Unless they really, really thought they had Harris. Dillon is great, but let's be honest, nobody thought he had that in him, or he would have had more offers. Harris looked even better last night than Dillon though. I know the lines are very different, but he was doing stuff on his own that was just scary for an 18 year old.
They did think they had Harris. But you don't have anyone until that LOI is signed.
No doubt Harris is special and a freak. Which is why they pressed so hard to get him. But you don't dump an athletic freak like Dillon for Harris unless you have that LOI. Dillon would have been better than Isaac, Higdon, or Evans. Isaac got hurt and was never seen from again. Higdon is too small and can't pass block but he's an effective change of pace runner. Evans is a lethal weapon when used properly as a hybrid player in the mold of a Percy Harvin or Curtis Samuel, has yet to be used properly at Michigan imo. Urban would have a field day with that kid and make him a real star. Kid picked the wrong school. Harbaugh doesn't have a clue how to use him right. Dillon was the exact type of bruiser that Harbaugh looks for in his RB's. He was 6'1, 230 in HS running legit 4.53's at that size. He's 240 now running that same speed and just runs over and right by people. Perfect type of RB for that power run scheme.
Harbaugh has to get this team better at QB, RB, and OL. Passing on a guy like Dillon was flat out a mistake. Weakened the talent pool at the RB position. I see some nice talent at WR and TE, but it's extremely inconsistent. There are some next level NFL type athletes with size and speed. I think the inconsistency has a lot to do with lack of coaching and youth there.
QB, RB, and OL however? I think that's just lack of coaching and a lack of talent. Patterson could help out that problem at QB if he's eligible right away and if Pep Hamilton isn't the one coaching him, but the RB position and OL position- looks pretty bleak. Higdon is a nice player but he's not an NFL RB. AJ Dillon is a future NFL draft pick at RB. I really like Evans- he is a hell of a weapon but they have no clue how to use him right.
Even if Higdon can be the guy as a SR and develop more physically and improve his pass blocking, even if Patterson is eligible and proves to be the best QB that Harbaugh's had in 3 years, even if they get a damn clue and figure out how to really use Chris Evans- that OL is probably gonna be really ugly in 2018. They should be OK on the interior but the tackles are a mess.