As the 2024 NFL Draft approaches, many fans are focused on the big names coming out of

college and how their teams will utilize their picks in the draft. With Kliff Kingsbury and Jim

Harbaugh coming back to the NFL after stints in the college football world, how will that affect

the look of their draft classes?

College football coaches have made the transition to the NFL before while also bringing along

some familiar faces with them. Jimmy Johnson, former Miami Hurricanes head coach, became

the Dallas Cowboys head coach in 1989 and drafted some of his former players from the

University of Miami.

In Johnson’s first draft as head coach, the Cowboys selected two of his former players from the

Hurricanes. Johnson chose to acquire two linebackers that he previously coached, Rod Carter

and Randy Shannon.

After Johnson’s initial draft with Dallas, the Cowboys would select five more players from

Miami over the four other years that Johnson stayed with the team. Three of those draft picks

used on Hurricanes came within the top 15 picks in the draft.

Another example of a college coach taking over an NFL team is Pete Carroll becoming the

Seattle Seahawks head coach in 2010. Carroll used late-round picks in his first two drafts on two

of his old Southern California players.

Carroll’s 2011 seventh-round pick from USC, Malcolm Smith, ended up panning out and

winning Super Bowl MVP a few years later. After those first two drafts, Carroll didn’t take

another USC Trojan until 2018.

Now there is a possibility that Chargers fans could see numerous Michigan players joining their

team in the following years with the signing of Coach Jim Harbaugh. Harbaugh agreed to a

five-year contract with the Chargers after taking home the College Football National

Championship at Michigan.

We have seen the impact that a college coach can have on his first few draft classes as an NFL

head coach. Should we expect to see the Chargers and Coach Harbaugh snag some future talent

from Michigan?

Harbaugh has a few gaps in the Chargers’ roster entering the draft which could be addressed by

some of his former Wolverines. With the Chargers in need of some help on the offensive line,

Harbaugh could lean toward one of the six Michigan linemen who declared for the draft.

Los Angeles could also turn to the cornerback position and Harbaugh could pick from two of his

former athletes. Mike Sainristil or Josh Wallace could aid a Chargers secondary that ranked 30th

in passing yards allowed.

The 2024 NFL Draft begins Thursday, April 26th, and will be a big weekend for Harbaugh as he

attempts to bring the winning energy to the Chargers.