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Will Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh hurt the SEC in recruiting?
By JC Shurburtt
Published:
Michigan has always recruited nationally. The Wolverines certainly do their share of damage within the state and in Midwestern talent strongholds like Ohio, but as a program, the Maize and Blue has proven they can pluck prospects from anywhere — California, Texas, and yes, the Southeast.
Much has been made about new Michigan head coach Jim Harbaugh and his satellite camps that he and his staff run in southern states. The Wolverines have also pieced together quite a class this cycle as they rank No. 5 nationally with less than a week to go until Feb. 3 signing day, and roughly one-third (nine) of Michigan’s 25 commits are from the SEC’s geographic footprint (five from Florida, two from Alabama and one each from Georgia and Tennessee).
So how much of a threat to the SEC does Harbaugh pose? That depends on what happens moving forward.
The Class of 2016, as far as the Wolverine’s southern strategy is concerned, is about making strong evaluations and laying groundwork. Certainly prospects like pass rushing specialist Joshua Uche (Miami, Fla./Columbus) and wide receivers Eddie McDoom (Winter Garden, Fla./West Orange) and Nate Johnson (Thompson’s Station, Tenn./Independence) had their share of SEC options and certainly were “wanted” prospects by various programs around the league.
Devin Bush Jr. is a very good linebacker prospect, but the “win” was really over Florida State, where he was a legacy prospect. So with that, it isn’t as if Michigan is going into Georgia and beating Georgia on high-priority recruits, or Alabama and beating Alabama or Auburn on high-priority in-state recruits. That’s to take nothing away from the players Michigan has gotten, mind you, and don’t be surprised if some of these guys end up being better college players than the ones that are the headliners this cycle.
That being said, having a significant number of players from the southeast cycle after cycle creates a pipeline of sorts, and the more players from the region go to Ann Arbor and have a great experience, the better Michigan’s chances of going head-to-head with the SEC’s recruiting titans and winning become.
Harbaugh is one of the best coaches in football on any level. Prospects know that. He’s also got a fantastically intriguing and magnetic (albeit a bit quirky) personality that intrigues prospects and parents. His track record of success as a player and a coach gives him instant credibility to get his foot in the door with nearly any prospect he wants, and that lays the foundation for success during this time of the year.
Keep in mind, too, that we are just talking about the fertile recruiting grounds within the footprint of the SEC.
Michigan certainly has proven it can win against the SEC head-to-head in other regions that have been good to the league at times over the years.
No. 1 overall prospect Rashan Gary is from Paramus, N.J., for example and the Wolverines are the team to beat … over Alabama, Ole Miss and Auburn (along with Clemson). Provided it plays out the way most expect, that’s a great player that may have otherwise been bound for the SEC had it not been for Harbaugh.
The bottom line for the league as it relates to Michigan/Harbaugh being a recruiting threat is this: Keep an eye on it because it could eventually turn out that way in future classes.
Right now, though, it is not a situation like we saw with Urban Meyer at Ohio State, where he and the Buckeyes could swoop in late and swipe elite talent from SEC programs within the footprint. That’s not to say it will never happen, but it hasn’t happened yet.
Recruiting writer for Saturday Down South
