Take Two: Can Michigan maintain recruiting momentum to NSD?
Take Two returns with a daily offering tackling issues in the college football landscape. Rivals.com National Recruiting Analyst Adam Gorney lays out the situation and then receives takes from Rivals.com National Recruiting Director Mike Farrell and a local expert from the Rivals.com network of team sites.
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THE STORYLINE
There have been some questions about coach Jim Harbaugh during his first three seasons in rebuilding Michigan’s program - including some odd comments this week about eating chicken and about the speed of getting Michigan back to national prominence - but there’s no doubt this recruiting class is off to a phenomenal start.
So good that the Wolverines currently have the top-rated class in the Big Ten, they’re No. 13 nationally and seems to have a lot of momentum. With a revamped offense seemingly led by Ole Miss quarterback transfer Shea Patterson and a stellar defense, Michigan could be a top-five team on the field this season which could only help more with recruiting as well.
Only two five-star prospects are committed in the Big Ten - one at Penn State and Norcross (Ga.) Greater Atlanta Christian defensive end Christopher Hinton at Michigan being the other one. Even after a disappointing season and finishing no better than third in the Big Ten East so far, Harbaugh has turned the corner in recruiting with this 2019 class.
Can Michigan keep up this recruiting momentum and finish with the top class in the Big Ten?
FIRST TAKE: BRANDON BROWN, THEWOLVERINE.COM
“Michigan has a chance to hang on to that No. 1 spot in the Big Ten but it will obviously be tough with the way Penn State and Ohio State are recruiting. The Wolverines are still in on several big-time prospects, including five-stars Zach Harrison and Daxton Hill, and a couple of four-star tackles in Trevor Keegan and Danielson Ike.
“It’s all about how Michigan does on the field this year. If the defense is as good as it’s been in the past under Don Brown and the offense can improve under likely starter Shea Patterson, the sky is the limit. Jim Harbaugh has to take his boys on the road against Notre Dame, Michigan State and Ohio State, which is obviously brutal, but success between the lines will result in success on the trail.”
SECOND TAKE: MIKE FARRELL, RIVALS.COM
“They’ll get surpassed eventually. Still, I like what they’re doing in the Southeast and that’s going to be the key for Harbaugh.
“You’re starting to see Penn State recruit more in the South, getting kids from Texas and kids from the Southeast states. Urban Meyer has gotten plenty of top kids from the Southeast over the years, though Ohio State is now shrouded with uncertainty. Michigan is doing a good job of getting kids from that area and that’s going to improve their recruiting a great deal.
“Based on their average star ranking right now, Michigan will probably not be able to hold onto the top spot in the Big Ten.”