Firsts are meant to be special and magically unforgettable—the first child, the first big promotion, or, in Jim Harbaugh’s case, the first recruiting classes at Michigan.
Actually, consider his “first” to be the first two, as 2015's—which he’s salvaging in the wake of Brady Hoke’s firing—and 2016’s hauls will certainly serve as the foundation for one of those beautiful, breathtaking homes that the newly crowned Wolverines coach absolutely loves to construct.
But this time, instead of building and searching for more real estate on which to repeat, he’s intent on throwing up a “permanent” dwelling, which could very well be tucked somewhere near Ann Arbor, his old stomping grounds.
At this point in time, Michigan fans are all in for Jim; they’re holding their collective breath as the former San Francisco 49ers and Stanford mastermind hires assistants and hikes the trails for prospects.
For reasons good, bad or indifferent, these next two classes will be nothing short of memorable in the minds of ardent Wolverines supporters. With any luck, they’ll be more than just the first ones—they’ll likely be the catalysts for Harbaugh, who’s already set his sights on some of the best that 2015 and 2016 have to offer.
Making the Most of 2015
Getting Michael Weber to Ann Arbor would serve as early magic for Harbaugh, who barely has time to make ends meet for the 2015 class.
At one time, Weber, a 5’9.5”, 219-pounder out of Detroit Cass Tech, was committed to the Wolverines, but he backed out and chose Ohio State, which in turn gained a 4-star running back from enemy territory.
While it’s unlikely that Weber will again flip and pledge to Michigan, it is worth thinking about. Not many coaches would allow one of the state’s elite prospects to cross the border without putting up a fight.
According to Scout.com’s Sam Webb, Weber recently wanted to speak with Harbaugh. But that conversation hasn’t been made public, leaving little to spike feelings either way. If they indeed exchanged pleasantries, it’d be safe to say that Harbaugh threw out his best pitch for the sake of being thorough.
He has to get the best in his backyard. That's required. If not, Ohio State coach Urban Meyer and Michigan State coach Mark Dantonio will.
According to 247Sports, John Kelly has "warmer" interest in the Wolverines. The 5'10", 194-pounder out of Oak Park is the No. 9-ranked prospect in the state, so he could help satisfy Harbaugh's craving for a high-end homegrown product.
Classified as an "athlete," Kelly would add, well, he'd add athleticism to the fold. Teams can never have too many all-around threats. Whether as a corner or safety, a gadget back or slot, Kelly could grow into a role in Ann Arbor.
Chris Clark, a 4-star tight end, would be a get. The 6'6", 247-pounder out of Connecticut is the prototypical Big Ten bruiser.
According to 247Sports, he has "warmer" interest in Michigan but is also considering UCLA, Texas, South Carolina and, among others, North Carolina—the school to which he committed prior to committing and decommitting from Michigan.
Again, luring a top target back to Michigan would be pure magic for Harbaugh, who has enough NFL and NCAA cred to make anyone consider his offer, committed or not.
Case in point: He's also looking to snatch Iman Marshall from the perceived grips of USC. The 5-star corner isn't formerly attached to a team and is as good as advertised, perhaps better. Most sane people feel he has a great chance of choosing the Trojans.
But the 6'1", 190-pound Long Beach Poly standout would look great lined up alongside Jabrill Peppers, one of the gems of the 2014 class.
With Marshall and Peppers locking down the corners, opposing offensive coordinators would be facing the worst-case scenario. For them. Not the Wolverines. It'd take a special group of wideouts and exemplary play-calling to sink such a tandem of talent.
Harbaugh's also on the hunt for a quarterback and will reportedly visit McLane Carter of Texas. Jeff Traylor, Carter's coach and athletic director, has taken to Twitter to spread the word about his unheralded lefty.
Surprisingly enough, Carter doesn't hold any major offers. Diamond in the rough? Michigan's had a terrific one of those before.
There are possibilities. It's not time to junk the next one just yet. But with just six commits to date, the next class will always be known as the one that got away—it could have been of monumental significance to Hoke, possibly worthy of an extension had the 2014 season not bitten the dust.
Any coach who takes what's left of 2015 and makes do deserves a place in program lore. It'll be the first chapter of many more to come for Harbaugh, who seems to be in it for the long haul.
Next, Next is Best/Harbaugh 'Re-Brand'
Check out (and monitor) the offers and targets for 2016 on 247Sports.
By now, the best high school football players in the land have at least thought about the Harbaugh takeover in Ann Arbor. It's national news, of course they know.
In terms of confidence and momentum, it'd appear that Michigan has made a triumphant return to the spotlight. That boosts perception, especially for those too young to remember dominant and nationally relevant Wolverines teams.
With three already pledged to join, the 2016 class could be what 2015 was supposed to be—getting the absolute best at each position. It's a simple plan, really: Get the best talent, give the best talent the best coaching and watch the wins pile.
A resurgence in recruiting isn't difficult to predict. Harbaugh could go 7-5 or 6-6 this fall and still clean up at or higher than the level of Hoke on national signing day.
Harbaugh's been on the job for all of two weeks and has little time to make visits. However, along with athletic director Jim Hackett, he's assembled a staff that will certainly command attention.
Recruits want to win. They want to play for coaches who understand that.
Harbaugh isn't just talking about winning and making sales pitches, he's giving prospects a real-time look at what the new era will embrace, and that's nothing short of excellence across the board.
Follow Bleacher Report’s Michigan Wolverines football writer Adam Biggers on Twitter @AdamBiggers81.
Unless otherwise noted, quotes and references were obtained firsthand by the writer via press conference or press release.
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