5* Nyck Harbor in home visit this Tuesday
Ok friends, last chance for Jim Harbaugh to make a lasting impression with Harbor this Tuesday. This is a huge visit and a player we need. Bellamy will also be with Jim. I’ve said this before, these are the type of players that we have to close on to compete w the bamas and georgias of the world…
https://mobile.twitter.com/EJHollandOn3/status/1617276196231806976
January 22nd, 2023 at 5:27 PM ^
I’m harboring great feelings on Nyck.
January 23rd, 2023 at 8:29 AM ^
If I had a Nyckol for every bad Nyck pun on this thread, I'd "have a roster to compete with UGA". 5* mafia.
January 22nd, 2023 at 5:28 PM ^
By appearances this would be a come-from-behind win if he chooses UM ... right?
January 22nd, 2023 at 6:11 PM ^
Just in the Nyck of time.
Safe Harbor for our recruiting efforts?
January 23rd, 2023 at 10:58 AM ^
Yeah, but it's kind of like being down 10-3 or 13-10 in the first half when the opponent insists on playing cover zero. It's only a matter of time before we break a big play or four.
What were we talking about again?
January 22nd, 2023 at 5:28 PM ^
I should add, Oregon and South Carolina are presumed to be the leaders right now for him..
January 22nd, 2023 at 6:38 PM ^
I read the same here in local media. Let’s hope Michigan somehow pulls this off!
January 22nd, 2023 at 5:34 PM ^
January 22nd, 2023 at 5:34 PM ^
Hoping, but not expecting
Go Blue
January 22nd, 2023 at 6:39 PM ^
Agree.
January 23rd, 2023 at 1:23 AM ^
Same. I'd love to be shocked.
January 22nd, 2023 at 5:47 PM ^
Why do we *need* him? Seemed like the consensus was he’s not going to play the position he’s best suited to/knows how to play best and that we have to hope he stays long enough to become a good receiver and doesn’t show enough promise in track to go pro before that happens?
January 22nd, 2023 at 5:52 PM ^
He’d be the fastest guy on the field and strong enough to play TE, I’ve heard. We need him so we have the best athlete instead of someone else. Also he wants to run in the Olympics, but I’ve never heard of him going pro in track
January 22nd, 2023 at 6:05 PM ^
What does going pro in track even mean? Normally going pro would entail getting paid for it, but are there professional track leagues outside of international competition? With NIL he could take endorsements all he wants.
January 22nd, 2023 at 7:21 PM ^
The NTFL (and various other smaller leagues) would like a word with you.
January 22nd, 2023 at 6:06 PM ^
I don't really know enough about the sport to be certain but I have to imagine The Olympics are about as pro as you get in track.
January 22nd, 2023 at 6:18 PM ^
Actually my friend’s sister is a professional track runner. After not making the Olympics, but being incredibly close, a few times she turned pro and it has been her full-time job for some years now. I don’t know much more than that but apparently one can be a professional sprinter.
January 22nd, 2023 at 10:26 PM ^
lol you have to do more than just be fast and strong to play TE.
Those aren't even top 3 traits you'd want in a TE. Which is why people are skeptical.
People who've watched him say his hands are inconsistent and his route running is, at best, "not great."
If I'm building a TE, outside of the traits needed for every position (mainly mental make up)...
1. Can he catch?
2. Can he block (technique wise, not just strength)?
3. Can he run routes?
Right now, even the people who are high on him basically say he's a one-trick pony at TE and more of a scheme player.
Which I take as...send him straight up the seam, let him use his speed, and hope he catches it...at a minimum he stretches the field and stresses a secondary to get other guys open. AND/OR use him as a gadget player until he rounds out into a true TE (hand the ball off on TE end arounds, shovel passes, things to get him the ball quickly and in space).
January 22nd, 2023 at 10:49 PM ^
Also, hasn't Michigan had the best "freak" athlete in the country or one of them? I feel like Hutchinson and Mazi Smith were both at the top and I'm missing others who've been on the list.
Michigan's issue hasn't been not having the best athlete on the field, that's garbage.
We've put Jabrill Peppers on the field. Rashaun Gary on the field. If you want to go back Denard and Devin.
