Michigan Football: What We Learned from Jim Harbaugh's 'Swarm Tour'

Summer "Swarm Tour"? It was more like the "Pounce Tour" for Michigan Wolverines coach Jim Harbaugh, who just picked up five commits for his 2016 class while satellite-camping in the backyards of NCAA giants. 

He's had seven commits since June 2, with 3-star tight end Sean McKeon being the most recent. 

It's probably worth mentioning that the "Swarm Tour" was Harbaugh's first official parade as patriarch of the maize and blue. He's only been on the job for six months, yet he's gallivanting around the country as if his Wolverines are perched firmly above the rest of college football.

It seems as if, in his mind, he's recruiting to defend a title.

Some love it. Some hate it. But Harbaugh, a results-driven man, is getting what he wants, which is great for Michigan. His charisma, knowledge of the game and attitude toward winning will continue to rake in talent for the 2016 class—which sits at No. 16 in the country at the moment—and further replenish classes down the road.

His "Swarm Tour" was just the beginning.

If even just for the meantime, Michigan is back on the map and on the minds of everyone. Instead of harping on this past season's 5-7 finish, the media at large seem to be focusing on what the new regime plans to develop in Ann Arbor.

If nothing else, the "Swarm Tour" just taught us that Harbaugh's relentless pursuit of perfection knows no bounds. His vision cannot be contained by state lines, nor can it be hindered by the Big Ten, which, contrary to other conferences, has no rules against satellite camps.  

The absence of a radius around Ann Arbor meant "game on" for Harbaugh, who took full advantage of being bubble-less and capitalized on the ability to roam where he pleased. Actually, that may be an understatement.

Date	Camp name	Location
June 4	Bishop Chatard Football Camp	Indianapolis
June 5	Prattville Elite Camp	Prattville, Ala.
June 6	University of South Florida One-Day Camp	Tampa, Fla.
June 7	Lauren's First and Goal	Easton, Penn
June 8	Aldine Elite Football Camp	Houston
June 9	Dallas Showtime Elite	Grand Prairie, Texas
June 10	Mission Viejo Football Camp	Mission Viejo, Calif.
June 11	DB Guru Football Camp	Fresno, Calif.
June 12	Sound Mind Sound Body	Detroit/Macomb Dakota

Opportunities, Not Harbaugh vs. the SEC/World

Despite criticism from certain factions within the SEC and other corners of college football, Harbaugh's "Swarm Tour" was well-received by athletes and coaches, especially those in Florida—a state that recently produced two commits for Michigan's upcoming class.

More talent from Florida is likely on the way.

According to Eric Rutter of Today's U, Charles W. Flanagan High School coach Devin Bush Sr. enjoyed his time with Michigan's staff during a recent camp in the Tampa area. In fact, his son, Devin Bush Jr., is one of Harbaugh's top targets. As the ninth-ranked inside linebacker of 2016 and the son of a coach, Bush Jr. has certain advantages that others don't. He has the option to play at Florida State like his father, or at another nationally known powerhouse. 

That's not the case for everyone, though. 

Because of Harbaugh's satellite camps, recruits were given a chance they may have missed under different circumstances. The SEC versus Harbaugh argument shouldn't exist. It's all about opportunities for young athletes, not a coach attempting to gouge the most prominent conference in all of college football.

Bush Sr. had this to say, per Rutter:

"

Well here's my take on the SEC. The SEC is rich with schools and traditions, and those schools are part of a powerful conference. I think those schools' own rules prohibited them from going to camps. The schools have the resources to find a way to get this done. These kids don't. They don't have that type of resources, so I'm on the side of the kids. They should get as much experience and exposure as possible.

"

Stops in Florida were productive. Following a camp in the Tampa area, Harbaugh offered 2-star safety Josh Metellus of Flanagan, who decommitted from Georgia Southern after being invited to join Michigan. Furthermore, Harbaugh picked up a pair of up-and-coming prospects in Cooper City High School's Rashad Weaver, a 2-star tight end/defensive end, and Atlantic High School's Antwaine Richardson, a 3-star cornerback—each committed to Michigan, sight unseen, this past weekend.

During a phone call Sunday night, Weaver said that he was confident about Michigan and that a visit wasn't needed in order for him to pledge to its 2016 class. A pre-med student in waiting, he can't wait to hit campus and develop his mind at one of the country's finest public institutions. Plus, he wanted to save his mother's time and money. He plans to visit this fall, so taking an extra trip for the sake of taking it (and just to commit) didn't seem logical to Weaver, who was also offered by Columbia.

As for Richardson, Michigan "came at the right time." During a phone call Sunday night, he expressed previous interest in Wisconsin, which was one of his favorites, but explained that he just couldn't say no to an offer from the Wolverines.

Per the usual, both are eager to arrive next year and compete for starting positions. But here's the kicker: Prior to the camps, Michigan wasn't heavy on the minds of Weaver, Richardson or even Metellus, who continues to weigh his options.

The "Swarm Tour" could potentially change their lives and athletic careers for the better.

Talk about an instant impact—recruits everywhere are taking notice of the new-look, Harbaugh-led Michigan, and the program is looking at them too. This past week, Metellus said that many of his teammates are "waiting" and "hoping" to get offers from Harbaugh. That's a popular theme around the circuit, he added.

Points for Perspective

Tony Ding/Associated Press

Due to his raging success, writers and media members everywhere are crowning Harbaugh as the undisputed champion of the offseason. Well, Matt Hayes of Sporting News seems to feel that way. In a recent piece, Hayes wrote, "Michigan is relevant again; Michigan is hot and all kinds of hip because Jim Harbaugh is infectious."

He went on to to describe an outlaw-ish demeanor that's led Harbaugh to an instant payoff.

Some would disagree, especially Mike Sullivan of 97.1 The Ticket (CBS Detroit), but there is something about Hayes' words that rings so true, and recent discussions with recruits seem to reinforce Hayes' "hip" labeling of Harbaugh.

But go one step further and apply that to Michigan's staff, as tight ends coach Jay Harbaugh, defensive coordinator D.J. Durkin and defensive line coach Greg Mattison are making strong impressions at every turn.

"It's an exciting staff," Weaver said. Richardson and Metellus echoed similar thoughts.

Proof of what Harbaugh described during his introduction on Dec. 30, the "Swarm Tour" has taught us that Michigan's new head coach can certainly back up talk with swift, decisive and aggressive actions. He's out for the best talent, sure, but he's equally determined to give kids a chance at being part of something truly historic—the turnaround at Michigan.

He's been on the job for six months. He scooped eight commits during a four-week period prior to national signing day—one of the best salvage jobs seen in some time—and followed by getting seven in the past couple of weeks. While everyone was busy dishing on satellite camps, Harbaugh was broadcasting the strongest of signals.

Those signals were received loud and clear.

Follow Bleacher Report's Michigan Wolverines football writer Adam Biggers on Twitter @AdamBiggers81.

Unless otherwise noted, all quotes and references were obtained firsthand by the writer via press conference, press release or other media availability. Recruiting information was obtained from 247Sports.