Jim Harbaugh Confirms Former High-End Recruit Has ‘Gone Straight To The Top’ Of Depth Chart

When speaking on Inside Michigan Football on Monday, Jim Harbaugh had plenty of interesting things to say — including a big development on a former big-time recruit.

Jim Harbaugh spoke with Jon Jansen on Monday night on ‘Inside Michigan Football’ and the Wolverines’ head coach had a ton of intriguing things to say — including a major development on former big-time recruit, Keon Sabb.

Sabb, a sophomore from Bradenton (FL) IMG Academy, played in four games during his true freshman season last year. The then-freshman had to sit behind the likes of Rod Moore, Makari Paige, and RJ Moten in 2022 but was just biding his time.

The talent is there with Sabb, he was a major recruit for Michigan after all — the Wolverines even lured him away from the Clemson Tigers.

At one point, Sabb was a five-star recruit and was ranked No. 5 in the 2022 recruiting class. But once he de-committed from Clemson and signed with Michigan, he was a four-star and the 84th-ranked recruit in the cycle.

Now heading into his sophomore campaign, Sabb has a chance to produce. Moten is gone after transferring to Florida and the way Michigan likes to play its safeties, Sabb should see the field.

Jim Harbaugh confirmed both Paige and Moore are battling some injuries right now and while it’s nothing too serious, it could linger into Saturday. During their absence, Harbaugh stated Sabb has gone to the top of the depth chart and is a starter-quality player.

“Secondary-wise, been a little banged up,” said Harbaugh. “Working through something both at the safety and corner positions. Still going to wait and see what that looks like for Saturday. Nothing long-term, there’s none of the six-month variations of injury. At safety, both Makari and Rod have both had some things that they are working through. Keon Sabb has gone straight to the top. Amazing player who has really come into his own. He did last year on special teams. We didn’t play him enough, in my opinion, at safety but he’s gotten a ton of reps. Starter-quality player, no question, so is Quinten Johnson. We’re lucky that both Keon Sabb and Quinten Johnson are starter-caliber players.”

Defensive coordinator Jesse Minter, and acting head coach against East Carolina, also has seen some big things from both Sabb and Zeke Berry. Minter says he is excited for both of them and they have made some big jumps this offseason.

“I think a couple of the young safeties, Keon Sabb and Zeke Berry are guys that are going to get some run,” Minter said. “I’m excited about their progress. Basically took a freshman year, played and got a little taste of it in some of the earlier games and continued to learn, continued to get better in the spring. They both have made really big jumps, even since spring which is exciting. Kind of what you expect from younger players. Those two guys in particular, just excited to see what they are able to do now in front of 100,000 people.”

Sabb was one of my breakout performers on the defensive side of the ball and after listening to Harbaugh and Minter talk it sounds like that has a real chance of happening.

Michigan will take the field against East Carolina on Saturday at noon on Peacock.