When it comes to Georgia and Bama, Michigan's issue has been *rolls out list*
1. Athlete*s*, MULTIPLE, having the best athlete on the field is nice...having a starting 11 of pros is the reason they who they are. Michigan would get a few, they roll Devin Bushes and Donovan Edwardses off the line like clockwork. Michigan is finally getting more than a handful.
2. Line of scrimmage. They've DOMINATED. Think about when Clemson won and what it took...generational QB play and 3-4 1st round draft picks on the DL. Finally Michigan is catching up.
3. Depth. This was ALWAYS my biggest issue with people who have that weak minded "but what if (x) transfers because (y) comes back?" or "it's time for (a) to go so (b) we can finally see (b) play." Or "(z) has earned it, he's been here long enough."
All of that is bullshit.
I'm sorry, El-Hadi's got to wait another year, Keegan is back. Persi isn't just going to be handed the LT job, Henderson is going to push for it.
FINALLY we're building depth and getting towards a 2-deep of starters. Our OL is ELITE for this very reason. We're rolling them off like UGA can have a generational defense in 2021 and come back in '22 and win another national championship.
We need to be STACKED if we want to compete at the very highest level.
4. Coaching and development. This is the best group of coaches Harbaugh's had...what they lack in experience they gain in relatability...and that is critical in trying to communicate and motivate this generation. More than ever, you gotta be more than a resume. Also, have you seen the adjustments we've made to beat OSU twice? COACHING CLINICS.
5. We're Michigan. It's just different in most of the SEC, at Clemson, at OSU and Oklahoma. They simply don't deal with a lot of the bullshit that Michigan deals with. In their towns and cities, everyone knows what's up. On their campuses, every faculty and staff member knows what's up. FOOTBALL, FOOTBALL, FOOTBALL.
It's a hell of a lot easier to build a football factory when everyone is on board and pulling in the same direction. There are no secrets at those schools, FOOTBALL runs EVERYTHING.
January 22nd, 2023 at 11:56 PM ^
So many FACTS here. Well said MaizeBlueA2!
January 23rd, 2023 at 8:42 AM ^
Most important trait is that he’s a beast at running the Philly Special.
January 22nd, 2023 at 6:04 PM ^
Need? Maybe not but we NEED playmaker and he could be one. It is even possible he changes his mind at some point and plays defense and gives up track. But always pursue elite athletes.
January 22nd, 2023 at 6:23 PM ^
From all of the summaries I have read, he lined up exclusively at TE at the All American Bowl and was good-to-great against the nations best linebackers and safeties. Michigan has had great in-line TE's recently, but Harbor has the potential to be a more athletic version of Brock Bowers (the only reason I think Georgia isn't in on him is because they are getting Duce Robinson).
Coupled with the Michigan run game, he could be the biggest play action threat in the country. Additionally, if he turns out to be as good as he can be, he would require two defenders, further enhancing the run game (a la Bowers).
January 23rd, 2023 at 1:44 PM ^
… are you asking why we need a 6’6” 225 lb guy that’s a world class sprinter on top of being a top 20 football prospect? Is that your question?
January 24th, 2023 at 3:31 AM ^
I'm just confused why he isn't listed at TE. That's great he's an amazing athlete but is he actually an amazing football player? If so, why isn't he listed at a position? Is the plan to have him play special teams for a year while he learns the sport? If his hands aren't great for catching why not have him play defense?
January 23rd, 2023 at 1:53 PM ^
I honestly think his biggest impact at Michigan would likely be the recruiting momentum he would generate rather than any on-field results. So maybe we *need* him for recruiting momentum?
January 22nd, 2023 at 6:03 PM ^
Does he like burgers? I hear that is how you close a deal. From "official" sources.
January 23rd, 2023 at 7:19 AM ^
I honestly want to see the NCAA try to make a major news announcement punishing UM for burgers and not recalling (once first asked) versus, say, $5M offers being made to current players on other teams. I doubt Tom Mars would then tarnish the NCAA with hypocrisy/incompetence/bias in either court or public opinion; but you never know.
P.S. Discovery might be popcorn worthy.
January 22nd, 2023 at 6:10 PM ^
Jim bring the money gun with you.
January 22nd, 2023 at 7:20 PM ^
Jim bring the grill with you.
Go Blue
January 22nd, 2023 at 7:49 PM ^
I.e. bring Santa!
