Wolverines’ class a success despite 2 defections
As the early signing period began Wednesday morning, Michigan appeared to be in a unique situation.
The Wolverines weren't undergoing a coaching change. But they didn't have a coaching situation that guaranteed long-term stability, either.
Instead, Michigan was in limbo.
Despite repeated remarks about his desire to continue coaching the Wolverines past this season, Jim Harbaughhas only one year remaining on his contract after this season.
In fact, Harbaugh was the only Power Five coach to enter this season with less than two years on his contract. But it would be truly unprecedented if Harbaugh were to coach Michigan next fall without an extension. Opposing programs seemed to have all the ammo they needed to convincerecruits against Harbaugh and the Wolverines.
Michigan's 2021 recruiting class for a few hours appeared ready to fall apart at the finish line.
But it didn't.
Instead, despite a pair of early defections, the Wolverines held serve, signing the bulk of their class — and adding one of the nation's top uncommitted prospects in West Bloomfield running back Donovan Edwards.
On the surface, Michigan's relatively positive Wednesday is somewhat unexpected.
Recruiting has a lot to do with relationships, and coaches who established bonds with the recruits may notbe there for the duration of their careers. Meanwhile, the Wolverines finished 2-4 this season, with several blowout losses. The program is quite clearly at its lowest point since 2014 and trending in the wrong direction, too.
Maybe Michigan's recruits simply didn't process the losses and coaching uncertainty the same way as the general public.
“I was weighing my pros and cons with everything,” Edwards said. “I felt Michigan was the best fit for me. I felt as though the players that are coming in, we’re going to come in and turn it around.”
Perhaps they saw opportunity on a young, inexperienced team decimated by attrition and injuries, andin a program that averaged over nine wins per season 2015-19 and put dozens of players in the NFL during that span.
"It's not like I live underneath a rock," receiver Andrel Anthony told the Lansing State Journal. "I know what's going on. It doesn't play much of a factor to me hearing it.
"What really solidified my thought process was I don't think Harbaugh is going to leave. Even if he does happen to or whatever, I feel like Michigan is going to get a great coach and all of that, so it's not nothing to worry about."
Now, instead of wondering how many recruits the Wolverines would hold onto, the focus is upon whether this particular group can help dig Harbaugh and Michigan out of their current hole.
As it stands, the average rating of .9037 would rank third-highest among Harbaugh's classes at
Michigan, behind 2017 and 2019. There are five top-100 recruits — according to the 247Sports Composite rankings, the second-most that Harbaugh has signed — providing an infusion of high-level talent to a roster that features three top-100 recruits. For comparison: Ohio State signed 12 on Wednesday alone.
Offensively, this is arguably the most talented group that Harbaugh has ever signed, with a five-star quarterback, top-50 running back, top-100 receiver, top-100 offensive tackle and four other four-star offensive players.
There are a few among that group who could make an immediate impact, too: J.J. McCarthy will be an early enrollee and will likely have an opportunity to win the starting job in 2021. Edwards and Xavier Worthy, who Wednesday reaffirmed his commitment to Michigan over Alabama, profile as dynamic play-makers who could see the field quickly.
The Wolverines have targeted players who, theoretically, can produce more explosive plays and fit the scheme of offensive coordinator Josh Gattis.
It is much harder to identify the plan on the other side of the ball.
While one of Michigan's top-100 recruits was linebacker Junior Colson, a dynamic prospect who could play a number of positions, he was just one of three four-star defenders signed by the Wolverines. Most of the lowerranked prospects in the class come from the defensive side of the ball; meanwhile, four-star linebacker Branden Jennings (Maryland) and four-star defensive end Quintin Somerville (UCLA) both flipped their commitments and signed with other schools.
Michigan's defense struggled mightily this season, and while this recruiting class wouldn't have solved all of U-M's woes, it is also seemingly devoid of instant differencemakers aside from Colson.
Perhaps Michigan will look to the transfer portal to cover any holes unaddressed by this class after the NCAA granted a one-time transfer with immediate eligibility. But the defense's downward slide doesn't seem any closer to ending than it did yesterday.
However, Michigan should probably be considered a winner of the early signing period, given the uncertainty facing the program and the possibility of more defections.