Article: Coach Hart’s Approach to Recruiting
Pretty quick article from SI/Wolverine Digest about how Coach Hart values character traits beyond someone’s recruiting rank. As the article details, those things got him some great backs at his previous stops. On one hand, I’m in agreement with that method because football/coaching goes beyond the sport if done right. On the other, today’s recruiting environment can throw a monkey wrench into that type of model. I feel that Coach Hart will put the Michigan brand to its full use and find some highly touted guys that also fit the mold of the kind of person he wants to coach. The future is bright!
September 7th, 2022 at 10:09 PM ^
Thanks for posting. It's great listening to him, get a sense of who he is.
September 7th, 2022 at 10:10 PM ^
Sounds like Mike Hart and Jim Harbaugh are on the same page as far as the type of player they want at Michigan.
September 8th, 2022 at 11:14 AM ^
Yes. And Maizen is turning over in his (MGoBlog) grave.
September 7th, 2022 at 10:25 PM ^
It is possible to find highly rated backs who are also decent humans.
September 8th, 2022 at 12:09 AM ^
Exactly… Donovan Edwards was a top 50 recruit close to 5 star range. Blake Corum was right outside the top 100. Both were recruited hard by OSU and they turned them both down. Charbonnet was a top 50 recruit who has turned out to be a great college RB but just fell behind Corum & Haskins on the depth chart. Jay Harbaugh recruited the RB room at an incredibly high level and I hope Mike Hart can continue that because we don’t really have any star RBs in the pipeline once Edwards leaves after the 2023 season. You can hit on a Haskins once in a while but stars do matter in the aggregate.
September 8th, 2022 at 6:34 AM ^
"...we don’t really have any star RBs in the pipeline..."
Wha? I thought CJ Stokes looked pretty good. I'm not worried about replacing RB's...
September 8th, 2022 at 7:08 AM ^
I thought CJ Stokes looked great as a true freshman and we have Cole Cabana in the pipeline.
September 8th, 2022 at 8:56 AM ^
Cabana has 8 TDs through 2 games. People comparing him to Christian McCaffrey. Yeah, the pipeline concerns should be nil.
September 8th, 2022 at 9:23 AM ^
CJ Stokes looks really good and just a freshman.
September 8th, 2022 at 9:23 AM ^
It is a really good interview to give when you are not in on the top flight guys. Sends the message to the guys on the roster that they are unique and the guys you are recruiting that you have to be a special breed to play RB at Michigan.
I have zero doubt Michigan will recurit the top 5 stars and high 4 stars, Hart knows that talent is the key to continued success.
It is not uncommon when a school does not recruit at the top of the rankings to say "we recruit football players" or something to that effect. MSU has built a program convincing 3 stars that they are "spartan dogs" It may seem corney but convincing people they are special and unique can make them work harder. That is for any field not just football.
September 8th, 2022 at 2:00 PM ^
For me, the most interesting part of Hart's comments focused on Edwards. He was a top recruit but didn't get to play much as a freshman. Hart said it required mental strength on Edwards part to not want to transfer. I think that is critical in today's game where guys are getting recruited off other teams with NIL dollars and unlimited transfers. Signing a 5 star who transfers after one year because he is not immediately better than the guys ahead of him is worthless to the team.
September 8th, 2022 at 10:49 AM ^
Najee Harris seems like a really solid human being--sigh.
September 8th, 2022 at 9:30 PM ^
And they recruited him really hard. . .
September 7th, 2022 at 10:39 PM ^
I'm glad to hear it and really, it's a continuation from Jay Harbaugh. I remember an interview with Jay talking about the recruitment of Hassan and a good portion of it was about Hassan's non-football qualities. This staff seems to do a lot of due diligence on the character side.
If we keep getting guys like Haskins, Corum, and Edwards, I think we're going to be in good hands for the foreseeable future.
September 7th, 2022 at 10:54 PM ^
CJ Stokes seems like a pretty solid guy as well. The emotions he showed when he committed, plus his “always room to improve” attitude, make him both likable and proves he’s someone who’s willing to fight for the good of the program.
September 7th, 2022 at 10:46 PM ^
I really hope Jim means what he said about the NFL. Because he is building a program not only on the field, but also on the sidelines. It's clear that Jay can coach, and one would think he'll only continue to get better.
Same sith coach Hart. And neither of those guys have the proclivity to the NFL that Jim has. If Jim is truly over the NFL like he said, then this program can reach the likes of Bama and Georgia over the next 10 years, and when it's Jim's time to retire he can handle his football program on the field onto the coaching program he created in the sideline and be confident in it.
I know this had nothing to do with the article per se, it's just the feeling of where the program is, where it's headed, and the thought of where it could be.
September 7th, 2022 at 11:48 PM ^
I love the direction of the program. Stars aren't everything, but they're something. Bama has 40 5* in the CFP era. GA has like 35 and OSU 26. Clemson 22. LSU and A & M have 19. All but A & M have titles -- the only ones who've won. UM has had 8 5*s. Along with the Hart/Harbaugh philosophy, UM needs to at least double their 5* take if they're gonna compete with AL & GA.
