Speculation is always rampant about Jim Harbaugh's Chargers potentially pursuing his former Michigan players in the NFL Draft. Colston Loveland, Kenneth Grant, Will Johnson, and other Michigan Wolverines are commonly picked in expert mock drafts.
Of course, that doesn't just come out of nowhere. Harbaugh and GM Joe Hortiz drafted two Michigan players in last year's class, Junior Colson and Cornelius Johnson. They acquired another in their post-draft signings with UDFA offensive lineman Karsen Barnhart, who is currently on a futures deal with the team. Naturally, a coaching staff that intimately knows their former Michigan players will be privy to their profiles.
And Harbaugh's Michigan players seem to want to play for him. DT Kenneth Grant appeared on last night's "SportsCenter" with Matt Barrie. When asked about potentially reuniting with Harbaugh on the Chargers, Grant had this to say:
"It would mean a lot," Grant said. "Aside from football, he's a great coach. Great person in general, there's so much to relate to. You know, just listening to him talk, you can learn so much from him. But also kind of like, get a laugh out of it too."
Reuniting with Chargers' Jim Harbaugh would 'mean a lot' for Michigan's Kenneth Grant
Grant then answered another question on the biggest impact that Harbaugh had on him during his time at Michigan:
"I think just recruiting me to be honest," Grant added. "He knew my potential I could have and things that I could do. He saw the light in me. It was all about winning for him, all about winning that National Championship, winning rivalry games. And that's something I wanted to be a part of."
Several mock drafts have selected Grant for the team, including my final seven-rounder before the NFL Draft. There's a decent chance he is available for the team if Oregon DT Derrick Harmon has leapt ahead of him on draft boards. However, Michigan TE Colston Loveland could also fall to 22, given injury concerns.
But Grant makes total sense as the pick. With the losses of both Poona Ford and Morgan Fox, the Chargers have snaps and pressures to make up for next season. A Jesse Minter-led defense could use Grant once again in his system to get advantageous lighter-box looks.
With the draft just a few days away, we'll find out soon if Grant or other Michigan stars end up playing for their former head coach once again.