Michigan Football: Who Is MVP of Wolverines' 2016 Recruiting so Far?
Jim Harbaugh’s tactics have grabbed headlines upon headlines, but don’t forget about the other guys who helped the first-year Michigan Wolverines coach string together the No. 8-ranked class in the nation.
Due to the the efforts of defensive coordinator D.J. Durkin, offensive coordinator Tim Drevno, running backs coach Tyrone Wheatley and passing coordinator Jedd Fisch, Harbaugh’s upcoming haul may end up being better than initially anticipated.
Along with tight ends coach Jay Harbaugh, secondary coaches Mike Zordich and Greg Jackson have also assisted with offers, visits and communications. Their contributions have reflected in Michigan’s growing 20-man pod.
Sure, Jim Harbaugh pulled off a nearly miraculous eight-man swing this past national signing day. He deserves a few pats on the back. But it was guys such as Greg Mattison, the defensive coordinator under former coach Brady Hoke, who helped keep things from falling apart during the transition phase from late December and into January.
Now the D-line coach, Mattison has the Wolverines in line to land Rashan Gary, the No. 1-ranked player of the cycle, and he has given them a chance to secure a few more before next national signing day.
It’d be easy to tab Jim Harbaugh as the No. 1 recruiting MVP based on his immediate overall impact on the program, but Michigan has greatly benefited from others with lesser-publicized roles, such as recruiting coordinator Chris Partridge, the former Paramus Catholic coach who brings youth, energy and important connections to Ann Arbor.
Plus, he’s another link to Gary, one of the most sought-after defensive tackles in years.
According to 247Sports, Wheatley ranks as Michigan’s best recruiter, coming in at No. 10 in the nation and No. 3 in the Big Ten. His position on the board is based upon several factors, but it boils down to points for players—the higher the player is rated, the higher the composite score, which in turn then funnels to the coach’s score.
Wheatley is credited for getting his son, 4-star tight end Tyrone Jr., and 3-star running back Karan Higdon to sign with the 2015 class. He’s also credited for getting 4-star offensive guard Michael Onwenu and 4-star running back Matt Falcon to pledge to the Wolverines’ 2016 class.
On average, Wheatley scores recruits with a rating of 87 or better, which qualifies him for MVP status. But there is another way to view who’s the most valuable, and that angle involves factoring in need, time, competition and method of recruiting—such as picking up a kid or six on the fly at a satellite camp.
All of those factors, plus momentum, will influence the final verdict as this piece takes a look at the rest of the efforts put forth by Harbaugh’s staff.
Greg Mattison
No. 26 nationally, No. 10 in the Big Ten
Along with Partridge, Mattison is Michigan’s most important recruiter at the moment. Really, the pair of coaches is the most important in the country, as it appears to have the best chance of securing the 6’4”, 311-pound blue chip that resides in New Jersey.
If successful, Mattison and Partridge might as well crown themselves—they’ll be it. Case closed. They get Rashan Gary, they get to call themselves the Wolverines’ best recruiter. That’s how it goes. As of now, Partridge isn’t ranked by 247Sports. But in all likelihood, that will soon change.
Nearly two years ago, Mattison was partly responsible for acquiring Jabrill Peppers, a 5-star phenom who was widely considered the best athlete of the 2014 class. As for this cycle, Mattison has all but sealed the deal with 4-star offensive tackle Ben Bredeson, 4-star defensive end Ron Johnson and 3-star athlete David Reese, giving him an average player rating of 91.98 for 2016.
That mark, of course, will gain a few points if and when he gets Gary to commit to the Wolverines. Then it’ll be on to the moment of truth: Making sure they all sign in February.
Consistently one of the best in the nation, Mattison certainly deserves consideration as Michigan’s No. 1 recruiter. There aren’t many coaches who possess Mattison’s combination of personality and approachability; his results speak for themselves.
Tim Drevno
No. 36 nationally, No. 14 in the Big Ten
Not quite in shambles but far from mint condition, Michigan’s offensive line has long been the topic of heated discussion. As it turned out, Drevno was the lucky man who inherited one of the most underachieving units in all of college football. Well, he didn’t only inherit the thing, he’s tasked with getting it on the road.
