Michigan Football: 4 things that must happen in the 2021 season

Upward Trajectory in Recruiting

I saved this one for last because if the other three things listed in this article happen, we should see a positive impact on recruiting.

I am definitely not a recruiting expert. I don’t follow it nearly as close as I used to. But everyone knows recruiting is as important as anything else when it comes to building an elite college football program.

Here is where each of the last five recruiting classes for Michigan football has ranked nationally:

2016: 8th

2017: 5th

2018: 22nd

2019: 8th

2020: 14th

As we sit right now, the 2021 class ranks 13th nationally. So on paper, it’s pretty on par with previous years. But after talking to a few people that follow recruiting a lot more closely than I do, there is a general concern about how this class will end up. People aren’t too optimistic.

Michigan has recruited fine under Jim Harbaugh, but he doesn’t have a ton to show for his year after year top-15 classes. With the new coaching hires made this offseason, recruiting was definitely a top priority. There has to be an upward trajectory with recruiting and that has to start this season.

As previously mentioned, this is a pivotal year for Jim Harbaugh and the Michigan football program. Everybody is rooting for Harbaugh to turn this ship around.

Beating Michigan State, being competitive against the Buckeyes, ending the season strong, and finishing the 2022 recruiting class strong will go a long way to showing the athletic department and the fanbase that Harbaugh is the right guy going forward.

If some of the things in this article don’t end up happening in 2021, this offseason could get interesting for Michigan football.