Harbaugh's New Twitter Follows

Submitted by alum96 on

It remains to be seen how relevent who Harbaugh follows on twitter is but since it's a relatively small group and we're in a highly speculative time might as well discuss.  Twitter following analysis is the new university directory tracking analysis is the new flight tracker analysis ...until proven otherwise.

Jim went ham today with 9 new follows - including Runyan's dad who I had not realized was a U.S. Congressman (Michigan Man (tm)).

Outside of UM commits and politicians the new follows were:

  • Marshall - who is on his way back to Cali (remains a long shot)
  • Mike Weber - I imagine the speculation on that will be fun on 11 Warriors
  • Matt Snyder - the TE who followed Riley from Oregon St to Nebraska and seems to be our "break glass in case Clark goes Bruin" option.
  • Will Lockett - the UCLA CB commit who will be in town this weekend

Then two high profile 2016 names - one it sounds like he met face to face today as he was in that Houston area HS.  (Lockett is also in a suburb of Houston)

  • Dontavious Jackson, from TX #4 ILB per 247 composite (62% Texas crystal ball)
  • Ben Bredeson, from WI #4 OT per 247 composite (93% Wisconsin crystal ball)

Looks like we are back in the right pocket of starz for the 2016 type of players.  Also the emphasis on TX immediately is pleasing.

While not a twitter follow, CA #3 2016 OLB Caleb Kelly (100% Oklahoma) was visited by someone, I assume Drevno today.  Harbaugh is apparently headed to CA as well today.

alum96

January 20th, 2015 at 2:01 PM ^

I  missed the short lived but entertaining university directory tracking fad, so I told myself I would not miss the new fad whatever it is. 

No on a serious note if Jim starts following 20 recruits a day it will be useless, but since he doesn't follow many I will be interested to see in the ratio of "follows to commits".  A year from now he might be following 400 recruits and it won't be very useful.

Tate

January 20th, 2015 at 1:56 PM ^

I messed around with the 247 Class Predictor a little bit yesterday; I gave us 8 new commits, and we came out to be the 25th ranked class. None of the ones I included were really longshots, with the top two recruits being Clark and Weber.

alum96

January 20th, 2015 at 2:06 PM ^

That would surprise me unless you went all 4 stars or all 4 stars but 1.  To come in 25th with a 14 person class would seem difficult.   I have never used that predictor but does it take into account that other teams will add to their classes too or is it "if Michigan adds 8 players and everyone else is static" sort of thing?

I did it by hand 3-4 weeks ago when I thought we would have 16 recruits and using a mix of Chris Clark, 3-5 four stars, and the rest 3 stars I projected late 20s to mid 30s (depending on how many 4 stars are included).  But again that was with 16 commits and unless something changes we are at 12 right now accounting for 2 Glasgows and a Kerridge.

Wouldn't focus so much on the total rank this year, we have an anomaly in terms of such a small class.  If one is a star gazer the average starz per player is going to be more useful.  I mean OSU is going to have 24 players this class (or more) and we have 12ish.

JoeyFootball19

January 20th, 2015 at 1:59 PM ^

I love the speculation of his twitter followers. Probably doesn't mean much. But we can be hopeful. I was roaming Scout and saw their predictions for the remaining uncommitted top 300 recruits. For the Big 3 Iman Marshall, Chris Clark and Roquan Smith all the Scouts predictions had them going to USC, UCLA and UGA. How much stock do you usually put into that? #GoBlue

alum96

January 20th, 2015 at 2:09 PM ^

Yeah if Weber flips to UM he is going to be in Kyle Kalis territory in terms of enemy #1. for their fans.  I have to imagine he feels squeezed now that they landed that RB in 2016. 

And I dont think we are saying his loss to OSU is going to impact OSU - they are recruiting at an elite level.  It just helps us.  And taking a player directly away just would be fun.

EGD

January 20th, 2015 at 4:49 PM ^

Even if you assume JH signs a highly-ranked RB for 2016, Weber would still have to like his chances of being the featured back better at M than OSU; here's his competition at both places

Ohio State:

2015: Elliott (jr), Samuel (soph), J. Marshall (soph) D. Wilson (jr), W. Ball (RS jr)

2016;  Samuel (jr), J. Marshall (jr), D. Wilson (sr.), W. Ball (RS sr.), K. Walker (fr) [this assumes Elliott goes pro early--otherwise, add as sr. Ezekial Elliott]

2017: Samuel (Sr), J. Marshall (sr), K. Walker (soph)

2018: K. Walker (jr)

Michigan:

2015: D. Green (jr), D. Smith (jr), D. Johnson (RS jr), Ty Isaac (RS soph)

2016: D Green (sr), D. Smith (sr), D Johnson (RS sr), Ty Isaac (RS jr)

2017: Ty Isaac (RS Sr); hypothetical 2016 RB (fr)

2018: hypothetical 2016 RB (soph)

Felix.M.Blue

January 20th, 2015 at 4:04 PM ^

Kalis was pretty outspoken about his hatred towards ohio state. There were a few guys in that class I believe took pics burning their ohio state offer letter.

