@Austin Fox’s article pointing out that Xavier Worthy was the fourth-highest ranked WR signed Michigan has landed since 2002 inspired me to take a look at how Harbaugh has recruited each position group since he’s been at Michigan and how each group had performed relative to their rankings.
I have a few quick notes before I dive into the data. I didn’t include the 2015 class. Harbaugh only had a month or so to recruit so I don’t think it’s fair to judge his recruiting or evaluation based on that class. Also, for the purpose of this analysis I put the recruit in the position group the ended up in while on campus. As an example, Zach Gentry would have been put in with TEs, not QBs if I included the 2015 class. I also didn't include any transfer players so you won't see guys like Patterson or Danna listed. I did included the current 2021 class. This class obviously isn't finished but chances are the staff only adds 5 or so more players to the group so things won't change drastically. I'll update this post after signing day this year as well. So here is a quick look at the recruits Harbaugh has signed at each position group since he has been in Ann Arbor. I have listed the offensive and defensive totals at the top and then the more detailed position breakdown below.
I have a few quick notes before I dive into the data. I didn’t include the 2015 class. Harbaugh only had a month or so to recruit so I don’t think it’s fair to judge his recruiting or evaluation based on that class. Also, for the purpose of this analysis I put the recruit in the position group the ended up in while on campus. As an example, Zach Gentry would have been put in with TEs, not QBs if I included the 2015 class. I also didn't include any transfer players so you won't see guys like Patterson or Danna listed. I did included the current 2021 class. This class obviously isn't finished but chances are the staff only adds 5 or so more players to the group so things won't change drastically. I'll update this post after signing day this year as well. So here is a quick look at the recruits Harbaugh has signed at each position group since he has been in Ann Arbor. I have listed the offensive and defensive totals at the top and then the more detailed position breakdown below.
- Offensive totals
- Number of recruits: 67
- Number of 5-stars: 1 (2%)
- Number of 4-stars: 41 (61%)
- Number of 3-stars: 24 (35%)
- Number of 2-stars: 1 (2%)
- Top 100 players: 8
- Top 250 players: 32
- Top 10 position players: 20
- Highest ranked recruit: DPJ
- Lowest ranked recruit: Ronnie Bell
- Early attrition: 20 (three to the NFL draft, thirteen transfers, one injury, and three dismissals)
- Defensive totals
- Number of recruits: 76
- Number of 5-stars: 5 (7%)
- Number of 4-stars: 34 (45%)
- Number of 3-stars: 36 (47%)
- Number of 2-stars: 1 (1%)
- Top 100 players: 10
- Top 250 players: 27
- Top 10 position players: 14
- Highest ranked player: Rashan Gary
- Lowest ranked player: Dominick Guidice
- Early attrition: 19 (four to the NFL draft, twelve transfers, one injury, one DNQ, one dismissal)
- Offense
- QB
- Number of recruits: 6 (five 4-stars, one 3-star)
- JJ McCarthy, 2021, 6.0 4-star, #30 overall, #5 PQB
- Dylan McCaffrey, 2017, 5.9 4-star, #131 overall, #7 PQB
- Brandon Peters, 2016, 5.9 4-star, #158 overall, #6 PQB
- Joe Milton, 2018, 5.8 4-star, #200 overall, #11 PQB
- Cade McNamara, 2019, 5.8 4-star, unranked, #8 PQB
- Dan Villari 2020, 5.5 3-star, unranked, unranked QB
