How Becoming College Football's 1st Jordan Brand Will Impact Michigan Recruiting

NBA legend Michael Jordan is jumping into the college football industry, and Michigan will take center stage. The Hall of Fame hoops icon and six-time league champion announced brand association between his popular Nike branch and the Wolverines on Thursday evening:

Michigan, scheduled to start a $169 million Nike deal next year, is the first college football program to partner with the Jordan franchise. You can already find the brand's "Jumpman" logo on the shoes and assorted clothing of recruits across America.

When Jordan's shoes are released and re-released, it can send some athletes into hysteria. Now Ann Arbor will become new territory for the brand's reach. 

"It's going to interest a lot of kids with the brand because everyone loves that brand," 5-star wide receiver Nate Craig-Myers told Tom VanHaaren of ESPN.com. "To be the only program with Jordan will definitely help."

Michigan is already enjoying the benefits of "freshness," aided greatly by the arrival of superstar head coach Jim Harbaugh. The "cool factor" he's created before claiming a single victory has helped the Wolverines surge in 2016 recruiting rankings.

Just 6-10 against Big Ten opponents since 2013, Michigan made a splash by hiring Harbaugh last winter. The Wolverines have landed eight 4-star commitments since April and sit seventh nationally in composite class ratings.  

This latest development keeps momentum moving in a positive direction:

You better believe high school standouts immediately noticed.

"The Jordan logo is going to give us a bunch of swag at Michigan," Wolverines tight end pledge Sean McKeon told Steve Wiltfong of 247Sports.

David Long, the No. 1 cornerback in the state of California and a Wolverines target who committed to Stanford earlier this month, also expressed excitement:

"

Michigan's Jordan unis are going to be cold man... I'm already knowing man.

— David Long Jr. (@dee_knowz) August 14, 2015"

So did Michigan running back commit Kingston Davis:

Programs are always looking for any kind of an edge on the recruiting trail, whether it's athletic facilities, university faculty or simple aesthetics like gear. Players are typically allotted an expansive wardrobe of team-affiliated apparel during their time on campus, including shorts, shirts and hoodies, to wear as they please.

There's also an array of on-field possibilities, as Michigan enters a new frontier for college football. The Jumpman logo has become one of the globe's most recognizable brands and soon we'll have a chance to see how the marketing experts behind it influence a new realm. 

The Jordan name is worth $480 million to Nike, according to MJ's attorney Frederick Sperling.

Oregon has undeniably benefited from its relationship with Nike, strengthened by company co-founder and university alumnus Phil Knight. The Ducks routinely roll out unique uniform styles and patterns never seen before by the general public.

People who appreciate athletic fashion more than first downs have become enamored with Oregon's game-by-game outfit unpredictability. Michigan may find itself in a similar situation with Jordan, an established innovator in the sports world.

Whether you live in Detroit or Denver, expect to see more Michigan apparel flow into shopping centers as the university moves forward with Jordan. The ultimate result is more money headed to a prestigious athletic department that will reportedly pay Harbaugh a minimum of $40.1 million during the next seven years.

As outlandish as it may seem to some, partnering with a premier line like Jordan could ultimately be just enough to sway a coveted recruit. Without question, Thursday's announcement is a win in Ann Arbor.

"I love the Jordan brand and I was super happy Michigan went with Nike," top-ranked 2016 tight end Isaac Nauta told VanHaaren. "Everyone loves to be decked out in the best and newest gear, so that definitely helps."

Tyler Donohue is a National Recruiting Analyst for Bleacher Report. All player ratings are courtesy of 247Sports' composite ratings. Follow Tyler via Twitter: @TDsTake.