Jim Harbaugh's Satellite Camps Already a Hit as Kiante Enis Commits to Michigan

Still think Jim Harbaugh's presence at satellite camps is nothing more than a source of controversy for SEC coaches? Others may not like it, but the Michigan head coach is using satellite camps to develop relationships with recruits, and the process is already paying dividends. 

Harbaugh's "Summer Swarm Tour"—a nine-day, 10-camp event—had its first stop on Thursday in Indianapolis at Bishop Chatard High School. Shortly after the three-hour camp concluded, the Wolverines got a verbal commitment from 3-star running back Kiante Enis: 

Enis' pledge gives Michigan eight verbals for the 2015 class and is the second such pledge this week. On Tuesday, the Wolverines received a commitment from 4-star in-state product Michael Onwenu. 

Enis isn't the most touted player to commit to Michigan but did have Big Ten offers from Indiana, Iowa and Michigan State. How Enis is rated matters far less than the timing of his commitment, however.

Go back to late last month, when Enis spoke to Matt Dorsey of the Detroit Free Press about his recruitment. This is a prospect who was flying under the radar and only recently getting the attention of high-profile Big Ten schools. As such, Enis told Dorsey that he planned to take his time and wait a few months before making a verbal pledge:

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I will probably make my decision a little before my next football season. That is not official, though, as it all depends on how comfortable I feel in the process. I am looking for a great campus and facilities. A lot will depend on the vibe I get when I visit the schools. I am looking forward to meeting the coaching staffs and some of the players.

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Clearly, Enis felt a strong enough connection with Harbaugh to change direction on that timetable. That's what's important about Harbaugh's satellite camps. 

This is the first time Harbaugh has the opportunity to go out and recruit the kind of players he wants to build his program around. As we've already seen, the relationships he'll develop nationwide will result in verbal commitments for some players. Many of those verbal commitments will turn into signed National Letters of Intent.

But the relationship-building process is about the player's perspective as much as anything. In addition to Enis, 2016 Michigan quarterback commit Brandon Peters was in attendance in Indianapolis. As Peters explained to Mark Snyder of the Detroit Free Press, these summer camps are also an opportunity for players to see Harbaugh in his element: 

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By the end of the event, the skill players entered the rugby-style "Peru Ball" game Harbaugh organized when he was on his Peru mission, with players moving in all directions in a game of keep-away, trying to get from one end to the other between the sidelines.

"He's different, he has different coaching styles and I can't wait to get up there and start playing for him," Peters said.

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For all the debate about whether satellite camps should be allowed, there's one undeniable benefit they have that should trump everything: They allow coaches to come to the players. That only helps recruits expand their horizons during a process that can be stressful and confusing. Put simply, satellite camps are about the recruits—and that's all that should matter. 

Without the Summer Swarm Tour, Enis may not have known what to expect from Harbaugh. If that's what Enis needed to see, then his time in Indianapolis was beneficial for him. 

Michigan coaches are on their way to Alabama for the next stop in the satellite camp tour. If Enis' commitment is any indication, Harbaugh's aggressive summer approach will prove to be one of the best recruiting moves of the year. If the Wolverines coaching staff builds enough momentum, Enis' verbal might be the first of many. 

Ben Kercheval is a lead writer for college football. All quotes cited unless obtained firsthand. All recruiting information courtesy of 247Sports.