- Average star ranking: 3.83 stars
- Top 100 players: 1
- Top 250 players: 4
- Top 10 position players: 4
- Top ranked recruit: JJ McCarthy
- Lowest ranked recruit: Dan Villari
- Early attrition: 1 (transfer)
- Number of recruits: 6 (five 4-stars, one 3-star)
- RB
- Number of recruits: 10 (four 4-stars, six 3-stars)
- Zach Charbonnet, 2019 6.0 4-star, #60 overall, #4 RB
- Blake Corum, 2020, 5.9 4-star, #104 overall, #8 RB
- Kareem Walker, 2016, 5.8 4-star, #181 overall, #6 RB
- O'Maury Samuels, 2017, 5.8 4-star, unranked, #21 RB
- Christian Turner, 2018, 5.7 3-star, unranked, #18 RB
- Chris Evans, 2016, 5.7 3-star, unranked, #32 ATH
- Kingston Davis, 2016, 5.7 3-star, unranked #2 FB
- Hassan Haskins, 2018, 5.6 3-star, unranked, #40 RB
- Ben Mason, 2017, 5.6 3-star, unranked #35 ILB
- Kurt Taylor, 2017, 5.5 3-star, unranked, unranked
- Average star ranking: 3.77 stars
- Top 100 players: 1
- Top 250 players: 3
- Top 10 position players: 4 (including Kingston Davis at FB)
- Highest ranked recruit: Zach Charbonnet
- Lowerst ranked recruit: Kurt Taylor
- Early attrittion: 4 (three transfers and one dissmissal)
- Number of recruits: 10 (four 4-stars, six 3-stars)
- WR
- Number of recruits: 19 (one 5-star, eleven 4-stars, six 3-stars, one 2-star)
- Donovan Peoples-Jones, 2017, 6.1 5-star, #12 overall, #1 WR
- Xavier Worthy, 2021, 5.9 4-star, #57 overall, #10 WR
- Tarik Black, 2017, 5.9 4-star, #76 overall, #11 WR
- AJ Henning, 2020, 5.9 4-star, #111 overall, #14 WR
- Nico Collins, 2017, 5.9 4-star, #120 overall, #17 WR
- Dylan Crawford, 2016, 5.9 4-star, #129 overall, #26 WR
- Ahmir Mitchell, 2016, 5.9 4-star, #139 overall, #30 WR
- Cornelius Johnson, 2019, 5.8 4-star, #171 overall, #27 WR
- Cristian Dixon, 2021, 5.8 4-star, #186 overall, #32 WR
- Oliver Martin, 2017, 5.8 4-star, #206 overall, #35 WR
- Giles Jackson, 2019, 5.8 4-star, #233 overall, #37 WR
- Markus Allen, 2021, 5.8 4-star, unranked, #44 WR
- Eddie McDoom, 2016, 5.7 3-star, unranked, #75 WR
- Nate Johnson, 2016, 5.7 3-star, unranked #79 WR
- Roman Wilson, 2020, 5.7 3-star, unranked, #80 WR
- Andrel Anthony, 2021, 5.7 3-star, unranked, #80 WR
- Mike Sainristil, 2019, 5.6 3-star, unranked, #56 ATH
- Quintel Kent, 2019, 5.6 3-star, unranked, #87 WR
- Ronnie Bell, 2018, 5.4 2-star, unranked, unranked WR
- Average star ranking: 3.63 stars
- Top 100 players: 3
- Top 250 players: 11
- Top 10 position players: 2
- Highest ranked recruit: DPJ
- Lowest ranked recruit: Ronnie Bell
- Early attrition: 8 (one to the NFL draft, four transfers, one injury, and two dismissals)
- Number of recruits: 19 (one 5-star, eleven 4-stars, six 3-stars, one 2-star)
- TE
- Number of recruits: 8 (five 4-stars and three 3-stars)
- Devin Asiasi, 2016, 6.0 4-star, #46 overall, #2 TE
- Louis Hansen, 2021, 5.9 4-star, #70 overall, #4 TE
- Nick Eubanks, 5.8 4-star, unranked #9 TE
- Erik All, 2019, 5.8 4-star, unranked, #16 TE
- Mustapha Muhammad, 2018 5.8 4-star, unranked, #17 TE
- Sean McKeon, 2016, 5.7 3-star, unranked, #34 TE
- Matt Hibner, 2020, 5.6 3-star, unranked, #35 TE
- Luke Schoonmaker, 2018, 5.6 3-star, unranked, #39 TE
- Average star ranking: 3.62 stars
- Top 100 players: 2
- Top 250 players: 2
- Top 10 position players: 3
- Highest ranked recruit: Devin Asiasi
- Lowerst ranked recruit: Luke Schoonmaker
- Early attrition: 2 (two transfers)
- Number of recruits: 8 (five 4-stars and three 3-stars)
- OL (I combined all offensive line recruits into one group for the sake of simplicity).
