Army Bowl Commit Further Supports Jim Harbaugh's Recruiting Power at Michigan
SAN ANTONIO — As the first of five commits at the U.S. Army All-American Bowl, 4-star wide receiver Dylan Crawford committed to Michigan over offers from UCLA, Miami and Oregon.
Crawford's pledge put Michigan at No. 2 in the latest 247Sports composite team recruiting rankings behind LSU. His pledge also further proved what Michigan fans have been stressing for months.
Jim Harbaugh can recruit. Very well.
.jpg?w=256 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
The well-known head coach for the Wolverines now has 24 commitments in the 2016 class. Of the 24, 14 are 4-star prospects. And of the 3-star players committed, one is the No. 2 player from Massachusetts in tight end Sean McKeon; one is the nation's top-ranked fullback in Kingston Davis; and one brings a solid resume to the table in running back Kiante Enis.
Since the summer, Harbaugh has made the commitment to recruiting the entire country a major priority. He made news when he and his staff were a part of a satellite-camp tour that included Texas, Indiana, Alabama, Florida, Pennsylvania and California.
Harbaugh showed all summer that he was likable and easygoing. He instantly became a favorite with many when he would participate in camp drills.
Harbaugh's personality, coupled with the anticipated future of the program, has equated to a class that could ultimately rival LSU by national signing day.
What may be even more impressive is the geographical range of recruiting with Michigan. The Wolverines have only one in-state pledge, 4-star lineman Michael Onwenu. Harbaugh and his coaching staff have ventured all over the country and have players committed from Massachusetts to Florida to California and all points in between.
New Jersey has been a major recruiting state for Harbaugh, as four players—running back Kareem Walker, defensive end Ron Johnson and wide receivers Ahmir Mitchell and Brad Hawkins—all hail from the Garden State. Michigan is hoping to get at least one more player from the state—the nation's top-ranked overall player, defensive tackle Rashan Gary.
As the Wolverines await Gary's much-anticipated commitment, they will relish on their newest pledge. Crawford is a big, athletic wide receiver who will bring speed, power and agility to Ann Arbor.
At The Opening this summer in Oregon, Crawford was a finalist in the Nike Football Rating Championship, recording impressive stats in the 40-yard dash (4.45 seconds), the vertical jump (40.1 inches), the 20-yard shuttle (4.01 seconds) and the power ball toss (44.5 feet).
"Football wise, they're definitely stable right now. They're on the rise," Crawford told 247Sports's Steve Wiltfong. "Networking wise, they're obviously one of the best in the nation. You're going to get your degree. [Harbaugh] is going to be on you to get your degree. I need someone that can push me like that."
The Wolverines have the kind of class that can help Michigan fans forget about previous subpar years. The future is bright; now, it's just a matter of coaching these athletes.
If the Wolverines end up getting some 11th-hour, elite-level commits on Feb. 3, coaching the athletes will get that much easier. Whether you admire or despise Harbaugh, you have to give him and his staff credit for their recruiting efforts.
Damon Sayles is a National Recruiting Analyst for Bleacher Report. All player ratings are courtesy of 247Sports.com's composite ratings. Follow Damon via Twitter: @DamonSayles
.jpg?w=480 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
