David Long Jr. to Michigan: Wolverines Land 4-Star CB Prospect

After reopening his recruitment, 4-star cornerback David Long Jr. announced his commitment to the Michigan Wolverines on ESPNU (via ESPN.com's Tom VanHaaren) on Thursday.

Long announced on Twitter that he had decommitted from the Stanford Cardinal on Dec. 18, noting that Michigan and the Washington Huskies were his top choices.

Long is the eighth-best cornerback and the No. 65 overall prospect in the 2016 class, according to 247Sports.

Before Long made his announcement, Michigan head coach Jim Harbaugh visited Long and his family at their home Monday, when Long's younger sister asked him if he could climb a tree in the backyard.

“He was just trying to fulfill her request," Long said, per VanHaaren. "He ended up putting my little brother up instead, because he never actually made it up.”

Long, who called his recruitment "crazy," made his decision shortly after Harbaugh's visit.

"You know, he's a really loose guy," Long said, per VanHaaren. "He's one of the most loose coaches out there. A lot of people think that he's [going] overboard by what he's doing, but I think that's just him. He's a really laid-back guy. I think that's just a part of his personality."

This is a huge get for Michigan, as Long has good size (6'0", 175 lbs) and can develop into a top-tier cornerback. Michigan's pass defense was among the best in the country in 2015, allowing a 47.5 completion percentage and only 158.3 passing yards per game in Harbaugh's first year.

Steve Lorenz of 247Sports noted how important getting a talented corner like Long was for Harbaugh:

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With Jourdan Lewis, Channing Stribling and Jeremy Clark set to move on after the 2016 season, Long immediately becomes an integral part of Michigan's future at the cornerback position. A track star who posted a 10.67 100 meter dash this season, Long has the quick twitch and speed to become an elite player at the position. He is ranked 65th in the 247Sports Composite rankings and held offers from Ohio State, Notre Dame, Stanford, Miami (FL), Oklahoma and USC among others.

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The Wolverines went 10-3 in the first year of the Harbaugh era, capping the season off with a 41-7 win over the Florida Gators in the Citrus Bowl. Per 247Sports, Michigan has the third-best recruiting class in the country after the addition of Long.

It's surprising that he turned down Stanford, but Long is a young man who had every right to change his mind. Under the tutelage and guidance of Harbaugh, Long could become a valuable corner and a future first-round pick in the NFL.