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| Gardena (CA) Junipero Serra cornerback Adoree’ Jackson |
The BBQ at the Big House is a recruiting event that was started by former Michigan coach Rich Rodriguez. Rather than having a junior day or Friday Night Lights type of event, the coaches host players for a BBQ in July. This year’s event will take place on July 27 (for 2015/2016 prospects) and July 28 (for 2014 prospects). Here’s a list of the players who have said they’ll be at the BBQ:
Joshua Alabi – DT – Detroit (MI) Cass Tech: Alabi is a 6’4″, 260 lb. prospect for 2015. He has offers from Michigan, Michigan State, Nebraska, Ohio State, Tennessee, and Wisconsin, among others. 247 Sports ranks him as the #26 offensive tackle and #229 player overall.
Jerome Baker – LB – Cleveland (OH) Benedictine: Baker is a 6’1″, 205 lb. weakside linebacker prospect with offers from Florida, Illinois, and Ohio State, among others. According to 247’s Composite ranking, he’s a 4-star, the #7 athlete, and #94 player overall.
Kalen Ballage – RB – Peyton (CO) Falcon: I wrote up a scouting report on Ballage in May. UPDATE: Ballage will not be able to make the BBQ trip but plans to take an official visit to Michigan.
Ian Bunting – TE – Hinsdale (IL) Central: Bunting committed to Michigan back in April.
George Campbell, Jr. – WR – Tarpon Springs (FL) East Lake: Campbell is a 6’3″, 184 lb. prospect for 2015. He has offers from Clemson, Florida, Florida State, Georgia, Michigan, Notre Dame, and Texas A&M, among others. As a sophomore in 2012, he had 30 receptions for 766 yards and 5 touchdowns. He’s teammates with Michigan commit Mason Cole and Michigan target Artavis Scott (see below). According to 247 Sports, Campbell is a 5-star, the #1 wide receiver, and the #16 overall player.
Freddy Canteen – WR – Elkton (MD) Eastern Christian Academy: Canteen committed to Michigan in June.
Brian Cole – WR – Saginaw (MI) Heritage: Cole is a 6’2″, 190 lb. prospect for 2015 with offers from Michigan, Michigan State, Ohio State, and Tennessee. Michigan is recruiting him for wide receiver and appears to be the front runner. According to 247 Sports, he’s a 4-star, the #9 cornerback, and #72 player overall.
Mason Cole – OG – Tarpon Springs (FL) East Lake: Cole committed to Michigan in February. He has been selected to play in the U.S. Army All-American Bowl.
Shaun Crawford – CB – Lakewood (OH) St. Edward: Crawford is a 5’9″, 165 lb. prospect for 2015 with offers from Arkansas, Florida State, Miami, Michigan, Michigan State, Penn State, and Tennessee, among others. He claims a 4.51 forty and as a sophomore in 2012, he had 66 tackles, 3 tackles for loss, 1 sack, 2 interceptions, 3 pass breakups, 2 forced fumbles, and 1 fumble recovery.
Messiah DeWeaver – QB – Trotwood (OH) Trotwood-Madison: DeWeaver is a 6’2″, 180 lb. prospect for 2016 with no offers at this time. He camped at Michigan in June. He was a teammate with incoming freshman linebacker Mike McCray II.
David Edwards – QB – Downers Grove (IL) North: Edwards is a 6’6″, 225 lb. prospect for 2015 with offers from Illinois and Vanderbilt. As a sophomore in 2012, he had 502 passing yards for 3 touchdowns, along with 719 rushing yards and 9 touchdowns.
Michael Ferns III – LB – St. Clairsville (OH) St. Clairsville: Ferns committed to Michigan last August.
Desmond Fitzpatrick – WR – Farmington (MI) Farmington: Fitzpatrick is a 5’11”, 165 lb. prospect for 2016 offers from Indiana, Ohio, and Toledo. He played for Farmington Harrison last season, but is transferring to Farmington High for the coming year.
