Jim Harbaugh reveals four coaching points he's given to Michigan early enrollee QB Jadyn Davis
PASADENA — Perhaps more important than Michigan four-star early enrollee quarterback Jadyn Davis going through Rose Bowl practices just weeks after finishing high school is head coach Jim Harbaugh getting the chance to learn about what kind of pupil he will be in the years to come. Harbaugh certainly feels that way, and he’s been impressed with the way Davis has been able to immediately implement the coaching points he’s been given.
“The thing that is sticking out is, you give him a coaching point — and I’ve given him four now since he’s been here — and he gets it immediately,” the Michigan coach said. “The next rep, he’s doing it exactly how I just explained it.
“Just the intelligence, the athleticism that it takes to do that, I’ve found, is rare. You can understand something, and then athletically be able to just repeat — just go do it. As opposed to many reps, much time on task. He’s got the ability to visualize what you’re saying and then athletic enough to immediately replicate it. So, that’s special. That’s something I’ve noticed immediately.”
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Harbaugh revealed the coaching points he gave to the No. 95 overall prospect in the 2024 recruiting class per the On3 Industry Ranking.
“His eyes on the target when he throws a deep ball,” the Michigan head man said of the first one. “Quarterbacks have a tendency to lift their eyes up and watch the ball, instead of keeping their eyes on the defender and the receiver the entire time.
“Coached him on his snap. Like a lot of guys, you just don’t take an [under-center] snap in high school. So, getting that coached up.
“There was a ball-handling coaching point that I made — how to get away from center faster. But just immediately replicated. And one other on throwing a corner route.
“Just picking up — to actually listen. There’s a real art to that, to really hear what the instruction is, and then to be able to embrace the instruction and then go and execute the instruction. But hear it — really hear it — embrace it wholeheartedly and then go execute it to the best of your God-given ability. He’s got that talent to do all three.”
Harbaugh likened the ‘presence’ Davis has to Michigan starting quarterback J.J. McCarthy. The junior was a Heisman Trophy contender most of the season and has been one of Harbaugh’s favorite players to coach.
“It’s like watching J.J. when J.J. took the field for the first time,” Harbaugh said. “The presence that he has and had. And to watch Jadyn do that, very interesting, how is he going to approach the first day? And there it is — there’s the presence, there’s the genuine confidence, there’s the work ethic, there’s the humility. It’s great to see.”
Davis was listed by On3 at nearly 6-foot and 190 pounds. Michigan has not yet announced its 2024 signing class and given heights and weights of the newcomers.
