Jim Harbaugh pulled 2016 OT Erik Swenson's offer today two weeks out from signing day. Swenson had been committed to Michigan since 2013.
I don't really think we should lose sleep over this player in particular as he's a four-star OL and will end up just fine, probably just head to Ohio State or something. But, the fact is, Swenson committed a long time ago and never had intentions of going anywhere besides Michigan and then had the rug pulled out from under him.
At least it would seem that way. I spoke recently with a former-recruit who was offered by Michigan to ask him about Harbaugh as a recruiter ... and maybe this is just how Harbaugh does business. It's my understanding that Harbaugh tells players very early in the process that he will continue to recruit them, but he'll also continue to recruit their position. If a player who they have ranked higher comes along and shows interest, etc. the offer is likely to be pulled. In essence, Harbaugh recruits to the end, and while he doesn't discourage verbal commitments, it was this prospect's distinct belief that no offer is truly "committable" verbally.
In fact, this player said Harbaugh told him to always have a backup ready if he planned on committing. Harbaugh went even further to tell this player that the safest move would be committing to the backup first then flipping to Michigan at the end to assure you have a spot somewhere.
Something in me thinks this is about as odd and cockamamie as any "organized" process I can think of; while the other side of me realizes it might be the most optimized and maniacal.
And it isn't just the murky nature of the 2016 Michigan Football Scholarship Offer where Harbaugh is different than virtually all others. Another thing Harbaugh warns prospects he's recruiting of (who 'warns' prospects of the program's possible pitfalls during recruitment?) is that he does not guarantee to honor your scholarship for five years. If you aren't a starter by your fifth year and you redshirt, you're not guaranteed a scholarship. I was told Harbaugh says UM will help with graduate transfer options in that case, but doesn't guarantee your senior year unless you're a starter.
In the wake of news that Jim Harbaugh is doing the creepiest thing since Georgia sent out hand-drawn paintings of prospects in inventing the "in-home-visit slumber party," it's becoming clear that Harbaugh is a competitor who realizes that recruiting and personnel management is as big a competition as the on-field portion. Chicken and egg deal.
He was the first to really dive in with the satellite camps and the co-hosting of camps with other programs and consistently continues to push the envelope as far as he can.
It's just hard to tell if he's a weirdo or if he's going to change college football and recruiting as we know it.
I don't really think we should lose sleep over this player in particular as he's a four-star OL and will end up just fine, probably just head to Ohio State or something. But, the fact is, Swenson committed a long time ago and never had intentions of going anywhere besides Michigan and then had the rug pulled out from under him.
At least it would seem that way. I spoke recently with a former-recruit who was offered by Michigan to ask him about Harbaugh as a recruiter ... and maybe this is just how Harbaugh does business. It's my understanding that Harbaugh tells players very early in the process that he will continue to recruit them, but he'll also continue to recruit their position. If a player who they have ranked higher comes along and shows interest, etc. the offer is likely to be pulled. In essence, Harbaugh recruits to the end, and while he doesn't discourage verbal commitments, it was this prospect's distinct belief that no offer is truly "committable" verbally.
In fact, this player said Harbaugh told him to always have a backup ready if he planned on committing. Harbaugh went even further to tell this player that the safest move would be committing to the backup first then flipping to Michigan at the end to assure you have a spot somewhere.
Something in me thinks this is about as odd and cockamamie as any "organized" process I can think of; while the other side of me realizes it might be the most optimized and maniacal.
And it isn't just the murky nature of the 2016 Michigan Football Scholarship Offer where Harbaugh is different than virtually all others. Another thing Harbaugh warns prospects he's recruiting of (who 'warns' prospects of the program's possible pitfalls during recruitment?) is that he does not guarantee to honor your scholarship for five years. If you aren't a starter by your fifth year and you redshirt, you're not guaranteed a scholarship. I was told Harbaugh says UM will help with graduate transfer options in that case, but doesn't guarantee your senior year unless you're a starter.
In the wake of news that Jim Harbaugh is doing the creepiest thing since Georgia sent out hand-drawn paintings of prospects in inventing the "in-home-visit slumber party," it's becoming clear that Harbaugh is a competitor who realizes that recruiting and personnel management is as big a competition as the on-field portion. Chicken and egg deal.
He was the first to really dive in with the satellite camps and the co-hosting of camps with other programs and consistently continues to push the envelope as far as he can.
It's just hard to tell if he's a weirdo or if he's going to change college football and recruiting as we know it.
