5 Star 2019 DE Zach Harrison Delays Decision Indefinitely
Introduction
For those who don't know, Harrison is a top 4 overall recruit on the 247 composite. Background info:
- 247 page
- The last MGoBoard update (July 11, 2018) I could google about him.
Summary
Here's a ink to the article.
- Same finalists. In addition to delaying indefinitely, he also confirms finalists are the good guys, OSU, and PSU.
- Original source. Article is derived from an interview with Clay Hall of WSYX-TV in Columbus on Monday.
Some Thoughts
- Not great for OSU; unknown for Michigan. This isn't necessarily good for Michigan, but at the very least, it's not great for Ohio State.The reason it's not necessarily good for Michigan is that it could mean Penn State has made some headway. In previous interviews, Penn State was seen as the 'compromise' school between him and his parents.
- Done with visits? There is no mention about whether he is making more visits; in the above-linked post, he said he's not, and to the best of my knowledge he wasn't at Michigan's BBQ.
- The Season, The Season, The Season. The longer this goes, I have to think the more important Michigan's performance this season becomes, and I wonder if guys like him and Dax Hill are sort of waiting to see how Michigan performs this year.
- I don't think he's trolling Michigan. In the first place, Michigan could finish its recruiting at DE and probably be fine, so there's not a huge benefit for another program to have Harrison do this. Second, in his last interview, Harrison pretty much said that he has finished with fact-finding, so I'm not sure that coaches can really expend a ton more resources on him even if they wanted to. Finally, he's not an attention-seeking guy; there are very few interviews with him out there. I think this is genuine introspection.
Not at BBQ, not coming... holds true for Keegan, too ...not hard to understand....
Benhart and Morris, come on down!!!
Such a dumb post. Harrison hasn't visited anywhere since he announced he would take no more visits.
Bad take, feel bad
Excellent thread, OP!!
Already said above, but worth repeating.
Thank you very much!
It always boils down to how the season goes. The majority of folks want to side with winners because that's simply human nature. Win and they will come.
I think it is great news. He wants to commit to Michigan, but doesn't want to deal with Neanderthal truck drivers ruining his senior year over it while he lives on Columbus - so he'll commit at the last second.
Smells too much like the Malik Mcdowell saga...... just switch up the stance of the parents vs player.
I still think there's a better chance of Santa Claus going Blue.
With McDowell, Michigan had no chance because the parent wanted Michigan and the kid didn't.
With Harrison, Michigan has no chance because the parent doesn't want Michigan and the kid does.
Sound logic.
Player and parents at odds .... pretty similar.
Just win baby.
Also, I don't think he fits with OSU's culture.
Certainly not a bad thing for us. Would love to be a fly on the wall at the Harrison house to hear the family conversations about this.
This might be the tipping point for Zach.... No only did he have an assistant that beat his wife, but now he's in charge of beating eggs and cooking sausage!
I remember another top-5 overall recruit who had the same top-3 finalists...
It did not go well for us.
How different things might have been.
He's waiting to see who wins The Game. I like our chances.
This is good news. Give us more time to make a move.
I think if we win the B1G or come close, with 10 wins, and If we can beat PSU at home. He will be a wolverine.
so should we just assume he is now in contact with Georgia?
Obviously the move of a diva. /s
We'll make a good run, do all the right things, say all the right things, and offer a great opportunity from the program, coaches, future opportunities (both NFL readiness & academics), but ultimately he'll stay home. He's from the heart of OH, not a border town. He has no family ties or old allegiances to UM. Those kids simply don't go to UM, they go to OSU.
That being said, our performance on the field has to improve to land some of these top 100 type kids that don't live in MI. We need some signature wins against the likes of PSU, OSU, & MSU. Beating Wiscy & ND would be nice too, but we need to beat our division opponents. A better record than OSU, a spot in the B1G championship game (with obviously OSU sitting at home), a more desirable bowl (or playoff spot) than OSU, and a win over them would all go a long way. But, obviously those all are very difficult things to accomplish, but certainly within the realm of possibility this season. But, until they happen we will have trouble landing a fellow like this. Just my hot take.
Harbaugh is 2-1 against Franklin and the 2016 beating was the most brutal thing I have seen done to a P5 conference champion.
I never get how a program can be a compromise. If the kids wants to go to X and his parents Y, then pick between those two. Picking a third one that is farther away and doesn't make anyone fully happy seems like a 1-way ticket to a transfer.
My guess is he's holding off to see how our season goes. If we have a breakthrough year, we've got as good a shot as anyone. But if we go 8-4 again it probably won't matter how good Brown's defense is.
I'm sure he wants to play for a winner. No one dreams of playing in the Outback Bowl. Can't blame a man for that. Let's hope Michigan gets it done on the field this Fall.
FWIW Webb addressed this at length this morning. His take is that the delay is unequivocally good news for Michigan. He believes Harrison's past comments signal that he is not completely sold on playing so close to his hometown because he has the normal teenage urge to get away from the nest and strike out on his own; he's not sure he wants to have Mom & Dad 20 minutes away.
Webb doesn't believe PSU is a real factor, and that it's strictly a contest between UM and OSU. He's basing this on the fact that Harrison's visit to PSU predated his visits to UM and OSU, and it wasn't until after those latter visits that he stated he was having trouble making up his mind.
However, he also says he still thinks OSU is the leader, so it's not like CBs for Michigan are in the immediate future, much less gut feelings.
Not holding my breath, but I'd agree that a delay is a good sign for the good guys.
I'm no Sam Webb, but I don't think PSU is being given near enough credit here. Looking at tea leaves they are very much in it.