Four-star recruit bailed on Notre Dame: Talking to Brian Kelly ‘wasn’t fun’

Donovan Jeter, a four-star defensive end recruit from Beaver Falls High School (Pa.), recently went back on his verbal commitment to Notre Dame because he would rather go to Michigan, and he has a very simple reason for the decision.

Jim Harbaugh is more chill than Brian Kelly.

In an interview with Mike White of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Jeter explained why he reopened his recruiting last week and ultimately settled on the Wolverines.

“(Harbaugh) doesn’t act like he’s important,” Jeter said. “He’s real down to earth and humble. He’s easy to talk to. Talking to Brian Kelly wasn’t fun. It wasn’t cool. You have to make an appointment just to go to his office. Coach Harbaugh has an open-door policy. Every one of Michigan’s coaches has an open-door policy.”

Jeter visited Ann Arbor on Saturday with some other Michigan recruits and current players, and it sounds like Harbaugh made a huge impression.

“He picked us up in a van to take us back to the hotel,” Jeter said. “What other head coach would come and pick up recruits at midnight in a van?”

Kelly has a reputation for being hard on his players, and he is often seen berating them on the sidelines during nationally-televised games. While Harbaugh isn’t exactly a pushover, he knows how to connect with recruits — just ask the guy who enjoyed a unique slumber party with the coach.

Being “cool” during recruiting visits doesn’t make you a good coach, but it obviously helps land good players. And when your team is 6-0 and destroying the competition, beating out a 2-5 team like Notre Dame isn’t all that hard.

H/T The Big Lead