The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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2015 RECRUITING ISSUE "Obviously, he's the key," Farrell said. "A quarterback can make or break a class. Harbaugh likes big quar- terbacks with strong arms who can see the field well and can move around a little bit … like Andrew Luck. "He's had surprisingly mobile guys who can shift around a bit, and this kid fits that mold. It's not surprising that he targeted him. He's the biggest name in this class. "Whether he has the biggest impact … now, Malzone's not bad. That's a four-star quarterback right there." Farrell pointed out that the offen- sive linemen in the class wouldn't make an immediate impact, but could be hugely important down the road. It's easier to break through at the skill positions, he cautioned, meaning someone such as Perry could see the field early, after catching 105 passes for 1,727 yards in his senior season. "He could end up making a fairly early impact for them," Farrell said. "That was a pretty good steal from Northwestern, which is pretty smart at targeting receivers that fit their sys- tem. They like guys with good hands, good route runners. They don't really care about size that much." The question now becomes, what do Harbaugh & Co. do moving for- ward, in terms of recruiting? Plenty, Farrell assured, despite not operating in one of the most talent-rich states in the nation in terms of prep football. "They're going to do great," Far- rell said. "He's a rock star name. I've mentioned that moniker with Urban Meyer and Nick Saban. Harbaugh is as big a name as they come in football circles. The name itself is going to at- tract interest, and he has a good staff. "D.J. Durkin was our Recruiter of the Year [in 2012], and he's going to be one of those guys who closes things out really well. Overall, I ex- pect them to have some epic battles with Ohio State, hit the West Coast very well, and you have to expect a top-15 class. "He tenacious. He's selling a brand that he loves, and I think you're go- ing to see that come out in 2016 and beyond." Meanwhile, Harbaugh noted the race is on, in terms of future recruit- ing. "We'll make some improvements in all areas of our organization. I look at it that way," he said. "It's just like the NASCAR boys — see if we can get a mile-an-hour faster." ❏ Meanwhile, Michigan appears to be ratcheting up the quarterback competi- tion. Houston sophomore quarterback John O'Korn tweeted that he's in the process of transferring to U-M as well. O'Korn, originally from Ft. Lauderdale as well, threw for 3,117 yards and 28 touchdowns as a freshman starter for the Cougars. The 6-4, 220-pounder was unseated for the starting job as a sophomore, but still threw for 951 yards and six touchdowns in 2014. — John Borton