Jim Harbaugh Receives 6-year, $88-million extension by…
Jim Harbaugh has reportedly received a 6-year, $88 million extension by Michigan.
On Saturday, December 2, 2023, in Indianapolis, following Michigan’s victory over Iowa in the Big Ten championship NCAA college football game, head coach Jim Harbaugh celebrates. Michigan prevailed 26-0. (AJ Mast/AP Photo)AP
According to Sports Illustrated, Michigan is reportedly drafting a $55 million, five-year contract extension for head coach Jim Harbaugh.
The $11 million annual pay increase is beset by a problem, though. According to Richard Johnson of SI, Michigan is seeking a written pledge from the coach stating that he will not look for work in the NFL “this cycle.”
After nine years at Michigan, Harbaugh has an 87-25 record and has led the Wolverines to three consecutive College Football Playoff appearances. On January 1 at the Rose Bowl, No. 1 ranked Michigan takes on No. 4 Alabama.
But Harbaugh’s time at Michigan hasn’t been without its challenges. He is serving a three-game suspension that he put on his own because of NCAA infractions that happened during the COVID-19 dead period. The Michigan sign-stealing scheme came next, leading to an additional three-game suspension.
Next year, Donaven McCulley would be Michigan’s top wide receiver.
Michigan is keeping a very close eye on Indiana transfer Donaven McCulley.
It didn’t take long for Michigan to get involved with Indiana wide receiver Donaven McCulley once he entered the transfer portal. The 6-5, 200-pounder entered the portal on Nov. 28, and it didn’t even take a week for the Wolverines to extend an offer.
It’s not a surprise that U-M got involved. With Roman Wilson and Cornelius Johnson both on their way out, there are a couple of spots available at the top of the depth chart and McCully would almost certainly occupy one of them should he choose the Wolverines.
Originally a dual-threat quarterback at Indiana, McCully switched to wide receiver full time before the 2022 season. Over the course of the last two campaigns, he compiled 64 catches for 844 yards and seven scores, with the large majority of that production coming in 2023. Because of that, Michigan decided to get involved, as have at least seven other schools including UCLA, Penn State, Nebraska and South Carolina among others.
Michigan obviously has a lot more to play for than those other schools and has two former Hoosiers on the roster already in backup quarterback Jack Tuttle and tight end AJ Barner. McCulley’s former teammate and fellow pass catcher had this to say about his transfer experience at Michigan.
“If you’re looking for something that’s going to be easy and something that’s going to be given to you, then don’t come here,” Barner said. “But if you’re looking for some place that, if you’re a tough kid that wants to be great at football, and wants to play at the next level and win a lot of football games, then this is the place for you.”
If McCulley wants to find out if Michigan is the place for him, he has two phenomenal resources to talk to when it comes to his former teammates.
The clip below is obviously a little dated as it’s from McCulley’s days as a four-star dual-threat quarterback in high school, but it’s a great portrayal of his overall athleticism. He’s obviously got great size and the video shows just how fluid he is and how dangerous he could be after the catch.