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Friday Michigan Recruiting Roundup: "Aerial Assault" more ammo for Harbaugh, U-M

In this edition, Jim Harbaugh adds more recruiting ammo as we head into the summer. Also, we take a look at Michigan's latest scholarship offers.

By Anthony Broome
Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports

Recruiting at Michigan since Jim Harbaugh was hired has been interesting, to say the least.

While the commitments have not dropped like many believed they initially would, we have seen the staff put together some interesting pitches and new ideas on the trail the likes of which we have never seen in Ann Arbor. Satellite camps and "Exposure U" are two of the biggest examples of this, but now they have taken it a step further.

On Wednesday, Michigan announced they will hold an "Aerial Assault" quarterback academy that coincides with the Exposure U camp in mid-June. The graphic that was posted to Twitter brings to mind a big-budget action movie poster.

According to NCAA bylaws, it is against the rules to have any non-staff member recruiting a player to a school. While Harbaugh cannot simply use his NFL contacts to lure kids to Michigan, having them be instructors at a camp is completely legal.

It is quite an impressive guest list, if everyone in the graphic indeed is scheduled to appear. Jay Cutler, Colin Kaepernick, Jameis Winston and more all in attendance almost gives Michigan their own on-campus "Elite 11"-type camp.

All of what Harbaugh is doing on the recruiting trail is legal, albeit with some loopholes that likely will close sooner rather than later. The narrative that Michigan is struggling with grabbing commitments is fair, seeing as there are currently only six committed players for 2016. With that being said, it is clear they are fine with things moving slowly as they put their grand plans into motion.

We should see the fruits of Michigan's labor begin to pay dividends on the trail sooner rather than later. Recruiting has many peaks and valleys, and right now it is the latter.

Wins will ultimately decide if Michigan is back as a program and if they can pull in elite talent, but the staff is pulling out all of the stops to build their brand now before that happens. That should pay off for them in due time.

Latest offers

Michigan offered 2016 offensive lineman Johncarlo Valentin (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania) on Wednesday, according to his Twitter account.

Valentin is a three-star prospect and the 14th-ranked offensive guard in the 2016 class, per the 247 Composite.

Also on Wednesday, Michigan has offered 2017 running back Cam Akers (Clinton, Mississippi), according to his Twitter account.

Akers is a four-star prospect and the sixth-ranked running back in the 2017 class, per the 247 Composite.

The Wolverines offered a few players on Thursday, as well.

Class of 2017 wide receiver Tarik Black (Cheshire, Connecticut) pulled in an offer, according to his Twitter account.

Black is a four-star prospect and the 14th-ranked wide receiver in the class of 2017, per the 247 Composite.

Defensive tackle Dalyn Wade-Perry (Englewood, New Jersey) also was offered, according to his Twitter account.

Wade-Perry is a four-star prospect and the 20th-ranked defensive end in the 2017 class, per the 247 Composite.

That's it for Friday. Check back in Monday for the latest roundup of Michigan football recruiting news and more.

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