everything you get. Obviously that means he's not going to get the Cam Newtons of the world, but Michigan would never get those guys anyway. .
December 23rd, 2014 at 1:10 PM ^
Through his playing/ coaching career and family, he's connected to a lot of different coaches and can leverage that for getting kids NFL tryouts or having HS coaches vouch for him.
December 23rd, 2014 at 1:55 PM ^
While true, OSU is not going to suffer in recruiting.
Totally different offensive systems and UM was recruiting great with a guy who could not talk NCAA or NFL success in Hoke.
Both these schools recruit well and nothing is going to change in that regard with Harbaugh at UM. Meyer is one of the to 3 coaches in the NCAA in terms of track record. And his output of players to the NFL is very high.
December 23rd, 2014 at 12:59 PM ^
The more interesting question for now is if any of the assistance coaches have been told to secretly keep in touch with recruits to update them so that they wait before they make drastic decisions. People have speculated that Mattison and/or Manning might stay on, so couldn't they (also Singletary) make the phone calls in this dead period to maintain interest?
I'd love to read John Bacon's next book on the current weeks that we're in.
December 23rd, 2014 at 1:08 PM ^
i hope bacon is done for a while...unless it's called "3 and Out - the sequal" regarding harbaughs 3 national championships before heading back to the nfl seeking the lombardi.
December 23rd, 2014 at 1:00 PM ^
Jim does come home...most IMPORTANT recurits he'd pull are those who're going to fill his coaching staff.
December 23rd, 2014 at 4:10 PM ^
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December 23rd, 2014 at 1:00 PM ^
A good start would be securing existing commits, picking up Clark and Webber, going hard after Damien Harris who might be open to a Harbaugh offense adn then hitting up the West Coast kids. I feel that we pull back 70% of the original class and then pull in one or two pleasant surprise and one or two "3-star" types that we weren't really tracking.
Bottom line is that we really need Cole and Clark on the receiving side of the house.
December 23rd, 2014 at 2:24 PM ^
That correction was worth digitizing and pushing through multiple fiber, copper, ATM, and SATCOM links. Hell, I bet it passed through at least a dozen routers and switches, competing for bandwidth with far less important datagrams/frames/packets (depending on the appropriate layer). On a side note, you can probably rotate that extra "b" and shove it up your ass in a manner that best suits you. There is your first Festivus activity.
December 23rd, 2014 at 1:29 PM ^
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December 23rd, 2014 at 1:45 PM ^
That one will be interesting again.
Harris isn't committed anywhere unlike Weber (for what little that even matters), and as long as Weber stays strong with OSU that makes Kentucky the team to beat for Harris again.
We'd have to have at least a decent chance of either flipping Weber back to Blue, or out-recruiting freaking Kentucky for Harris.
December 23rd, 2014 at 2:15 PM ^
Given Harbaugh's strong emphasis on tight-ends, you'd think Clark would be thrilled.
December 23rd, 2014 at 1:03 PM ^
This is a 2016 kid, but he basically said Michigan would lead if Harbaugh is hired.
http://sports.yahoo.com/michigan/football/recruiting/player-Terrance-Da…
December 23rd, 2014 at 1:28 PM ^
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December 23rd, 2014 at 1:05 PM ^
December 23rd, 2014 at 1:05 PM ^
December 23rd, 2014 at 1:05 PM ^
December 23rd, 2014 at 1:18 PM ^
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December 23rd, 2014 at 2:43 PM ^
December 23rd, 2014 at 1:05 PM ^
to answer OP's question
December 23rd, 2014 at 1:14 PM ^
That of course doesn't mean that the next recruiting class doesn't need 5 star guys, which he will certainly bring in.
December 23rd, 2014 at 1:16 PM ^
Besides being a great coach, former NFL Guy, walking on water and developing the cure for cancer, Harbaugh's O is similar to what Hoke ran. Hopefully way better in execution and results, but similar style.
This should mean minimal, if any, losses of current commits. Plus the added benefit of a few pleasant surprises
As earlier posters have said, I have given up reading recruiting for the past 3 months, it was just too painful. But hopefully in a week, I can get my weekly fix again.
I am curious though when he looks at film of guys if he will still want the same guys Hoke did. I don't believe he would pull offers, but he may stop returning phone calls, etc.
December 23rd, 2014 at 1:16 PM ^
all recruitz are belong to us
December 23rd, 2014 at 1:17 PM ^
I expect Saban/ Carrol like recruiting with Jim having his pick.
December 23rd, 2014 at 1:18 PM ^
I hadn't realized that Jim is our coach.