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What Jim Harbaugh’s return means for Michigan Football Recruiting

By Jordan Bruetsch

INDIANAPOLIS, IN - DECEMBER 03: Head coach Jim Harbaugh of the Michigan Wolverines is seen with University of Michigan President Santa J. Ono following the Big Ten Championship against the Purdue Boilermakers at Lucas Oil Stadium on December 3, 2022 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images)
INDIANAPOLIS, IN - DECEMBER 03: Head coach Jim Harbaugh of the Michigan Wolverines is seen with University of Michigan President Santa J. Ono following the Big Ten Championship against the Purdue Boilermakers at Lucas Oil Stadium on December 3, 2022 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images) /
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Harbaugh’s return is huge for Michigan football recruiting

In terms of the 2023 class, this is huge. If Harbaugh were to wait until February to make his decision again, I would’ve said the Wolverines would miss out on all of their remaining prospects. With Harbaugh back, however, things change.

High three-star defensive lineman Cameron Brandt is slated to be on campus this weekend, and with Harbaugh, back for good the Wolverines have a great chance of flipping him from Stanford.

The Wolverines can also reassert themselves with the recruitment of Jamel Howard, which lost a lot of steam after the early signing period ended. While Luke Fickell has done an excellent job of getting Howard to reconsider the Badgers, Michigan is still very much a factor in this one.

Now, to the recruitment, everyone’s dying to hear about, Nyckoles Harbor. My confidence has been on a downward trend since September, but the Harbaugh news gives Michigan football a fighting chance. There is no clear leader in his recruitment, but Michigan sits very highly.

Oregon has made a huge push for Harbor, and he is making an official visit there at the end of January. Distance is obviously a big factor, as Oregon is across the country, but we know that the Ducks have a lot to say in terms of NIL. Him visiting right before signing day also worries me a lot, as recency bias is a very real thing.

While I don’t think Harbor will be on Michigan’s campus again, the Wolverines still have something very valuable in their bag of tricks: a Jim Harbaugh in-home visit. Harbaugh’s early announcement is so important because that visit doesn’t happen if Harbaugh is undecided until February.

Jim Harbaugh is still Michigan’s best recruiter, in my opinion. If there’s anyone who can close the deal for Harbor, it’s Harbaugh. I’m sure Harbaugh is going to tell Harbor all about Michigan’s NIL plans, and he very realistically could seal the deal for Michigan.

I still think it’s more likely than not that Harbor signs elsewhere, but Michigan football is a very real contender.

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