The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/465847
2015 RECRUITING ISSUE Comparing Quick-Hitter Classes Michigan hasn't had a lot of experience putting together limited-window recruiting classes — until recently. For nearly four decades, coaching continuity reigned, and so did the Wolverines. Now three times in the past eight years, U-M head coaches have had to hit the ground running without the usual extended period to develop relation- ships with high school prospects. Here's a look at what's happened in those situations. New head coach Jim Harbaugh became the official boss of the Wolverines on Dec. 30. Since then, Michigan hosted 23 official visitors, including 10 who eventually signed with the Wolverines. They came from the states of Florida, California, Pennsylvania, New York, Texas, New Mexico, Tennessee, New Jersey, Ohio, Georgia and Connecticut. This chart outlines the classes put together by Rich Rodriguez in 2008, by Brady Hoke in 2011, and now by Harbaugh in 2015. It includes final team rank nationally by Rivals.com, the total number of recruits in the class, and the num- ber of signees that specifically came to Michigan via the new coach. Year Coach Signees Coach Specific Rivals.com Rank 2008 Rich Rodriguez 24 10 10 2011 Brady Hoke 20 10 21 2015 Jim Harbaugh 14 8 48 The 2015 ranking is in large part a result of limited scholarships available to of- fer. This would have been a top-15 class in Rivals.com's estimation had average star rating (3.29, in Michigan's case) been used as the team-ranking measure. Also, Harbaugh may not be done in terms of bringing in players this year, de- spite the fact that National Signing Day has come and gone. Michigan is known to be working toward the transfer of two more players, one who could perform next fall and another who would have to sit out a year. According to sources at Stanford, 6-1, 193-pound senior defensive back Wayne Lyons of Ft. Lauderdale, Fla., is in the process of a transfer that would allow him to play his fifth year at Michigan and compete immediately. Rivals. com's No. 107 player in the 2011 class made 30 tackles for the Cardinal last year and seized a pair of fourth-quarter interceptions the previous season to help Stanford beat Notre Dame. Lyons' mother, Gwendolyn Bush, now appears in Michigan's directory as a player development staff member for athletics. She confirmed on Twitter the move, putting her in a position that often requires coordinating off-field activi- ties for players, along with helping them academically.