Long Form Piece on 5 Star 2019 DE Zach Harrison (some new info)

Submitted by Caesar on

Introduction

For those who don't know, Harrison is a top 4 overall recruit on the 247 composite. Background info: 

Summary

To be honest, there's not much info. Still, some interesting quotations came up.

  • On Michigan:

"Coach Matti [defensive line coach Greg Mattison] is one of the best to ever do it. And Joey Velazquez's [a 2019 commit] father coached me in the fourth grade, so I know him and some of the other guys very well. Similar comfort to Penn State."

Adds Tracey [his mom] on Michigan head coach Jim Harbaugh: "You can't really put your finger on the word that describes him, his approach to life and his approach to football and approach to players. It's just different."

  • On Penn State:

"I like Coach [James] Franklin a lot. They've built a really good program, and I'm really close to some of the current [Penn State] commits in my recruiting class  It's a close-knit team, and I can see that when I'm up there."

  • On Ohio State:

"Obviously, Coach Jay [defensive line coach Larry Johnson] is one of the best, if not the best to ever do it on the defensive line. They win a lot of games. And if I go there, I'd be a hometown hero."

  • On the Ohio State scandal:

The Harrisons haven't explored the situation in depth. "It just has to play out," Tracey says. "I don't know if that's going to change his mind either way. Zach is far more focused on Orange football right now."

  • There's some speculation that Harrison has good enough hands to be a tight end prospect.
  • Harrison wants to take at least one more gameday visit to all three schools.

Some Thoughts

There's not too much new info, here. I think his feedback about the Meyer situation sounds genuine, especially given his deliberate approach.

I'm not sure how to read into that Harbaugh quotation. I'm not sure if mum digs Michigan's head coach, honestly. That she could favor him over Meyer would be mind-blowing, however. Franklin might be the ultimate winner from Meyer's character suicide. 

However, I'm glad to see some mention of Coach Mattison, and I was unaware of the Velazquez connection. If Michigan has a good season, gameday visit idea may end up working in Michigan's favor. It's not much to build an opinion on, but at least things don't look bad. 

 

 

DJMich23

August 14th, 2018 at 10:56 AM ^

“You can't really put your finger on the word that describes him, his approach to life and his approach to football and approach to players. It's just different.”

Well damn. Mom doesn't seem quite sold just yet.

True Blue Grit

August 14th, 2018 at 11:20 AM ^

It's not that surprising.  She's apparently an OSU fan, so she's been hearing all the negative stuff from their fanbase about Harbaugh for a while now.  And Harbaugh is the type of personality where you either really like him or you don't.  Hopefully there's time where she can get to know him better and become more positive about him.  

ak47

August 14th, 2018 at 10:57 AM ^

Those quotes make penn state look more likely than Michigan to me. Mom doesn't seem too enthused by Harbaugh, Michigan gets equated to penn state and he spends more time talking about how close knit penn state is and how close he is with other recruits. Obviously if he is still taking visits there is still plenty of time but if I had to guess right this second I'd say we are in third.

KennyHiggins

August 14th, 2018 at 10:59 AM ^

Gotta say, this was like the little hottie girlfriend coming over in the string bikini to say she wants to see other people - such a tease, so disappointing

Farnn

August 14th, 2018 at 11:15 AM ^

Two notable things about Harrison and Michigan.  His original decision date was early August, which wasn't a good sign for Michigan.  Moving it back means teams besides OSU have a chance.  If he chooses right around signing day/enrolls early, it may be to spend as little time as possible in Ohio while committed elsewhere.

 

Steve Lorenz posted this on the 247 board saying it was an interesting article.  He doesn't do that unless Michigan has a chance.  Steve has a cryptic way of saying something without saying anything, when he knows more about a recruitment than he can say publicly, and that's how this feels.

Still not getting my hopes up about Harrison.

MGoStrength

August 14th, 2018 at 11:20 AM ^

Yeah, he's going to OSU.  Move along.  If he goes to UM we will all be pleasantly surprised, but 5-star kids from the heart of OH (not a border town) just don't go to UM.  We'll make it close and say all the right things, but he's staying home unless for some reason OSU gets a bowl ban, which seems highly unlikely.

StraightDave

August 14th, 2018 at 11:23 AM ^

Same shit, different year.   The kid will visit UM say some nice things and everybody will get excited.   After the kid verbals to OSU he’ll say UM finished #3 on his list.  

Don

August 14th, 2018 at 11:48 AM ^

I don't know squat about Harrison's mom other than what I see in that quote, but I don't think the quote by itself means she doesn't like Harbaugh. He is a different kind of coach, and she's acknowledging that. I don't think it would be a positive if she thought he was like everybody else.

That said, I still think he'll be putting on the OSU hat at his presser.

Blau

August 14th, 2018 at 11:51 AM ^

I'm assuming he means recruit/teach/develop D Line recruits when he says "the best to ever do it"? I can't imagine he means as players themselves.