The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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DECEMBER 2016 THE WOLVERINE 53 BY BRANDON BROWN A s of Nov. 15, the majority of Michigan's home games are in the rearview mirror, meaning game- day official visits are also pretty much wrapped up. That means that post- season officials, in-home visits by coaches and a final push into the early part of 2017 are all that remains before National Signing Day on Feb. 1. With 18 commitments as of mid- November, Michigan still had sev- eral players on the recruiting board and several of them are committed to other programs. Some of in that group could end up in the Maize and Blue before National Signing Day ar- rives depending on how things play out in each case. Here's a look at senior prospects that are committed elsewhere and are still considering Michigan as of Nov. 15. Can Jim Harbaugh and his staff flip any of these players down the stretch? Very Possible NAJEE HARRIS, RB Antioch (Calif.) Senior Committed to Alabama Harris is the biggest prize on this list, and he may also be the most likely to end up in Ann Arbor. The 6-2, 222-pounder committed to Ala- bama in April of 2015 but has not been shy about looking at other programs, most notably Michi- gan. The San Francisco Chronicle has been tracking Harris' recruitment throughout his senior season and has published some very pro-Michigan quotes directly from the mouth of the nation's top overall prospect. "He's dope," Harris said of Har- baugh. "Everybody thinks he's weird, but he's not weird. I like him a lot. He's a funny dude. He's cool." Harbaugh is showing the love back, too. He swung by Antioch dur- ing Michigan's bye week and took in one of Harris' games. He also an- nounced the homecoming queen, while decked out in Antioch gear, and spent time with fans like he nor- mally does. Harris again took note. "Not many head coaches go out there and take pictures with every- body," Harris told The Chronicle. "Ev- erything he's doing is cool." The bond between Harris and the Alabama head coach Nick Sa- ban isn't as strong as it is with Har- baugh, and that could pay divi- dends. The blue chipper is also fond of Michigan running backs coach Tyrone Wheatley and tight ends coach Jay Harbaugh. The five-star recruit and Rivals' No. 1 overall prospect in the 2017 class has some things in motion with Michigan, including a post-season of- ficial visit, and is planning to gradu- ate and enroll early. Harris may not even know exactly where he's going to end up yet, but by mid-December everyone will. TORY CARTER, FB Leesburg (Ga.) Lee County Committed to LSU An undervalued position ac- cording to Rivals.com, fullback is a highly productive piece of Har- baugh's offense. Senior Khalid Hill's 12 carries for 34 yards and nine touchdowns are living proof. That's why Harbaugh and his offensive as- sistants covet Carter, the nation's top fullback. The 6-2, 255-pounder also has some lower-level offers as a defensive line- man, which Harbaugh loves. Carter has the toughness, work ethic and love for the game to excel at fullback. If it weren't for the three-star 's previously developed affinity for LSU and interim head coach Ed Orgeron, he might be a member of Michigan's class already. If upper management at LSU decides Org- eron isn't the guy, and the incom- ing coach doesn't utilize a fullback, Carter is as good as Harbaugh's. The bowling-ball back explained his pre- dicament in October. "It's really a wait-and-see with LSU," Carter explained. "Coach Org- eron is my main recruiter, and I talk to him on a regular basis. I'm com- mitted to him to some extent. I want to play for him, and I like everything about the LSU program. But I don't want to put myself in a bad situation where if he doesn't get the job I'm screwed. "That's why I'm keeping every- thing open and Coach O knows that, and so does Coach Harbaugh. I've been open with both of them. I told Coach Harbaugh that I'm committed to LSU, but I'm keeping everything open. "I'm going to take my visits and get it figured out." One of those visits is to Ann Arbor for the Indiana game the weekend of Nov. 19, which should give Carter a great chance to see all of Michigan's backs do some damage against a po- rous Hoosiers defense. Moderately Possible JULIANO FALANIKO, ATHLETE Pago Pago (American Samoa) Leone Committed to USC The Michigan coaches offered the 6-4, 200-pound athlete on May 1 and got a chance to see him in person a month later for one of the first sat- ellite camps of the offseason. Even FOOTBALL RECRUITING Several Committed Prospects Are Still Considering Michigan Antioch (Calif.) Senior running back Najee Harris — the nation's No. 1 overall prospect according to Rivals.com — has been com- mitted to Alabama for a year, but has built a strong bond with Jim Harbaugh and could flip to U-M. PHOTO BY ANDREW IVINS