Michigan football head coach Jim Harbaugh said some interesting things on Tuesday at Big Ten Media Days and are three that should open some eyes.
It was good to see Jim Harbaugh walk to the stage on Tuesday at the Big Ten Media Days as the head coach of the reigning Big Ten champions,
Michigan football fans waited a long time to bask in the glory of a Big Ten championship, especially in the era of the championship game, and seeing Jim Harbaugh at the podium was a great reminder of what this program accomplished last season.
Another reminder was the question asked about Ryan Day as a reporter tried to clarify the comments Jim Harbaugh made last year after the Ohio State game about some people being born on third base and thinking they hit a triple.
It was clearly meant for Day but he said, “no comment” on Tuesday.
Last question to Harbaugh was about his relationship with Ryan Day. Says it is cordial, professional.
— Anthony Broome (@anthonytbroome) July 26, 2022
Asked about "born on third base" quote from last November, said, he gave a no comment.
Smile, waved, left the stage.
And so ends Michigan at Big Ten Media Days.
While that was interesting, Harbaugh said some other really important things on Tuesday, and here are the three that stood out the most.
The perfect response for NIL
Jim Harbaugh was asked about NIL and Day’s comments about Ohio State needing $13 million to be able to compete. Here’s what Harbaugh said:
Jim Harbaugh on what he thought when he heard OSU coach Ryan Day ask boosters for $13 million for his team ... "I think we can double that." Says they are headed in the right direction, that he's always been for NIL and getting the players a share of revenue.
— Chris Balas (@Balas_Wolverine) July 26, 2022
You have to love that he countered that Michigan football could double that number…and it can. The Wolverines have tons of financial resources, they just need to be unleashed.
Along those same lines, Harbaugh, who has been one of the most player-friendly college football coaches in the country (he advocated for the one-time transfer years ago, and NIL) also said players should receive a portion of the Big Ten’s TV deal.
He’s right they should and the answer was genius. NIL is supposed to be a hindrance for Michigan football right now, and it has been in the 2023 class, but once the Wolverines get it figured out, U-M could and should be very competitive in the NIL arena.
It’s not a bold prediction looking at the money surrounding Michigan athletics and the fact that the Wolverines have routinely some of the most-watched games in the sport.
It’s not rocket science and it’s good to see Harbaugh continuing to advocate for NIL instead of complaining about it like most other prominent head coaches.
‘A gift from the gods’
One of the more eye-opening things Harbaugh said purely from a football perspective, was when the head coach described an incoming freshman as “a gift from the gods.”
Harbaugh says one of his freshmen is a "gift from the gods." But he won't say who.
— Chris Balas (@Balas_Wolverine) July 26, 2022
This should get fans excited because the truth is, it could be any number of incoming Michigan football players. One mentioned was Kenneth Grant, a defensive tackle who is 6-foot-4, 349 pounds, and runs the 40 in less than five seconds.
I can see a 6-4, 350 pound defensive tackle that runs somewhere in the 4.9s (or lower) as a true freshman being "a gift from the football gods."https://t.co/jgT00XlfbH
— Anthony Broome (@anthonytbroome) July 26, 2022
Darrius Clemons, the 6-foot-3, 210-pound wide receiver who runs 4.39 in the 40 could also be considered, as could five-star cornerback Will Johnson who is also 6-foot-3 and runs a 4.4. or Derrick Moore, who looks like he could be a Greek God.
All of those guys could contribute right away this season and that’s pretty exciting considering Michigan is fresh off finishing as the No. 3 team in the country.
Recruiting in the 2023 cycle hasn’t gone as well as we all hoped, but when Michigan starts winning this fall and things get better on the NIL front (which they will), this program will be humming along.
Harbaugh’s defensive expectations
Going into the 2022 season, most people are expecting Michigan football to be better on offense compared to the 2021 season and not quite as good on the defensive side of the ball.
The logic makes sense. The Wolverines have both of their quarterbacks returning from 2021, as well as the majority of their offensive starters including guys like Blake Corum, Donovan Edwards, Cornelius Johnson, Erick All, and Ronnie Bell, Roman Wilson — the list goes on and on.
It wouldn’t be the least bit surprising if this was the best offense Jim Harbaugh has coached at Michigan. This group has 40 points-per-game potential.
Yet, the thing that grabbed my attention was when Harbaugh said the defense could be even better than last year’s which featured Aidan Hutchinson, David Ojabo, and Daxton Hill.
Harbaugh refers to his team as a "no-star defense" in reference to hungry guys across the board and good competition. Says he thinks they have a shot to be even better.
— Anthony Broome (@anthonytbroome) July 26, 2022
Said last year was a "no-star offense," but "now you have some legitimate stars over there."
If you look at the defense, it’s hard to find weaknesses. Yes, the pass rush is a concern but Mike Morris and the guys should be able to generate enough pressure, and the tandem inside of Mazi Smith and Kris Jenkins is going to be legit.
I firmly believe Junior Colson is going to have a Devin-Bush kind of breakout season, plus you have Nikai Hill-Green and Jaylen Harrell, as well as Michael Barrett.
DJ Turner proved to be a stellar No. 1 corner last season, plus Gemon Green and Mike Sainristil make up a really solid top three, a top three five-star freshman Will Johnson could easily crack.
Michigan lost both starters at safety but has RJ Moten and Rod Moore, who each started games last season, plus dynamic newcomers such as Zeke Berry and Keon Sabb.
At the very least, the defense shouldn’t take a big step back from 2021 and if that winds up being true, the Wolverines will have a good shot at winning the Big Ten again in 2022.