Joel Klatt breaks down the 5* counts below:
September 8th, 2022 at 2:21 AM ^
yeah a staff still needs the horses. michigan will continue to be very strong program but theyll never reach bama or uga level. certain segments of alum, admin, etc will not prioritize football at the level of the top dogs. and michigan will not consistently recruit top 5 classes like those programs (for various reasons) - theyll recruit well enough to be competitive but wont reload every single class with legit title hopes every single year. simply a different level
September 7th, 2022 at 11:19 PM ^
This guy has had success scouting and developing underrated players everywhere he has been. Not to mention it’s a reflection on his own career.
He has earned the benefit of the doubt.
September 8th, 2022 at 6:11 AM ^
I want good people and good players, tbh I don't really think he has done much as a recruiter
September 8th, 2022 at 6:39 AM ^
These articles are nice fluff but it’s not that hard to tell he’s just not a good recruiter. Last couple of years Michigan goes after guys and then losses them and take their second or their option. You can’t claim it’s just character and not rankings when the guys on your team were lower on your own board than guys you couldn’t get.
overall it’s fine. Maybe hart is one of the running back coaches in the country that actually matters and he can get something out of less talented players or he’s being groomed for a bigger role, but he’s just not a good recruiter
September 8th, 2022 at 7:25 AM ^
This last year was his first with the program and he got CJ Stokes. Stokes was allegedly top 3 on our board and looked good in the opening.
He already has two RB commits for next cycle. One of which is speedster/4 star Cole Cabana.
September 8th, 2022 at 11:27 AM ^
Not saying we don't want top RBs based on recruiting ranking but we did not have success with them in the last decade. May be his approach is the right approach. Just may be?
September 8th, 2022 at 1:29 PM ^
You can’t claim it’s just character and not rankings when the guys on your team were lower on your own board than guys you couldn’t get.
Exactly, we offered 18 RBs in 2023 and we have the in-state guy and the 2nd lowest rate RB we offered committed. It's really hard to see it any other way
September 9th, 2022 at 2:19 PM ^
The "the-instate guy" is a top 200 player/4 star (top 10 running back) and the second highest ranked player in the class. Hall is is ranked higher than CJ Stokes was and he (Stokes) looks fantastic.
September 8th, 2022 at 7:33 AM ^
A quick look at a Michigan RB in the NIL era.
One RB on the roster - apparently has a few NiL dollars. So, what does he do?
Last year - during the conference season, IIRC, he gets family and friends together - they prepare and distribute Thanksgiving meals to those in need.
This year - I think during camp - he puts together “school stuff” - paper,pens, pencils, markers, Backpacks, etc - and delivers them to those in need.
The RB is on campus - and, I don’t think he’s driving a Mercedes AMG G63.
Who is he? Blake Corum.
Character counts.
September 8th, 2022 at 8:53 AM ^
Good stuff. Waiting the the obligatory "Move over Jaybaugh, Mike Hart is the head coach in training" thread.
September 8th, 2022 at 9:16 AM ^
Thanks for this interesting piece. Great to have Coach Hart at Michigan. He knows what he is doing and is a great Ambassador for Michigan and the program.
September 8th, 2022 at 9:26 AM ^
What would you prefer… a five star who feels entitled, or a high three / four star who busts their behind?
I’ll side with the player that works hard - in / out of the classroom & field - throughout the year.
September 8th, 2022 at 9:29 AM ^
Blake Corum was a high 4 star and Donovan Edward's was a 5 star. Just saying.
September 8th, 2022 at 10:30 AM ^
Goblin- I thought Michigan couldn’t recruit highly regarded prospects - especially those who also possess a great deal of integrity and character. Thanks for reminding us of just how well regarded both Blake and Donovan were.
And, to follow up my earlier comment - what is better than a highly regarded / talented prospect - who also is responsible, diligent, and puts forth great effort. I would say.. nothing. What an ideal combination.
P.S. It’s great to see that tandem in the backfield.
September 8th, 2022 at 10:40 AM ^
I'm no fan of Gus Johnson..... but it will be cool hearing him say Ca-Ba-Na.... when Cole carries for his 4th TD on the last game of the regular season in 2024.
September 8th, 2022 at 11:12 AM ^
Pa - I am willing to bet Gus is dreaming up remarks of “a Cabana” on a beach.. and how relaxed Cole looks on the field. Perhaps - time for a Pina Colada with some sunshine during the holidays.
September 8th, 2022 at 1:50 PM ^
Hart's recruiting ability and focus is probably somewhere in the middle of what folks in this thread are saying. He may not be the best recruiter, but I'm sure he's decent. He may focus more on character than starzz, but he's still going to prioritize talent to some degree.
I think what we need to focus on is his coaching ability. He is clearly top-notch in that regard, and our running game was good enough last year to beat Ohio State, so I'm not going to bitch about anything wrt Coach Hart or our RB room. We're doing great there. And Coach Hart is making our RBs better.
September 9th, 2022 at 3:57 PM ^
I like 5-star RBs and 4-star ones. Derrick Green was the No. 8 overall player on Rivals. Kevin Grady was the No. 22 overall on Rivals. Neither has a statue on campus.