A “flippin” good recruiting year for Michigan football
A few of my Spartan rival fans tainted my phone with some text messages on Wednesday (National Signing Day) pokin’ at Jim Harbaugh for missing on a couple recruits folks thought might “flip” Michigan’s way (Chris Clark and Mike Weber, in particular). I certainly didn’t let it bug me because Michigan Football is in great shape, thank you very much. I am basing that on the passing of the head football coaching baton to the ultimate gem “recruit” every Michigan fan wanted – and every NFL media type said they would not land – Jim Harbaugh. All is well with Harbaugh at the helm. Trust me on that one.
Just consider for a moment the mere fact Harbaugh only had six commitments when he took the job on Dec. 30th in the midst of the recruiting “dead period.” Harbaugh with his ultimate Type A personality – aggressive as Hell – and his staff made the most of the 2 1/2 weeks (dead period) in the office and then the 3 1/2 weeks on the road in the contact period, finishing with 14 recruits, eight who committed after the staff hit the road. Michigan (despite just 14 kids landed) ended up No. 36 on the Scout.com team ranking list. They had to “flip” 8 recruits (previously verbally committed to other schools) — including quarterback Zach Gentry from Texas, defensive end Reuben Jones from Nebraska, offensive lineman Nolan Ulizio from Connecticut, and defensive back Keith Washington from Cal. That’s a lot of flipping. When you come in late, you gotta flip people – and as Harbaugh declared – “that is the way the pickle squirted this year.” Michigan ended up with 6 Four star recruits – just one less than Michigan State with its heralded class we keep hearing about on the hour from the state-wide media.
I am excited for the 2015 season and moving forward for Michigan Football for a couple reasons: No. 1 – there is talent there in the program, 50 plus kids of the two-deeps are returning. There is ability that exists – it just needs to be “coached up” (God I hate that term, why did I use it?) and toughened up. And once Harbaugh “gets the rust off” (back to recruiting college kids again) as he calls it, starts building those relationships with high school coaches, I say “look out Big 10.” Michigan Football will be back to its conference title contending self.