- Number of recruits: 24 (sixteen 4-stars and eight 3-stars)
- Cesar Ruiz, 2017, 6.0 4-star, #41 overall, #1 OC
- Giovanni El Hadi, 2021, 5.9 4-star, #54 overall, #10 OT
- Ben Bredeson, 2016, 6.0 4-star, #60 overall, #2 OG
- Trente Jones, 2019, 5.9 4-star, #90 overall, #12 OT
- Zach Zinter, 2020, 5.8 4-star, #145 overall, #16 OT
- Greg Crippen, 2021, 5.9 4-star, #145 overall, #6 OG
- Michael Onwenu, 2016, 5.9 4-star, #147 overall, #7 OG
- Raheem Anderson, 2021, 5.8 4-star, #155 overall, #2 OC
- Chuck Filaga, 2017, 5.8 4-star, #175 overall, #16 OT
- Nolan Rumler, 2019, 5.8 4-star, #199 overall, #10 OG
- Trevor Keegan, 2019, 5.8 4-star, #208 overall, #22 OT
- James Hudson, 2017, 5.8 4-star, #240 overall, #8 SDE
- Jaylen Mayfield, 2018, 5.8 4-star, unranked, #17 OT
- Karsen Barnhart, 2019, 5.8 4-star, unranked, #28 OT
- Tristan Bounds, 2021, 5.8 4-star, unranked, #28 OT
- Jeff Persi, 2020, 5.8 4-star, unranked, #33 OT
- Stephen Spanellis, 2016, 5.7 3-star, unranked, #36 OT
- Joel Honingord, 2017, 5.7 3-star, unranked, #49 OT
- Reece Atteberry 2020, 5.7 3-star, unranked, #55 OT
- Zach Carpenter, 2019, 5.7 3-star, unranked, #15 OG
- Ryan Hayes, 2018, 5.6 3-star, #48 OT
- Andrew Stueber, 2017, 5.6 3-star, unranked, #74 OT
- Ja'Raymond Hall, 2017 5.6 3-star, unranked, #78 OT
- Jack Stewart, 2019, 5.6 3-star, unranked, #79 OT
- Average star ranking: 3.65 stars
- Top 100 players: 4
- Top 250 players: 12
- Top 10 position players: 6
- Highest ranked recruit: Cesar Ruiz
- Lowest ranked recruit: Jack Stewart
- Early attrition: 5 (two to the NFL draft and three transfers)
- Number of recruits: 24 (sixteen 4-stars and eight 3-stars)
- QB
- Defense
- DT (I moved the DEs that played DT and those I think will grow into DTs here)
- Number of recruits: 10 (two 5-stars, three 4-stars, four 3-stars, one 2-star)
- Christopher Hinton, 2019, 6.1 5-star, #15 overall, #2 DT
- Aubrey Solomon, 2017, 6.1 5-star, #31 overall, #2 DT
- Mazi Smith, 2019, 5.9 4-star, #142 overall, #9 DT
- Carlo Kemp, 2016, 5.8 4-star, #215 overall, #11 WDE
- Donovan Jeter, 2017, 5.8 4-star, unranked, #13 DT
- Deron Irving-Bey, 2017, 5.7 3-star, unranked, #18 SDE
- Kris Jenkins, 2020, 5.7 3-star, #18 SDE
- Philip Paea, 2017, 5.7 3-star, #20 OG
- Michael Dwumfour, 2016, 5.5 3-star, unranked, unranked SDE
- Dominick Guidice, 2021, 5.4 2-star, unranked, unranked SDE
- Average star ranking: 3.6 stars
- Top 100 players: 2
- Top 250 players: 4
- Top 10 position players: 3
- Highest ranked recruit: Christoper Hinton
- Lowest ranked recruit: Dominick Guidice
- Early attrition: 3 (three transfers)
- Number of recruits: 10 (two 5-stars, three 4-stars, four 3-stars, one 2-star)
- DE (I combined SDE and WDEs here)
- Number of recruits: 15 (one 5-star, eight 4-stars, six 3-stars)
- Rashan Gary, 2016, 6.1 5-star, #1 overall, #1 DT
- Luiji Vilain, 2017, 5.9 4-star, #74 overall, #5 WDE
- Aiden Hutchinson, 2018, 5.9 4-star, #129 overall, #8 SDE
- Quinten Sommerville, 2021, 5.8 4-star, #160 overall, #7 WDE
- Corey Malone-Hatcher, 2017, 5.8 4-star, unranked, #12 SDE
- KeChaun Bennett, 2021, 5.8 4-star, unranked, #13 WDE
- Braiden McGregor, 2020, 5.8 4-star, unranked, #17 SDE
- Michael Morris, 2019, 5.8 4-star, unranked, #18 WDE
- Ronald Johnson, 2016, 5.8 4-star, unranked, #20 WDE
- Taylor Upshaw, 2019, 5.7 3-star, unranked, #25 SDE