Leonard Fournette – RB – New Orleans (LA) St. Augustine: Fournette is a 6’1″, 225 lb. prospect with offers from just about everyone; his two leaders appear to be Alabama and LSU. Michigan was not mentioned in regard to Fournette until Jabrill Peppers committed and started talking to and about him being a part of Michigan’s class. According to 247’s Composite ranking, Fournette is the #1 player in the entire class. As a junior in 2012, he had 196 carries for 2,136 yards and 31 touchdowns. That’s 10.9 yards/carry. Chances are slim that Michigan jumps in front of those two SEC schools, but it can’t hurt to get him on campus. There’s a chance that he might really like it, and it puts Ann Arbor in the minds of other top prospects.
Noah Furbush – LB – Kenton (OH) Kenton: Furbush committed to Michigan at the beginning of July.
Da’Shawn Hand – DE – Woodbridge (VA) Woodbridge: I wrote up a scouting report on Hand back in February. He recently announced a top three that included Michigan and eliminated long-time favorite Virginia Tech. UPDATE: Hand will not be able to make the visit.
Dele Harding – LB – Elkton (MD) Eastern Christian Academy: Harding is a 6’1″, 218 lb. prospect for 2016 with offers from Massachusetts, Tennessee, and USC. He’s the teammate of Michigan commits Brandon Watson and Freddy Canteen. Harding camped at Michigan back in June and was told by Michigan’s coaches that he would probably be offered down the road, but it’s still pretty early for the class of 2016.
Drake Harris – WR – Grand Rapids (MI) Christian: Harris committed to Michigan in April.
Justin Hilliard – LB – Cincinnati (OH) St. Xavier: Hilliard is a 6’2″, 225 lb. prospect for 2015 with offers from Arkansas, Iowa, Michigan, Notre Dame, and Ohio State, among others. As a sophomore in 2012, he had 65 tackles, 7 sacks, 2 interceptions, and 1 forced fumble. It’s still fairly early, but in my opinion, Hilliard is the best Ohio player in his class.
Jonathan Hilliman – RB – Jersey City (NJ) St. Peters Prep: I wrote up a scouting report on Hilliman back in December. He recently announced Ohio State as his favorite. UPDATE: Hilliman is no longer planning to attend the event.
Corey Holmes – WR – Fort Lauderdale (FL) St. Thomas Aquinas: I wrote up a scouting report on Holmes a few months ago. He declared Michigan as his leader early, but the Wolverines seem to have faded, perhaps by their choice. It seems like Michigan has been pursuing some other wide receiver targets harder. UPDATE: Holmes committed to Notre Dame and will not visit Michigan.
Adoree’ Jackson – CB – Junipero (CA) Gardena Serra: I wrote up a scouting report on Jackson back in March. He has aspirations in track and field, so while he likes Michigan, it might be tough to keep him away from schools that have better track programs. UPDATE: Jackson likely will not visit at this point.
Van Jefferson – WR – Brentwood (TN) Ravenwood: Jefferson is a 6’2″, 164 lb. prospect for 2015 with offers from Middle Tennessee State, Penn State, and Vanderbilt. He used to attend Orchard Lake (MI) St. Mary’s and is the son of former Detroit Lions wideout and current Tennessee Titans wide receivers coach Shawn Jefferson. The elder Jefferson attended Central Florida, in case you were wondering. UPDATE: Jefferson no longer plans to attend the BBQ.
Sterling Jenkins – OT – Pittsburgh (PA) Baldwin: Jenkins is a 6’8″, 305 lb. prospect for 2015 with offers from Michigan, Ohio State, Penn State, and Pitt, among others. According to 247 Sports, he’s a 4-star, the #7 offensive tackle, and the #86 overall player in his class.
Tyree Kinnel – S – Huber Heights (OH) Wayne: Kinnel is a 6’0″, 190 lb. prospect for 2015 with offers from Arkansas and Kentucky. He has visited Michigan numerous times and is getting a bit antsy for an offer, but the fact that he keeps visiting Ann Arbor suggests that he really likes the Wolverines.
Marshon Lattimore – WR – Cleveland (OH) Glenville: Lattimore is a 6’0″, 175 lb. prospect with offers from Alabama, Michigan, Ohio State, Oregon, Penn State, Tennessee, and USC, among others. According to 247’s Composite ranking, he’s a 5-star, the #5 cornerback, and the #32 overall player in the country. Almost everyone expects him to pick Ohio State eventually, but he was invited to the BBQ and is considering attending, so there will be a chance to sway him.
