Michigan’s HC move will send a 5-star receiver recruit…
|Michigan’s HC move will send a 5-star receiver recruit to Oregon.
Gatlin Bair is one of the only elite 2024 five-star recruits who has yet to commit to a college, but his recruitment is essentially down to two options.
The former Boise State commitment, a five-star wide receiver from Burley, Idaho, is expected to decide between Michigan and Oregon soon.
While the Wolverines were thought to have a solid lead on Bair’s commitment entering into 2024 — and Michigan’s championship triumph over Washington most likely added to that lead — things have shifted swiftly in Ann Arbor.
After winning the national championship, head coach Jim Harbaugh soon moved on to the NFL’s Los Angeles Chargers. Meanwhile, Oregon was fortunate to retain head coach Dan Lanning, who was apparently attracting interest from the Alabama Crimson Tide as they sought to replace the recently retired Nick Saban.
Michigan eventually lost Harbaugh, but Lanning stayed to rebuild what has once again been a juggernaut in Eugene. Heading into the historic February National Signing Day, On3 recruiting guru Justin Hopkins believes Oregon has the advantage over Michigan in the recruiting sweepstakes.
“That was the key, getting him to hang on…as you can see the result of that is Harbaugh going to the NFL, that opened the door for Oregon,” Hopkins recently said. “I think that was the last shoe to drop in his recruitment. So yeah, a month ago this was all Michigan’s to lose, but with the changes and everything that’s happened in that month, this one feels very strongly in favor of Oregon, right now.”
If Hopkins is true and Oregon does actually select Bair over Michigan, it would be a significant victory for the Ducks.