Wolverine Digest

Chargers Jim Harbaugh recreates photo with former five-star Michigan recruit

Eight years after nearly landing the five-star prospect, Harbaugh finally landed Najee Harris in Los Angeles.
Chris Breiler|
Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images

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Michigan WolverinesLos Angeles Chargers

It's funny how life works sometimes. One minute your chasing (and losing) a highly rated prospect on the recruiting trail in college, and the next you've signed him to your team in the NFL. That's the case for Jim Harbaugh and new Chargers running back Najee Harris.

As arguably the top running back prospect in the 2017 class, Harris spent most of his recruitment locked in with Nick Saban and the Alabama Crimson Tide. But Harbaugh and the Wolverines established themselves as a real player for his services, leading to a recruiting battle that came down to the wire.

Najee Harris
Kim Klement-Imagn Images

Michigan came close to flipping the five-star prospect before signing day, but Harris ultimately signed with Saban and the Tide.

Although it was a painful loss for the Wolverines, Harris would go on to capture two National Championships during his time in Tuscaloosa (2017, 2020). He earned first-team All-SEC honors in 2020, and became a first round draft pick by the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2021.

After four seasons with the Tide and another four seasons with the Steelers, Harbaugh was finally able to land his prized running back recruit in Los Angeles. When Harris arrived to LA, Harbaugh and Harris recreated an old recruiting photo from 2017.

- Enjoy more Michigan Wolverines coverage on Michigan Wolverines On SI -

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Chris Breiler
CHRIS BREILER

Christopher Breiler launched Winged Helmet Media and began covering the Michigan Football program in an unofficial capacity in 2017. He then joined Wolverine Digest as part of the FanNation network in 2021 as a contributing writer, where he served as both a writer and a photographer on game days. In 2024, he took over as the Managing Editor for Michigan Wolverines On SI. His love for Michigan Football brought him into the industry, and his passion for being a content creator has led to some amazing experiences along the way.

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