Michigan football signed the No. 14 recruiting class in the country for 2020 and Jim Harbaugh could utilize some of these signees right away.
There’s never been any doubt about Jim Harbaugh’s ability to recruit and he landed yet another top-15 class in 2020 following the No. 8 group in 2019.
However, the pressure has been ramped up following a Big Ten title-less 2019 season which was supposed to be the year that Michigan was going to step up and win it all. Urban Meyer was gone and Ohio State was going through a transition period, but that didn’t mean much as Harbaugh dropped to 0-5 against the Buckeyes.
A Big Ten title in 2020 is not out of the question even though there’s a new quarterback under center and that’s due, in part, to an impressive incoming recruiting class.
Which signees will have an immediate impact for the Wolverines?
There’s only one offensive lineman who has enrolled early for the Wolverines this spring semester and that’s Zak Zinter, a four-star from Cambridge, Mass.
Why is that a big deal? Because Michigan’s offensive line is going through a rebuilding phase with Ben Bredeson, Cesar Ruiz, Michael Onwenu and Jon Runyan gone. Jalen Mayfield is the lone returning starter, although others have plenty of experience as well.
The entire interior of the offensive line will be new and that’s why Zinter will be such a critical piece. The 6-6, 300-pound four-star was ranked the 10th-best offensive guard in the 2020 class, according to 247Sports. On top of that, he was listed as the No. 265 overall prospect and third-best Massachusetts product.
Zinter has the size and potential to be a star on the Wolverines’ offensive line and he has a few extra months to get acclimated with the offense.