U-M football: 'Poaching' could be on Harbaugh's plate

The practice of “poaching” in college football can be a very nasty business.

Even after a prospect verbally commits to a school, he’s fair game to coaches who believe “stealing” commits from other schools is just fine.

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National Signing Day (Feb 4, 2015) puts an end to these shenanigans by having eligible players sign national letters of intent, which binds a player to the school of his choosing.

Barely time to complete 2015 class

Coaches normally have plenty of time to assemble their classes, but newly hired ones like Michigan’s Jim Harbaugh, are usually forced to complete their current class between the end of the bowl season and National Signing Day. That’s about five weeks, which is not a lot of time.

Some coaches turn to poaching, which is perfectly legal according to the NCAA, but is frowned upon by other coaches. Those who poach, like Urban Meyer and Rich Rodriguez, are criticized for a lack of ethics.

When Meyer first landed in the Big Ten in 2012, eight of his first ten recruits had verbally committed elsewhere.

Disagreement among coaches

“There are a few things that happened early on that I made people aware of that I didn’t want to see in this league, that I had seen take place in other leagues,” said Bret Bielema, now the head coach at Arkansas.

Meyer (who can argue with his results?) defends his practice.

"“Sometimes they say, ‘How can you go recruit a young guy committed to another school?'” Meyer added. “You ask a question, ‘Are you interested?’ If they say, ‘No,’ you move on. If they say, ‘Yes, very interested,’ then you throw that hook out there. If they’re interested, absolutely [you recruit them], especially from your home state. Is it gratifying to take a guy from another school? Not at all.”"

In Rodriguez’ first year in Ann Arbor, then-Purdue coach Joe Tiller called Rodriguez a “snake-oil salesmen” for pilfering wide receiver Roy Roundtree at the last minute.

Harbaugh needs about 10 recruits

New Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh, like Rodriguez and Brady Hoke before him, has very little time to complete its 2015 class.

In fact, he isn’t even allowed to meet face-to-face with recruits until Jan. 15, which is the close of the “dead period” (which only allows contact by phone, text or mail).

Luckily, Michigan only needs to add about 10 prospects to the six players already committed (unless they lose another before signing day). Allowed only 85 scholarships at any time, Michigan’s class in relatively small because Hoke had large classes (25 in 2012 and 27 in 2013).

Don’t tell Bielema, but Michigan has quite a list of players to

poach

acquire. Here’s a few of them:

[table id=35 /]

Ratings reflect the 247sports composite.

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Michigan football recruiting: ‘Poaching’ could be on Jim Harbaugh’s plate

By Joel Greer | Jan 14, 2015