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Michigan did well on Early Signing Day, but not nearly as well as Ohio State
By Ryan O'Gara
Published:
Early Signing Day, for a Michigan supporter, was a lot like what we’ve seen on the field in recent years: Pretty good, compared with a lot of programs in the country, but not nearly as good as Ohio State.
That’s the reality for the Wolverines in this era of Ohio State dominance — on the field and the recruiting trail.
Michigan currently has the 12th ranked class, according to 247Sports. That’s very good. Ohio State, unfortunately for the Wolverines, has a great class at No. 3 overall — and that’s with a top-50 recruit flipping to Utah on Thursday.
On the surface, it appears Michigan and Ohio State aren’t too far off from one another. Michigan has 13 blue-chip recruits (4 or 5 stars), and Ohio State has 16. The problem for Michigan, though, is that its top-ranked recruit is 92nd overall. Ohio State has seven players ranked higher than that.
In a rivalry that Ohio State has won 15 of the last 16 meetings, the talent gap is only getting wider. Ohio State signed high-end talent, while Michigan signed depth.
Again, it’s a very good class, one with which a lot of schools would be thrilled. But if the goal is to beat Ohio State, it’s just not going to happen with this gap in recruiting, barring some fluke in a given year.
While Ohio State loaded up at quarterback with two in the overall top 25, Michigan got the No. 80 QB whose other offers were from UMass, Fordham, Albany, Buffalo, Central Connecticut State and Kent State. It’s depth, and that’s fine.
This class will probably produce some starters (A.J. Henning at wide receiver is one to watch), but it’s nothing that is going to turn the tide. It continued a yo-yo pattern of landing elite talent. In 2017, Michigan had six top-100 recruits, but in 2018, it didn’t have any. In 2019, it had three in the top 50, but in 2020, it didn’t have any.
I don’t think Harbaugh’s act is wearing thin, but I do think some of the new-car shine is wearing off. When Harbaugh took over, there was so much buzz. He was breaking all the rules, going viral on social media routinely and talking a big game. He landed No. 1 overall recruit Rashan Gary. He had the No. 5 overall class in 2017. But now, meh. Good, not great.
Michigan’s only hope of catching Ohio State is to pass up the Buckeyes in player development, like how Iowa and Wisconsin turn 3-star recruits into stars. But the problem for Michigan is that the Buckeyes turn their stars into first-round picks.
The one bright spot for Michigan is that Michigan State had a dud of a class, coming in at No. 11 in the Big Ten with no 4-star recruits. For perspective, the only Big Ten schools without a 4-star recruit were Michigan State and Rutgers. So, it could be a lot worse.
The point of this isn’t to rag on Michigan. It’s a fine program with a fine recruiting class.
Rather, it’s a reminder that next Thanksgiving, when Ohio State beats Michigan again, it’s not a surprise. A close game, considering the talent gap between these two programs, would be the real surprise.
That won’t change until Michigan can get better players than Ohio State, or at least bridge this widening gap.
Ryan O'Gara is the lead columnist for Saturday Tradition. Follow him on Twitter @RyanOGara.