January 22nd, 2023 at 8:05 PM ^
Santa Ono closing on St. Nyck.
January 22nd, 2023 at 8:58 PM ^
Santa has informed Coach Harbaugh that Harbor has committed to the University of Michigan. /s
January 22nd, 2023 at 10:11 PM ^
I support this news
January 22nd, 2023 at 6:29 PM ^
"these are the type of players that we have to close on to compete w the bamas and georgias of the world…"
If he was a 5-star QB or OL or DL or even DB, I'd agree with you, but not a TE.
January 22nd, 2023 at 6:48 PM ^
Why wouldn’t he just be a WR? He wants to run track. A TE will have to put on some lbs. which is counter productive to his Olympic track goals
January 22nd, 2023 at 8:00 PM ^
He’s a Top 15 player—does not matter what position, he is an absolute game changer at the position where he lines up.
To better compete against Georgia or Bama, we need to balance the talent level at every position. Having a 5 star QB that only has one target he can consistently trust isn’t going to cut it. Michigan is a TE school, and having Loveland and Harbor would further open up the WRs and the RB screens.
Ask Georgia. Ask the best teams in the pros: KC, Philly, SF, and Dallas. Even Cincy with Hurst opens up the deep routes for WRs.
January 22nd, 2023 at 8:07 PM ^
Put him at wideout and throw fades all day.
January 22nd, 2023 at 10:12 PM ^
Let's compete against TCU first
January 23rd, 2023 at 12:38 AM ^
TE depth would have helped. Loveland had some nice plays but he had some freshman plays too. With All already out for the year, when Schoonmaker went down, Michigan had only their last option at TE which takes away our ability to run multiple TE sets and affects Michigan's ground game even out of the single TE set. It disrupted Michigan's gameplan pretty significantly.
January 23rd, 2023 at 7:55 AM ^
"He’s a Top 15 player—does not matter what position, he is an absolute game changer at the position where he lines up. "
Currently #16...
...and he has the POTENTIAL to be a game changer at the position where he lines up, but he also has the potential to never even be a mediocre college football player.
He is about the most boom/bust recruit I've seen ranked in the top 100 ever.
January 23rd, 2023 at 8:22 AM ^
I agree. Georgia and Alabama are not all over him because he has a tepid commitment to football-and you do not play at those to schools unless you are 100% committed to the game. And, how does his straight line speed translate to the big-time football???
That said-you take a chance with him. I believe you accommodate his track aspirations and try to teach...and utilize that speed on the outside to take the top off a defense.
January 22nd, 2023 at 8:36 PM ^
Brock Bowers disagrees.
January 22nd, 2023 at 10:00 PM ^
Really? There's a tight end at Georgia that I'd like to introduce you to.
January 23rd, 2023 at 9:24 AM ^
I believe the point being made is the kid from Georgia wants to play football, and Harbor wants to play track and get to play football as well as a backup plan. He could be a bust and how does that translate to how we prepare players? If he is not 100% committed to football and he doesn't pan out then the other schools will pounce on how we took a 5 star and he flamed out. A slippery slope if we get him.
Anyways. Go Blue and Beat that team down south this year once again.
January 24th, 2023 at 3:49 AM ^
5* are accounted for on position, the best kicker ever will never be 5*. Players like TE, C that get 5* status are truly elite.
January 22nd, 2023 at 6:39 PM ^
I’m pretty sure his quote from a few weeks ago was the writing on the wall it won’t be Michigan but stranger things have happened.
January 22nd, 2023 at 7:03 PM ^
Exactly this. I have zero info on him but that interview was all you need to know regarding his preferences.
If his mother alone made the choice he goes to Michigan. It's a common thing with Michigan for reasons I won't even try to to into. Still, he clearly wants to go to Oregon or South Carolina so my bet would be on SC as a compromise. He likely wants Oregon for track but SC isn't far away so it probably comes down to gow much of an issue distance is (based on the usual logic of a recruit).
Oregon/SC and then Michigan but stranger things have happened.
January 22nd, 2023 at 8:40 PM ^
I thought I heard Sam say South Carolina has a really good track program and he’s very comfortable with the coach there, so it’s not just a distance factor. Oregon makes sense for that obvious reason too.