TUSCALOOSA, AL – NOVEMBER 15: Head coach Nick Saban of the Alabama Crimson Tide looks on during pregame warmups prior to facing the Mississippi State Bulldogs at Bryant-Denny Stadium on November 15, 2014 in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
NCAABy Ben Sieck on

Jim Harbaugh may be spearheading the satellite camp movement, but Nick Saban is not letting the latest craze in college football recruiting pass him by. Alabama announced Tuesday it will hold a satellite camp in Harbaugh’s backyard as a part of its summer circuit. The Crimson Tide will be at the SoundMind SoundBody camp in Detroit on June 9-10.

Harbaugh and Michigan made waves earlier this week when they announced their summer satellite camp tour would be going intercontinental with a visit to Australia. However, it is clear with this latest news that the rest of the college football world is not going to taking Harbaugh’s crusading lying down. While the Michigan program sinks its claws into the rest of the country and beyond, programs like Alabama are going to return the favor.

It will be interesting to see how the rise of satellite camps changes the recruiting landscape. Alabama under Saban has had limited success in states like Michigan in the past — running back Mark Ingram is the only Michigan prep to sign with the Crimson Tide since 2008 — but with an increased presence there, they might get more pull. Similarly, Michigan and other state’s abilities to fend off out-of-state programs for homegrown talent will also be tested.

Schools like Michigan might want to be careful what they wish for. An increased hold in Alabama and Georgia could crack the door open for other schools to carve out a place in the traditionally Michigan-dominated midwest.

About Ben Sieck

Ben is a recent graduate of Butler University where he served as Managing Editor and Co-Editor-in-Chief for the Butler Collegian. He currently resides in Indianapolis.

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