- Kwity Paye, 2017, 5.7 3-star, #35 WDE
- Aaron Lewis, 2020, 5.6 3-star, #37 SDE
- Gabe Newberg, 5.6 3-star, unranked, unranked WDE
- TJ Guy, 2021, 5.5 3-star, unranked, unranked SDE
- Juilus Welschof, 2018, 5.5 3-star, unranked, unranked SDE
- Average star ranking: 3.6 stars
- Top 100 players: 2
- Top 250 players: 4
- Top 10 position players: 4
- Highest ranked recruit: Rashan Gary
- Lowest ranked recruit: Julius Welschof
- Early attrition: 4 (one to the NFL draft, two transfers, and one injury)
- Number of recruits: 15 (one 5-star, eight 4-stars, six 3-stars)
- Sam
- Number of recruits: 4 (four 3-stars)
- Josh Uche, 2016, 5.7 3-star, unranked, #22 OLB
- Jaylen Harrell, 2020, 5.7 3-star, unranked, #33 OLB
- David Ojabo, 2019, 5.7 3-star, unranked #34 WDE
- Ben Van Sumeren, 2018, 5.7 3-star, unranked, #34 ATH
- Average star ranking: 3
- Top 100 players: 0
- Top 250 players: 0
- Top 10 position players: 0
- Highest ranked recruit: Josh Uche
- Lowest ranked recruit: (tie) Ojabo and Van Sumeren
- Early attrition: 1 (one to the NFL draft)
- Number of recruits: 4 (four 3-stars)
- LB
- Number of recruits: 16 (one 5-star, eight 4-stars, seven 3-stars)
- Jordan Anthony, 2017, 6.1 5-star, #26 overall, #1 ILB
- Drew Singleton, 2017, 6.0 4-star, #52 overall, #4 OLB
- Kalel Mullings, 2020, 5.9 4-star, #92 overall, #8 OLB
- Osman Savage, 2020, 5.8 4-star, #158 overall, #13 OLB
- Devin Bush, 2016, 5.8 4-star, #182 overall, #7 ILB
- Cam McGrone, 2018, 5.8 4-star, #195 overall, #16 OLB
- Josh Ross, 2017, 5.8 4-star, #222 overall, #15 OLB
- Cornell Wheeler, 2020, 5.8 4-star, #245 overall, #17 ILB
- Elysee Mbem-Bosse, 2016, 5.8 4-star, unranked, #15 ILB
- Jaydon Hood, 2021, 2021, 5.7 3-star, unranked, #15 ATH
- Nikhai Hill-Green, 2020, 5.7 3-star, unranked, #23 OLB
- Tyler McLaurin, 2021, 5.7 3-star, unranked, #30 OLB
- Charles Thomas, 2019, 5.6 3-star, unranked, #35 ILB
- Casey Phinney, 2021, 5.5 4-star, unranked, unranked ILB
- Devin Gil, 2016, 5.5 3-star, unranked, unranked OLB
- Dytarious Johnson, 5.5 3-star, unranked, unranked OLB
- Average star ranking: 3.62 stars
- Top 100 players: 3
- Top 250 players: 8
- Top 10 position players: 4
- Highest ranked player: Jordan Anthony
- Lowest ranked player: (tie) Phinney, Gil, and Johnson)
- Early attrition: 6 (one to the NFL draft, three transfers, one DNQ, and one dismissal)
- Number of recruits: 16 (one 5-star, eight 4-stars, seven 3-stars)
- Viper
- Number of recruits: 6 (two 4-stars, four 3-stars)
- Junior Colson, 2021, 5.9 4-star, #87 overall, #2 OLB
- William Mohan, 2020, 5.8 4-star, unranked, #19 OLB
- Anthony Solomon, 2019. 5.7 3-star, unranked, #25 ILB
- Khaleke Hudson, 2016, 5.7 3-star, unranked #32 ATH
- Michael Barrett, 2017, 5.6 3-star, unranked, unranked ATH
- Joey Velaquez, 2019, 5.5 3-star, unranked, unranked S
- Average star ranking: 3.3 stars
- Top 100 players: 1
- Top 250 players: 1
- Top 10 position players: 1
- Highest ranked player: Junior Colson
- Lowest ranked player: Joey Velaquez
- Early Attrition: 0
- Number of recruits: 6 (two 4-stars, four 3-stars)
- CB
- Number of recruits 13 (nine 4-stars and four 3-stars)
- David Long, 2016, 5.9 4-star, #81 overall, #9 CB
- Myles Sims, 2018, 5.9 4-star, #103 overall, #14 CB
- Darien Green-Warren, 2020, 5.9 4-star, #123 overall, #12 CB
- Andre Seldon, 2020, 5.9 4-star, #140 overall, #20 CB