If Weber did switch I'd rather he just thank them and say I'm going home to play football and leave it at that.

Then again I'm not a stake in the ground type of person.

bdneely4

January 20th, 2015 at 2:55 PM ^

That taking Weber will not have a huge impact to OSU since they are recruiting at a high level, but the fact of the matter is Meyer still wants him in the class. Otherwise, he would not have extended an offer. I do find it amusing that OSU coming back to glory in Meyer's first year was the norm, but it is going to take multiple years for Harbaugh to bring Michigan back. Most people forget that Brady Hoke was a pretty good recruiter and just as an elite coach in Meyer did with OSU, I expect an elite coach like Harbaugh to have instant success. By no means am I predicting undefeated seasons or a NC in 3 years, but I am predicting a quick turnaround from Harbaugh. It kills OSU fans to believe this!!
GO BLUE!

alum96

January 20th, 2015 at 2:20 PM ^

I don't take too much into that - he just seems  USC bound; anyone who pulls him out of USC, I believe it would be a major upset.  If I was very serious about going to UM I'd stay on the ground for more than 36 hours as this was my only time I've ever visited the school.  I also dont believe (don't quote me but I think Magnus said) his parents were on the trip.  No one on 247 flipped him to UM the past 24 hrs - usually at least someone will give a cursory flip.

Rosen was saying great things about UM and tweeting nice stuff etc - didnt change his mind from UCLA.  Different situation than Clark who was a former commit, had been here multipe times, etc.

Sauce Castillo

January 20th, 2015 at 2:19 PM ^

Iman allllllllllllllll day.  I think of all the 2015 kids we are going after he has the largest potential to make an impact right away.  You could be looking at a situation where Iman and JD Lewis are the corners, countess at nickel, and move peppers to safety with wilson.  That would be dynamic.  Clark is big don't get me wrong but I'm talking biggest impact next year.

julesh

January 20th, 2015 at 2:15 PM ^

I wonder if the NCAA will ever decide that following recruits is a secondary violation. Coaches aren't allowed to acknowledge anything about recruits publicly, right? 

UFM

January 20th, 2015 at 2:23 PM ^

What he said.  We have Ezekiel Elliott for at least one more year.  Behind him is Curtis Samuel who some on the coaching staff have said may be better than Elliott.  And we have 2 top RBs in the 2016 class committed to us in Walker and George Hill.  Weber would be nice to have for depth and for the Cass Tech connection.  But losing him to you guys would not make anyone in Columbus lose sleep.

Joey Burrow on the other hand . .. he is someone who many from Ohio who follow high school football see as a Barrett clone.  I think he's special and sounds like Harbaugh does too.

Either way with Harbaugh on the job, you guys will continue to bring in elite recruits just like Meyer.  It may take a couple of years for Harbaugh to get his recruits on campus and for the transition to happen but once it does everyone in Columbus expects something similar to a ten-year war.  But I don't think Weber is what will make or break that.  Just like Kalis--a five star recruit--has had no impact whatsoever on this rivalry on the field.

P.S. if you guys get Iman Marshall that would be a SICK secondary in 2 years.

bdneely4

January 20th, 2015 at 2:58 PM ^

But if Samuel is better than Elliot, Samuel would be playing over Elliot. We all want to believe out backups are awesome, but there is a reason they are a backup to the starters. I am sure Samuel is a fine RB, but he is not better than Ezekiel.

ChicagoGangViolins

January 20th, 2015 at 2:21 PM ^

 

They're calling it "planking" and I just heard. There's this guy who planks on beer and it's so cool.

michgoblue

January 20th, 2015 at 2:41 PM ^

I am not too happy with this Harbaugh guy so far.  Seems more obsessed with his fashionable pleated Khakies and his social media than he does with coaching actual football.  What is he a kardashian or something? 

ChicagoGangViolins

January 20th, 2015 at 2:51 PM ^

 

There's like a second Harbaugh or something, although it's true you can never have enough Harbaugh. However, Harbaugh does currently hold a perfect coaching record at Michigan. And I think over time he'll remain as close to perfect as any coach ever. So there's that I suppose. Suck it up cupcakes. 

 

Bodogblog

January 20th, 2015 at 5:53 PM ^

I thought that "Harblaugh" said Marshall was staying until Wed.?  Dammit.  Yeah I agree, that's a short visit.  Staying until Wed. would have been a good sign, but it's possible he's got real commitments that forced him back home.

PrimeChronic

January 20th, 2015 at 7:00 PM ^

I think it's safe to say now you can replace all the chuck norris sayings with Jim Harbaugh.

Harbaugh's tears can cure cancer, unfortunately he has never cried.