The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
Issue link: http://read.uberflip.com/i/465847
F or the first time since the 2011 recruiting class, Michigan did not sign a five-star prospect — U-M landed six four-star recruits and finished 48th in the Rivals.com team rankings — and the lack of success this season has been a source of con- sternation for many. It shouldn't be. The Wolverines secured the big- gest recruit in the country when they landed head coach Jim Harbaugh, and while his return to college re- cruiting did not find instant success, his role at the top of the program is far more important than securing any single recruit. "I went into the season thinking this was probably going to be it for Brady Hoke, but I didn't think Mich- igan would get Harbaugh," Yahoo Sports' national columnist Pat Forde said. "I just didn't think it would happen. "To come out of that season with a guy that I think is absolutely going to win a national championship as the head coach at the University of Michigan is a brilliant success and a huge, huge thing for Michigan. I don't think that can be overstated." Harbaugh signed the No. 51 class in the country at Stanford in his first season (2007), and then signed the Nos. 50, 21 and 20 classes in the next three years. The Cardinal inked only 16 four-star recruits and did not sign MAIZE N' VIEW MICHAEL SPATH Michigan Landed Its No. 1 Recruit Landing head coach Jim Harbaugh this offseason was far more important for U-M than securing any single class of 2015 recruit. PHOTO BY LON HORWEDEL