This is Why Harbaugh

[Cane from the Bend]

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Rashan Gary to Michigan:
Wolverines Land 5-Star DT Prospect

The class of 2016's best defensive player has landed. Defensive tackle Rashan Gary gave his verbal commitment to Michigan on Wednesday, ending a process that included nearly every major program throwing a scholarship offer his direction.

Gary, who is the No. 1 overall prospect and the top-ranked defensive tackle in 247Sports' composite rankings, was also considered a top target of Ole Miss, Alabama, Auburn, USC and Clemson. The Crimson Tide held an early lead during the process, with a majority of 247Sports' experts ranking Nick Saban and Co. high heading into his senior year.

Gary is the first No. 1 overall recruit to sign with a team outside of the SEC since Terrelle Pryor committed to Ohio State in 2008.

However, a personal recruitment from coach Jim Harbaugh helped sway the race a bit in Michigan's direction. The Wolverines moved up rapidly after Harbaugh's hire, becoming a significant favorite near signing day and ousting a number of early front runners.

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Quinn Nordin Commits to Michigan Wolverines:
No. 1 Kicker in the 2016 Recruiting Class

Kicker Quinn Nordin has made more headlines than some 5-star prospects during his recruitment, which he wrapped up on national signing day by announcing his decision to join the Michigan Wolverines.

Nordin, the nation's No. 1 kicker and No. 692 overall prospect in 247Sports' composite rankings, announced Wednesday morning that he is signing with Michigan.

For a kicker, the 3-star Rockford, Michigan, native is no stranger to the spotlight. Last July, Nordin announced his commitment to Penn State in a music video that featured a private jet.

Nordin was the subject of the college football world's attention again in January, when Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh planned to have a sleepover at Nordin's house at the exact minute when the recruiting "dead period" ended.

Harbaugh did just that, spending the night at Nordin's house and going to school with him the next day. The Michigan coach then drove Nordin to Ann Arbor for his official visit.

Nordin decommitted from Penn State a little more than a week later.

The sleepover strategy worked wonders for the Wolverines.

Nordin, who was also considering USC, said he and Harbaugh "probably had spoken 20 times" since the sleepover—and Nordin initiated the phone calls.

Quinn Nordin: "Ever since then, me and him are making a really good relationship. He's an awesome guy. He's very serious about what he does and he gets the best out of each and every one of his players."

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[Cane from the Bend]

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Devin Asiasi to Michigan:
A 4-Star TE Prospect

While it may take some time before he makes a major impact for the Wolverines, he's got the tools to become a star.

Asiasi is a 4-star prospect who ranks as the 74th best prospect in the class of 2016, according to 247Sports' composite rankings. He's rated as the No. 3 tight end prospect in the country and is also the 12th-best prospect from California.

He's been viewed mostly as a tight end throughout the recruiting process, and it's probably where he'll begin his college career. He's also gained experience at defensive end and possesses the physical tools to excel there if he were to commit to it.

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[Spence]

Michigan had a very good signing day. One of the best in the nation.

[billybud]

Texas had a fantastic signing day...really moved them up....more than 10 spots in the ranking.

FSU had a great class...and drama on signing day...with 4 star DE Manuel switching from Florida to FSU on NSD...a very late switch that turns up the rivalry heat. The best O line class in my 45 years of fandom.

Alabama, Ohio State, Michigan, Clemson all had great classes.

How many years has Alabama had the #1 class? 2009, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2016....the two years in that stretch that they were not #1, they were #5 and #2.

[billybud]

Harbaugh had a sleepover with Connor Murphy...who signed with USC.

ya win some, ya lose some.

[Eric]

ESPN put the Noles at #1 I saw. As always, I like to see how the players pan out before we start anointing them, but I can't really complain.

I guess that means 2 more years of losing to Ohio State before we can narrow it down to a 50/50 proposition

[donovan]

Signing day is exciting for every school and even more so for the athletes. Many that sign on that day are sitting in their high school coach's office, perhaps with their parents, waiting for a school to call and say, "Congratulations, send us your letter," a form letter, the same one used by all signee's. Sometimes the phone does not ring. It is not unusual for the school of an athlete's dreams to say they are sorry, there is "no more room at the inn" and wish them well, those words never being heard. A quick call to the second and third choices are made, hoping where there will still be a "manger." Sometimes there is and sometimes there is not. This never happens with those going to the Power 5 schools, only the rejectees and those not recruited. Often to graduating athletes, this may be their introduction to life.

Congratulations to the athletes that get to play college football. As for the schools, they self-aggrandize enough.

Boise State believes they did well. If that is truly the case, then that may be all that matters. We all know many highly touted do not make it and many unnoticed go on to glory. Boise State's highest ranking signers were three star. There were 30 that signed or were added to the roster. I suspect that for small schools Boise State's reputation is a good as any for football, which may show why recruiting for other than the Power 5 is more than a full-time job.

I think their best pick was a young man, Jake Constantine, from California, quarterback, that was only recruited by Boise State. We shall see in a few years.

[billybud]

I watched an extended video of a Miami area recruit's signing ceremony. I noticed that there was an ASL interpreter and thought "great.. . not many think to have a sign language interpreter at these things".

Than I saw the kid turn and sign to the woman standing behind him, his mom, who is deaf. Watching a conversation between fluent signers is beautiful and mesmerizing. The audience and the kid did the warchant...and mom, mom did the chop.

[donovan]

I watched an extended video of a Miami area recruit's signing ceremony. I noticed that there was an ASL interpreter and thought "great.. . not many think to have a sign language interpreter at these things".

Than I saw the kid turn and sign to the woman standing behind him, his mom, who is deaf. Watching a conversation between fluent signers is beautiful and mesmerizing. The audience and the kid did the warchant...and mom, mom did the chop.

It is these stories that have always kept me connected to school athletics.

[Spence]

I think as long as a school gets players that fills their needs then it is a successful year. As to who has the top classes, it is subjective. Most recruit rankings rank players based on who offers them. The more big name offers, the higher they are ranked. So it is kind of a self fulfilling system for the blue bloods. It will be close to three years before you really know if you have developed a good class from the top talent you have signed.