Jim Harbaugh knows a number of NFL players from recruiting them or coaching them at Michigan. This week he signed two players he knows well. First was Steelers RB Najee Harris who was enrolled at Michigan but decided to get on a flight to Alabama instead of Detroit Metro after the Army All-American Game. That was a painful loss, when Michigan needed a stud RB.
Now here come the real interesting one. Jim and the Chargers have signed former Michigan Wolverine CB Ben St-Juste from the Commanders. If you don't recall this story its a good one. Ben was recruited by Jim out of Canada and he had the skill set and body type to be a great Michigan DB. He then goes on to have years worth of injuries that wouldn't allow him on the field. I believe it was chronic bad hamstrings, if I remember correctly. The Michigan Doctors recommended and Jim needing his scholarship asked Ben to "medically retire". Which means he gets to keep his scholarship but no longer can play football (it also open up a scholarship for a recruit or another player on the team).
Ben disagreed with that analysis and decides to transfer to Minnesota, where he becomes the CB we all thought he would be. Gets drafted and has had a nice career with Washington. After Ben goes to Minnesota he gets on social media describing what happened and how he was treated by the Wolverines medical staff and coaches. That is was a series of bad luck and not a medical issue that required him to leave football. He clearly was right. At the time, Michigan was in need to good cornerback play and honestly must have thought Ben's hamstrings would not hold up.
Now Ben and Jim are back together again and bygones are bygones, we assume.
- Bryce Underwood is on the next EA College Football Cover with about 100 other players. Little early for a player that hasn't taken a snap yet.
- Minnesota has let Ben Johnson their basketball coach go. That was the Wolverines worst loss of the season. I guess Ben will have to go back to track and field.
