Michigan Football: Georgia Could Be New Recruiting Pipeline for Jim Harbaugh

Somewhere to the north of Florida and just due east of Alabama lays a treasure trove of talent waiting to be discovered by Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh, who would be doing the Wolverines a favor by setting up a reliable network between Ann Arbor and Georgia.

As a rule, Florida, Texas and California funnel the most talent to big-time NCAA programs.

One look at recent recruiting rankings says it all: Texas has 31 of the top 200 recruits of 2016, Florida has 25 and California has 29, bringing the three-state total to 85 of 200—or 42.5 percent for the math folks.

However, Georgia is an area ripe with star power, containing three of the top 30 and 20 of the top 250 players in the 2016 class. That same stretch of land contains three of the top 30 and 23 of the top 250 talents in the 2017 class.

For one reason or another, former coach Brady Hoke’s staff didn’t heavily recruit the state of Georgia, offering just 16 scholarships from 2011 to 2014.

Having already extended 15 invitations, Harbaugh has offered 10 in the state's 2016 class and five in its 2017 class.

Michigan has one Georgian on its roster, and that’s senior AJ Pearson, a 6’0”, 202-pound defensive back from Northview High in Johns Creek. Scouring the area has done wonders for rival Michigan State, which issued 22 offers to Georgia prospects in 2015.

As it stands, the Spartans have 14 offers to 2016 prospects from Georgia and four to those in the 2017 class.

Back in 2010, coach Mark Dantonio snagged former 3-star cornerback Darqueze Dennard out of Twiggs County. The previously unheralded recruit was selected 24th overall by the Cincinnati Bengals in the 2014 NFL draft.

Maybe there's something to the whole Georgia thing after all.

Sweet 2016 in Georgia?

247Sports

As of April 30, Harbaugh had extended 10 offers to Georgia-bred 2016 prospects. The following table outlines each offer, player's level of interest in Michigan and in-state ranking:

Name	Ranking/Position	In-State Ranking	Interest in UM
Elijah Holyfield	4-Star RB	No. 17 overall	Cool
Korey Banks	3-Star CB	No. 79	Warm
Charlie Woerner	4-Star WR	No. 13	Cool
Christian Roberson	3-Star TE	No. 43	Cool
E.J. Price	4-Star OT	No. 5	Committed to Georgia
Jack DeFoor	3-Star OT	No. 80	Cool
Landon Rice	3-Star TE	No. 39	Committed to Auburn
Elysee Mbem-Bosse	3-Star LB	No. 65	Cool
Ja'Quain Blakely	3-Star LB	No. 42	Cool
Mecole Hardman, Jr.	4-Star CB	No. 11	Cool

By time 2016 rolls around, it’ll be important to restock the cabinets with running backs, cornerbacks, offensive tackles, tight ends and linebackers. Michigan’s renewed emphasis on those positions requires proper recruiting, and judging by the offer list, Harbaugh could view Georgia as a potential gold mine.

On March 11, Michigan extended an offer to Mecole Hardman, Jr. As of right now, the 4-star cornerback has “cool” interest in the Wolverines, who aren’t in his top five.

However, Brandon Brown of TheWolverine.com reports that Hardman plans to announce his choice on national signing day, giving Harbaugh’s staff plenty of time to develop a relationship.

Hardman is 11th-ranked player in Georgia. He’s also the No. 7-ranked corner in the nation. That’s impressive.

Despite having a father who played at Georgia and a lifelong allegiance to the Bulldogs, offensive tackle Jack DeFoor isn’t a lock for Athens. He may not end up at Michigan, but the 6’5”, 260-pounder recently said that he planned on heading north for a visit.

"I am definitely going to visit Michigan," DeFoor told Brown. "It doesn't matter that it's far, that's a trip I need to make. Coach [offensive coordinator Tim] Drevno told me that March and April would be a good time to come up. The spring game is in early April so I'll be making a trip up there before that I guess.”

