Michigan Football: Guessing who is Jim Harbaugh’s ‘gift from the gods’

Jim Harbaugh talked about a freshman Michigan football player that was a ‘gift from the gods’ this week and we speculate who it might be. 

I love when Jim Harbaugh talks to the media. He doesn’t do it often, but when he does, he’s honest, somewhat transparent, and always good for a few sound bites.

We’ve gotten some good ones over the years, such as, “Chickens are a nervous bird”, something about “Milk Steak”, and many, many others. Last year, he was serious at Big Ten Media Days and said Michigan football would beat Ohio State and win the Big Ten or die trying.

We all know what happened next.

But this week at Big Ten Media Days, Harbaugh was back to making some good sound bites and while the funniest moment of his breakout session with the media may have been him talking about getting his daughter back for the Tik-Tok videos she did, one of the most eye-opening things he said was when he called a current freshman “a gift from the football gods.”

So who is it?

Harbaugh declined to reveal who he was talking about, yet that hasn’t stopped the guesses from flowing. Kenneth Grant is one name that comes to mind and he’s definitely a freak at 6-foot-4, 350 pounds with a 4.9 40 time.

Grant was one of Michigan football’s best gets in the 2022 recruiting class and as hard as it is to believe, he was a three-star when he committed.

Grant is a defensive tackle and Mason Graham, another DT, is also expected to play this season. However, I wonder if Harbaugh was talking about Will Johson (6-foot-3, 190) who also runs a 4.4.

Johnson could easily be the gift Harbaugh was talking about because he really can do it all. He’s an elite corner but could probably be a top-100 WR if he wanted to be.

Derrick Moore is another name that comes to mind. Of all the late additions Michigan football had in 2022, he was the most important. His measurables don’t stand out or anything but he’s built like a greek god and he seems ready to contribute right away for the Wolverines.

Aidan Hutchinson and David Ojabo are both in the NFL, so the door is wide open for another edge rusher to emerge and Moore is one guy that shouldn’t be forgotten about. He’s a freak and it wouldn’t shock me if he was one of the Wolverines’ best pass rushers right away.

All of this serves as a reminder that while the 2023 class has been a little disappointing, Michigan football’s recruiting has been really good and the program is in excellent shape going forward.