Jim Harbaugh may be the patron saint of satellite camps, but the Michigan coach is now taking things to the next level. Instead of Harbaugh traveling all over the country in search of recruits, the players are now coming to him.
Michigan announced Wednesday the school will host a high school football game between New Jersey’s Paramus Catholic High School and Maryland’s St. Frances Academy on Sept. 2 in Michigan Stadium.
Paramus Catholic and St. Frances Academy will play each other at Michigan Stadium on Sept 2 according to 2017 TE Myles Wright
— Eric Rutter (@EricJRutter) June 8, 2016
The Big House will host the Wolverines’ season opener against Hawaii the very next day.
This arrangement may seem like another bombastic recruiting tactic on Harbaugh’s part, but this is just another step in Harbaugh’s recruiting strategy. It is the result of a very long, intricate relationship between Paramus and Michigan dating back to his hiring in 2014.
Paramus is the alma mater of blue chip recruits, as well as current Wolverines Jabril Peppers and Rashaan Gary. Peppers was the No. 2 ranked player in the class of 2014, and Gary is the No. 1 player from the class of 2016. However, the bond between the two schools goes beyond a handful of recruits.
From MLive.com:
Shortly after Harbaugh was hired in late 2014, he hired former Paramus Catholic head coach Chris Partridge to be the team’s director of player personnel. Partridge then played a key role in helping Michigan land Gary, the country’s No. 1-ranked player in 2016.
Partridge is now serving as Michigan’s linebackers/special teams coach.
Harbaugh is also schedule to be at Paramus tonight and tomorrow. He is part of a satellite camp being put on Wednesday night, and he will also be one of the school’s commencement speakers on Thursday.
This game is one of many high school contests being played on Michigan’s campus this year. The school is also hosting the “Battle at the Big House” on Aug. 25-27, where 14 Michigan high schools will open up their seasons at Michigan Stadium.
