Jim Harbaugh has spent the last three weeks storming across the country, scrambling to complete his first recruiting class.
Harbaugh, who was forced to stew at Schembechler Hall in “…a three-point stance waiting to get out” until the recruiting dead period ended, made a big impression once he was able to meet with recruits.
He enjoyed getting back on the recruiting trail and getting to know his new players, noting: "...it was not difficult. It was a real joy. It was a real pleasure. Just the things that I learned about some of the players that were already committed under Coach Hoke and his regime, and they did a tremendous job."
With this recruiting class all but complete, he knows which players he'll have to work with for next season and declared that "...practice will be a meritocracy at its best."
Harbaugh refused to project whether his class would make an immediate impact, saying: "All things will be earned on the field. There are no guarantees, only opportunities, and they will have a great opportunity here at the University of Michigan to compete at the highest level academically and at the highest level athletically."
But he didn't get every player he wanted. Harbaugh’s barnstorming put Michigan in position to swipe three additional top recruits who announced their decision on national signing day.
Unfortunately, he was disappointed when the following highly rated players failed to join his first recruiting class:
- 5-star cornerback Iman Marshall (USC)
- 4-star linebacker Roquan Smith (UCLA)
- 4-star running back Michael Weber (Ohio State)
What takeaways can we glean from Jim Harbaugh's first recruiting class?