- Ambry Thomas, 2017, 5.9 4-star, #146 overall, #15 CB
- Lavert Hill, 2016, 5.8 4-star, #176 overall, #14 CB
- Jalen Perry, 2019, 5.8 4-star, #190 overall, #17 CB
- Benjamin St Juste, 5.8 4-star, #229 overall, #20 CB
- Gemon Green, 2018, 5.8 4-star, unranked, #39 CB
- Ja'den McBurrows, 2021, 5.7 3-star, unranked, #35 CB
- DJ Turner, 2019, 5.7 3-star, unranked, #47 CB
- Vincent Gray, 2018, 5.7 3-star, unranked, #60 CB
- George Johnson III, 2019, 5.6 3-star, unranked, unranked ATH
- Average star ranking: 3.69 stars
- Top 100 players: 1
- Top 250 players: 8
- Top 10 position players: 1
- Highest ranked recruit: David Long
- Lowest ranked recruit: Geogre Johnson III
- Early attrition: 3 (one to the NFL draft and two transfers)
- Number of recruits 13 (nine 4-stars and four 3-stars)
- Safety
- Number of recruits 12 (one 5-star, four 4-stars, and seven 3-stars)
- Daxton Hill, 2019, 6.1 5-star, #24 overall, #1 S
- Quinten Johnson, 2019, 5.8 4-star, #182 overall, #16 S
- Brad Hawkins, 2017, 5.8 4-star, unranked, unranked WR
- Makari Paige, 2020, 5.8 4-star, unranked, #21 S
- Joran Morant, 2020, 5.8 4-star, unranked, #23 S
- Rod Moore, 2021, 5.7 3-star, unranked, #31 S
- RJ Moten, 2020, 5.7 3-star, unranked, #32 ATH
- Jaylen Kelly-Powell, 2017, 5.7 3-star, unranked, #34 S
- J'Marick Woods, 2017, 5.7 3-star, unranked, #45 S
- Sammy Faustin, 2018, 5.7 3-star, unranked #62 CB
- Josh Metellus, 2016, 5.6 3-star, unranked, unranked S
- Geman Green, 2018, 5.5 3-star, unranked, unranked S
- Average star ranking: 3.5 stars
- Top 100 players: 1
- Top 250 players: 2
- Top 10 position players: 1
- Highest ranked recruit: Dax Hill
- Lowest ranked recruit: Geman Green
- Early Attrition: 2 (two transfers)
- Number of recruits 12 (one 5-star, four 4-stars, and seven 3-stars)
- DT (I moved the DEs that played DT and those I think will grow into DTs here)
- Specialists
- Number of recruits: 4 (three 3-stars and one unranked)
- Quinn Nordin, 2016, 5.5 3-star, #1 K
- Tommy Doman, 2021, 5.5 3-star, #2 K (punter)
- Brad Robbins, 5.3 2-star, unranked K (punter)
- Jake Moody, 2018, unranked, unranked K
- Average star ranking: 2 stars
- Top 100 players: 0
- Top 250 players: 0
- Top 10 position players: 2
- Highest ranked recruit: Quinn Nordin
- Lowest ranked recruit: Jake Moody
- Early Attrition: 0
- Number of recruits: 4 (three 3-stars and one unranked)
So there is a lot here and I have some thoughts but I wanted to get some of yours first. What positions have we recruited best? How have our position groups performed relative to their recruiting rankings? Which groups have overachieved and which groups have been failed to meet expectations? Were there any major surprises when you looked at the rankings? @Austin Fox and @Clayton Sayfie I think it would be cool to compare Michigan to the rest of the big ten (or at least the upper half of the big ten) but this isn't my full time gig and that seems like it would take a really long time. Maybe an idea for a couple of future articles? It'd also be interesting to see how teams recruiting rankings on offense and defense have matched up with their national and conference offensive and defensive statistical rankings. Anyway I hope this generates some discussion and I'll answer the questions I posed sometime later tonight or in the next few days.
