Jim Harbaugh discusses Michigan’s 2020 recruiting class

Much of Michigan football’s 2020 recruiting class was solidified on Wednesday during early signing day, with over 20 recruits signing their letter of intent. Michigan head coach Jim Harbaugh likes how this class shook out.

“Feel great about this class,” Harbaugh said on Jon Jansen’s In the Trenches podcast. “A bunch of go-getters who like football, hittin’ the books. Also, it’s a group that really wants it, too, I believe. Sometimes that’s what separates talent out there is you could have two talented players and the one that ends up going the farthest in the game of football or in school is the one who wants it the most. And I have a really good feeling about this class in particular that they are motivated to take advantage of opportunities that are put in front of them, and also very motivated to create their own opportunities.”

Harbaugh also discussed a couple players in particular with Jansen, incuding four-star running back Blake Corum. “He is a dedicated guy,” Harbaugh said. “You watch a lot of high school players and the way their work ethic, I can’t think of anybody with a higher level of work ethic than Blake Corum.” Corum is ranked as the No. 12 RB in the 2020 class, and at 5-foot-8 & 193 pounds he packs a punch, Harbaugh called Corum a warrior in the weight room and on the football field.

The Wolverines signed four linebackers; four-star Osman Savage, three-star Nikhai Hill-Green, four-star Kalel Mullings, and three-star Cornell Wheeler. Harbaugh described linebacker as position of need. “With linebackers, there’s three starters on every team as it relates to linebackers and then a lot of times in the nickel pass downs a linebacker can go to defensive end and be a pass-rusher. We definitely have need at that position and every linebacker that we sign, they came to camp, Don Brown got to work with them in the summer camps, and then we watched them pretty much through their whole high school career. Guys like Cornell Wheeler from West Bloom, the two St. Frances linebackers, Nikhai Hill-Green and Osman Savage, seen them for a long time.”

Harbaugh believes the commits Michigan landed in the secondary could all make an impact as freshmen; four-star cornerback Andre Seldon, four-star safety Makari Page, four-star safety Jordan Morant, and four-star safety RJ Moten. “It’s a really good athletic group coming in. You saw Dax Hill come in and make a big impact as a freshman that there’s gonna be all four with a license and ability to make the same kind of impact in our secondary, and very excited about that,” Harbaugh said. When speaking about Seldon, Harbaugh noted he’s a tough competitor, and said Morant is a “Dax Hill type of safety and has that kind of special ability.” Harbaugh feels that Moten is a “big strong kid” and has the ability to be a corner but also has the strength and physicality to be a safety and cover people. “It’s a really dynamic group,” Harbaugh said.

Michigan signed a couple players that are listed as “athlete”, meaning they could play multiple positions for Michigan, “to be determined” basically. These athletes include three-star Eamonn Dennis and three-star William Mohan. “Eamonn Dennis, he’s a really good receiver and really good defensive back. And if you think (Michigan WR) Mike Sainristil and you watched Eamonn’s tape you’re gonna think a lot of Mike Sainristil,” Harbaugh said. “That’s who I first thought of when I watched Eamonn Dennis play football, and he can play cornerback and slot receiver, he can be a return player.”

While it sounds like Dennis might wind up being a slot receiver, Mohan will be playing either viper, corner, or safety. “William is a long, really athletic player. He can cover, his ability to blitz off the edge is special and track down ball carriers. He loves to hit. Take a look at some of his highlights of special teams or defense, I mean he’s very physical and athletic, can get ‘em down and also make a lot of big hits. We’ll see exactly what position when it says athlete, but that’s just really saying that this guy has the ability to play safety, corner, viper, and that’s a good thing.”

To learn more about the other players in Michigan’s 2020 recruiting class click here for a full rundown.