Progress isn’t absent up front; it just hasn’t been overly visible up to this point. Despite being split into mixed squads, the line, as a whole, didn’t appear to be in too bad condition during the spring game in April. There was certainly something there. Drevno will find out this fall as he continues to build what could be Michigan’s best OL class ever.
When it comes to team needs, Drevno wasted little time in sinking his hooks into the best available options in the country, one of which was Bredeson. A team effort on the part of Drevno and Mattison helped Michigan charm a yes from the 6’5”, 293-pound Wisconsin prep standout.
Add in 4-star offensive tackle Devery Hamilton of Baltimore and 4-star quarterback Zach Gentry of New Mexico, and Drevno has quite the resume for 2016. Considering that he’s uprooted from the Pac-12 and essentially starting from scratch, Harbaugh’s longtime friend and colleague has certainly pulled his weight on the trails.
D.J. Durkin
No. 83 nationally, No. 26 in the Big Ten
In 2013, ESPN Recruiting Nation tabbed Mattison as the No. 1 recruiter in college football. The year prior, Durkin won the honor while with the Florida Gators. Two of the best recruiters, plus “two of the best defensive coordinators in the country” per senior linebacker Joe Bolden, gives the Wolverines a strategic advantage.
Thus far, Durkin has maintained par by getting four players to commit to Michigan’s upcoming class: 3-star athlete Rashad Weaver (formerly a 2-star defensive end), 3-star cornerback Antwaine Richardson, 3-star safety Devin Gil, who flipped from Miami (Fla.), and 2-star safety Josh Metellus—and each of their commitments were products of Harbaugh’s “Swarm Tour,” giving Durkin a little more to brag about than some of his contemporaries.
Judging by sheer volume alone, there is a strong MVP case for Durkin, one of the most active talent-seekers on Harbaugh’s staff.
Jedd Fisch
No. 34 nationally, No. 13 in the Big Ten
As the passing-game coordinator, Fisch will always be heavily involved in courting quarterbacks, the position otherwise known as the essence of coach Jim Harbaugh’s game plan. One quick look at Harbaugh’s past shows one thing: The better the quarterback, the better the team—see San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kapernick and former Stanford star Andrew Luck of the Indianapolis Colts for further proof of Harbaugh’s influence.
As for Fisch, he’s been around the NFL and collegiate game since 1999 and knows how to formulate passing schemes, execute them on game day and how to identify talent. Given his resume, he’ll likely have similar success at Michigan with Jim Harbaugh.
Thus far, Fisch has helped Harbaugh reel in a pair of big-armed pro-stylers—4-star Zach Gentry, who joins the Wolverines this fall, and 4-star Brandon Peters, who’s committed to the 2016 class; he’s also responsible for piling 4-star all-purpose back Chris Evans and 3-star Kiante Enis into the next class. The pair was offered shortly after impressing during Harbaugh’s satellite stop at Bishop Chatard High School in Indianapolis.
Along with Drevno, Fisch is in the midst of an aggressive battle for 5-star wide receiver Dylan Crawford, a 6’1”, 175-pounder who ranks No. 80 in his class and holds offers from Arizona State, UCLA and USC, among others. He’s nabbed quality athletes so far, but getting Crawford would certainly improve Fisch’s stock.
MVP Time
Having four years at Michigan—this time around—gives Mattison an advantage over the rest of Michigan’s staff, so the MVP award will go to the staff member who’s done the most since Jim Harbaugh took over on Dec. 30.
Mattison is one of those guys, there’s no denying that. He's been one of the most active members of Harbaugh's staff. But he’s not the MVP. Not until Gary pledges to Michigan, and Gary’s college decision won’t be known until this fall.
Mattison has to wait.
So for the time being, the MVP of Michigan recruiting is Drevno, who has padded his six-month resume with pledges from four 4-star recruits and three of Michigan’s top four O-liners for 2016. The Wolverines are on the brink of signing their best OL haul in history.
That's saying something, and it's certainly worthy of a writer-manufactured MVP award.
Follow Bleacher Report’s Michigan Wolverines football writer Adam Biggers on Twitter @AdamBiggers81
Recruiting information was obtained from 247Sports.
Unless otherwise noted, all quotes and references were obtained firsthand by the writer via press conference, press release or other media availability.
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