According to 247Sports, he’s yet to visit. However, during the interview with Brown, DeFoor listed Michigan as one of his “biggest” offers—the others included Louisville, Ole Miss, Virginia Tech and Clemson.

He also said that he’s confident that Harbaugh will turn around the Wolverines. “I know that he will do that, that’s just the kind of coach he is,” he said.

DeFoor is the 80th-ranked player in Georgia and 77th-ranked tackle of 2016.

On March 27, Michigan offered Korey Banks, who unofficially visited Michigan State the same day. He has “warm” interest in Michigan, though. The 6’0”, 170-pounder could play corner, safety, wide receiver or even return kicks. That’s why he’s also classified as an athlete.

With the ability to fit in just about anywhere, players such as Banks will be crucial to Michigan’s rebuild. Finding the next Jabrill Peppers—who hasn’t even had the chance to be Jabrill Peppers due to injury—or others like him will likely be a goal for secondary coaches Michael Zordich and Greg Jackson.

Each of them has expressed the desire to load up on athletes similar to Jourdan Lewis and Channing Stribling, to name a few.

Following high school, Banks could end up fitting the mold for Michigan in that regard.

But flip the story around, and there’s the possibility of Banks contributing on both sides of the ball, according to Tim Sullivan of TheWolverine.com.

"[Passing game coordinator] Coach [Jedd] Fisch said that he liked my frame," Banks said. "It's a frame like [Jacksonville Jaguars receiver] Marqise Lee and [Chicago Bears receiver] Eddie Royal. He liked my speed and my playmaking ability. It was pretty exciting."

As of now, Banks doesn’t have a top five. But while speaking with Sullivan in early April, he said that Michigan was one of the first “big-time” programs to offer—and that could mean something on national signing day.

"It's definitely going to come down to who wants me the most, and who's recruiting me the hardest," Banks said. "That's like I've told everybody else. It comes down to who's trying the hardest to get me.”

Elijah Holyfield, the son of former heavyweight champ Evander Holyfield, has been on Michigan’s radar for more than a year. The 5’11”, 205-pounder out of Atlanta is the ninth-ranked running back in the nation, yet only the 17th-ranked overall talent in Georgia.

Georgia is clearly worthy of further exploration.

Outlook for 2017

247Sports

Michigan has extended offers to the following 2017 Georgia prospects: 4-star defensive end MJ Webb (cool), 4-star linebacker Leonard Warner (cool), 5-star safety Isaiah Pryor (warm), 4-star athlete Jamyest Williams, and non-ranked safety MJ Walker (cool).

Pryor has “warm” interest in LSU, Clemson, Notre Dame and Ohio State, but Michigan is safe and secure as one of his favorites.

At 6’2” and 190 pounds, the prep sophomore already has the size to immediately make a difference in the secondary. Rankings will change, but for the time being, Pryor is the 27th-ranked prospect of the 2017 class. His stock could be dramatically higher by this time next year, though.

According to Scout.com, Michigan running backs coach Tyrone Wheatley has made a “connection” with Pryor, who could be the smartest recruit in the history of recruits—he doesn’t have any social media accounts, so he’s not constantly tweeting about offers.

Other than in highlight videos, he’s essentially invisible online.

He’s loud and clear on the football field, though.

Depending on how 2016 unfolds, Pryor could either be Harbaugh’s first big-timer from Georgia or simply the next in a series of southern stars bound for Ann Arbor.

According to The Wolverine.com, Pryor and Williams, teammates at Archer in Lawrenceville, are good friends and have real interest in Michigan. They’re also familiar with Banks, who could actually serve as a bridge between Georgia and Harbaugh.

Either way, it appears as if Harbaugh is spreading his message down south and preparing to tap a previously unknown reservoir. Eventually, Michigan’s roster could be scattered with Georgians.

Follow Bleacher Report's Michigan Wolverines football writer Adam Biggers on Twitter @AdamBiggers81. Unless otherwise noted, all recruiting rankings/info via 247Sports.