How Michigan has been able to find recruiting success during the pandemic

This year has been nothing short of strange in pretty much every aspect of life. From being locked inside for what seems like an eternity to having to wear a face mask in public, 2020 has been a year to forget.

This pandemic has also changed how things are operating on the recruiting trail. Jim Harbaugh and the Michigan coaching staff have had to adapt to the changes by making Zoom video calls to recruits, instead of bringing the kids up on recruiting visits.

Michigan has the No. 6 recruiting class on 247Sports’ composite rankings. For a program that plans on big official visit weekends in June and July routinely to lock up their top targets, this is a much higher ranking at this time in the cycle that I would have anticipated when the pandemic began. But the coaches have made the most of their opportunities over Zoom, which has led to 17 recruits already verbally committing to Michigan.

I was recently on MarkRogersTV to discuss Michigan’s recruiting efforts during the COVID-19 pandemic and how I think recruits are wanting to lock in a spot early in this cycle.

“I think a lot of it has to do with the fact that these kids are wanting to commit a lot earlier in this cycle. With the fact they aren’t going to be able to visit campuses until at the very earliest Aug. 1, I think a lot of these kids are wanting to commit early, and that’s what you’ve seen not just with Michigan, but a lot of college programs. USC even has a really good class right now and they’re starting to fill up, too. I think the big message going around the country for these kids is if you don’t commit early you’re probably not gonna have a spot in the programs you want to go commit to.”

We also discussed more targets the Wolverines are going after and a few kids I am excited to see suit up in college. Watch the full video below.