Recruiting: What impact *would* (not *will*) Harbaugh have?

Submitted by StephenRKass on

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.

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M Squared

December 23rd, 2014 at 3:13 PM ^

My guess is that Harbaugh is going to be lights out in recruiting.  People underestimate the recruiting bump that new coaches get.  Their pitch is a strong one: You are the first members of my football team that I am recruiting.  I remember in Rich Rod's first year, everyone thought he was off the charts in terms of recruiting but it turned out not to be the case.  On top of that, I think he has the charisma to be a phenomenal recruiter on his own.  

Even with the short recruiting window that he will inherit this year, I think we will be very happy with his recruiting skills.  I expect top 5 recruiting class for the next couple of years then to level off somewhere in the top 10.  My two cents.

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StephenRKass

December 23rd, 2014 at 12:47 PM ^

Well, I'm clueless, which is why I posted in the first place. I thought Cole was a commit. Scout has him listed not as a commit, but as a prospect. Like everyone else, I'm eagerly awaiting what happens with the coaching change. But other than those starting class in January, I really don't know what is happening with the current class. It was so depressing to see guys decommitting, I stopped compulsively following recruiting.

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BlueCube

December 23rd, 2014 at 1:45 PM ^

His father said they want to talk to the new coach. I'd assume if the new coach has the initials JH we are a lock. It may be a lock even if they don't know who the coach is but they would prefer to talk to the coach before enrolling.

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alum96

December 23rd, 2014 at 1:44 PM ^

Hope Ace is resting and healing - he has a lot of work coming up.

As for OP I dont know what sort of answer you want.  Obviously it helps . Oviously this class is a disaster.  Obviously offensive minded players will want to play for him.  I mean what do you want us to say?  Recruiting with an actual coach is better than without a coach.  Recruiting with a coach is better than with a lame duck coach.  Recruiting with a high level success coach is better than not.  Everything else is just guessing.

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StephenRKass

December 23rd, 2014 at 2:33 PM ^

Well, obviously, recruiting will be better with any coach, and will be much better with Harbaugh. That's so obvious I don't know what to say. Except, that's not the answer I wanted.

Let me be more clear. There are several categories I was interested in.

  1. Former commits who have left Michigan for good, and aren't coming back.
  2. Former commits (even current commits) who are visiting schools, but would definitely be interested in Michigan if Harbaugh is the new coach. (Cole? Clark? Kinnel? Others?)
  3. Current uncommitted prospects who waiting to see who the new coach is, after which they may commit to Michigan. (Iman Marshall?)
  4. Former recruits who never considered Michigan, committed elsewhere, but who might consider Michigan with the coaching change. I'm wondering if there are any guys on the West Coast who would fall in this category. It also would be awesome (but unlikely) to pry prized recruits away from MSU or OSU.

Because I stopped following recruiting altogether several months ago, I really don't know the current and anticipated state of things with recruiting. That is what I was asking about.

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RobSk

December 23rd, 2014 at 4:14 PM ^

  1. Former commits who have left Michigan for good, and aren't coming back.

I wouldn't be a bit surprised if Harbaugh manages to pull one of these guys back.

FYI: I'm completely aware that Harbaugh is not yet Michigan's coach. So yeah, the below is not just speculation, but speculation based on a premise that is not yet certain. FWIW, I believe that Harbaugh will be Michigan's next coach..

  1. Former commits (even current commits) who are visiting schools, but would definitely be interested in Michigan if Harbaugh is the new coach. (Cole? Clark? Kinnel? Others?)

He gets Cole and Clark beyond question. I don't know as much about Kinnel.

  1. Current uncommitted prospects who waiting to see who the new coach is, after which they may commit to Michigan. (Iman Marshall?)

Wild guess, we pull in two excellent (high 4/5*) commits in the month of January.

  1. Former recruits who never considered Michigan, committed elsewhere, but who might consider Michigan with the coaching change. I'm wondering if there are any guys on the West Coast who would fall in this category. It also would be awesome (but unlikely) to pry prized recruits away from MSU or OSU.

Yeah, good analysis. I wouldn't be surprised if we pulled in somebody like this.. St. Brown? Tim Settle? Zach Robertson (ooooh)?

    Rob

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GoWings2008

December 23rd, 2014 at 12:45 PM ^

so many have thought to ask, but seem content enough to wait until the coaching search is over to start talking about it.  But I think that its safe to say a positive effect is expected, but will we get back any of the decommitted players? 

Really tough to say, some may have decommitted due to the uncertainty of the program, some because they weren't really ours to begin with.  I hope that is more of the former in which case they know what they would be getting into. 

I estimate we get 2-3 commits in the week immediately following an announcement, IF Jim is indeed the new coach.  February 4th is just around the corner afterall...

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lilpenny1316

December 23rd, 2014 at 12:46 PM ^

I posted his tweet last week where he hoped "Coach Harbaugh" would come to Michigan.  Outside of Saban and maybe Meyer, I think Harbaugh has the credentials to make a kid open up their recruitment, especially if they grew up M fans.

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getsome

December 23rd, 2014 at 4:54 PM ^

not sure of the exact # but stanford has tons of TEs currently playing in NFL - im guessing clark prob knows the exact # though.  i saw the bengals using that rookie hewlitt last night.  

and along with numerous high picks like fleener, ertz, etc teams have even signed backup TEs from standford.  

harbaugh, shaw and crew excelled at locating great TE prospects and then molding them into well rounded college players and pro prospects.  id think harbaugh would be very attractive new coach to dudes like clark

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saveferris

December 23rd, 2014 at 12:47 PM ^

I'm guessing the impact will be good.  He may not be able to flip all of Hoke's commits back to Michigan (hell, he may not even want some of Hoke's commits), but I'm guessing if he, for instance, gives Mike Weber a phone call, Mike will take the phone call.

Regardless, this is pointless until we know for sure that Harbaugh is taking the job.

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JamieH

December 23rd, 2014 at 12:52 PM ^

You're really going out on a limb there with that prediction, huh?

 

Good grief, the man is one of the premiere coaches in the NFL, having been to 3 consecutive NFC championship games, and resurrected Stanford from 1-11, and we are guessing his impact on recruiting will be "good"???????

 

This is pretty much a no-brainer question.  DUH, his impact on recruting will be huge.  Compared to our current situation, which is NO COACH, he is pretty much the best possible result.   Some kids probably don't want to play for him because he is a noted hard-ass.  But for every kid that doesn't want to play for him, there will be one that wants to win and or get to the NFL, and that is what Harbaugh will sell.

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His Dudeness

December 23rd, 2014 at 12:47 PM ^

Im hearing Roseboro would be back in the fold and we would get a strong look from Iman Marshall (he wants to play with Peppers).

Other than that Jim would take a rather large swing at the west coast top 250 type guys.

All of the Weber, Kirkland, etc types would most likely stay out of the picture.

It will be a smaller class regardless but a few names will pop in before it's over.

 

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StephenRKass

December 23rd, 2014 at 12:55 PM ^

That's exactly what I wanted to know. Thanks for your post. I didn't have Roseboro's name in front of me, but I wondered about him. Marshall and Roseboro would be great additions. And I'm sure that some who have committed are gone for good. I did notice that Damien Harris still hasn't made a commitment anywhere. In some ways, having a small class is very helpful. It would be much easier to sign 9 - 10 more guys than 15 - 20 more.

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