Thiyo Lukusa – OG – Traverse City (MI) West: Lukusa is a 6’5″, 300 lb. prospect for the class of 2016. He has no offers at this time.
Lawrence Marshall – DE – Southfield (MI) Southfield: Marshall committed to Michigan in May.
Osa Masina – LB – Salt Lake City (UT) Brighton: Masina is a 6’4″, 207 lb. prospect for 2015 with offers from Michigan, Oklahoma, Utah, and Wisconsin, along with several others. He has a brother at Utah and the Utes appear to be Osa’s favorite. According to 247 Sports, he’s a 4-star, the #17 athlete, and the #206 overall player in his class.
Malik McDowell – DE – Detroit (MI) Loyola: McDowell is a 6’7″, 290 lb. prospect with offers from Alabama, Florida, Florida State, Michigan, Michigan State, Ohio State, and numerous others. According to 247’s Composite ranking, he’s a 5-star, the #3 strongside end, and the #33 player overall. He is attempting to transfer to Southfield and become teammates with Lawrence Marshall, but that hasn’t been finalized yet.
Riley Neal – QB – Yorktown (IN) Yorktown: Neal is a 6’5″, 200 lb. prospect for 2015 with no offers at this point. He had 1,700 yards and 15 passing touchdowns as a sophomore in 2012.
Montae Nicholson – S – Monroeville (PA) Gateway: Nicholson is a 6’3″, 200 lb. prospect with offers from Florida State, Miami, Michigan, Ohio State, Oregon, Stanford, and Virginia Tech, among others. As a junior in 2012, he had 28 tackles, 2 interceptions (both returned for touchdowns), 2 forced fumbles, and 3 fumble recoveries; he also had 25 receptions for 653 yards and 6 touchdowns. He was one of Michigan’s first few offers for the 2014 class after camping in Ann Arbor last summer. While Michigan is recruiting him as a safety, he’s also considering playing wide receiver in college. UPDATE: Nicholson is no longer attending the BBQ.
Darrion Owens – LB – Orange Park (FL) Oakleaf: Owens is a 6’3″, 216 lb. prospect with offers from Auburn, Georgia, Miami, Michigan, and Ohio State, among others. He plays some safety in high school, but Michigan is looking at him as a SAM linebacker. As a junior in 2012, he had 101 tackles, 5 tackles for loss, 2 interceptions, 6 pass breakups, 1 forced fumble, and 1 fumble recovery. According to 247’s Composite ranking, he’s a 3-star, the #42 outside linebacker, and the #561 player overall. UPDATE: Owens committed to Miami and said he won’t take other visits.
Tommy Roush – OG – Traverse City (MI) West: Roush is a 6’3″, 270 lb. prospect for 2016 with no offers at this time. He camped at Michigan in June. Roush played for Petoskey (MI) Petosky last fall before transferring.
Artavis Scott – WR – Tarpon Springs (FL) East Lake: Scott is a 5’10”, 175 lb. prospect with offers from Florida, Florida State, Georgia, Miami, Michigan, Notre Dame, Ohio State, and Oregon, among others. As a junior in 2012, he had 64 receptions for 995 yards and 10 touchdowns. According to the 247 Composite rankings, he’s a 4-star, the #8 wide receiver, and the #78 player overall. Many people presume Michigan to be his leader. UPDATE: Scott committed to Clemson and probably will not make it to the BBQ.
Tim Settle – DT – Manassas (VA) Stonewall Jackson: Settle is a 6’3″, 307 lb. prospect for 2015 with offers from Alabama, Clemson, Florida, Miami, Ohio State, and Virginia Tech, among others. According to 247 Sports, he’s a 5-star, the #2 defensive tackle, and the #8 player overall for his class. I have seen some questions on whether Michigan is interested in offering Settle, but if you watch his video, I don’t see any reason not to pursue him. UPDATE: Settle, who was supposed to ride with Da’Shawn Hand, will not be able to visit now that Hand isn’t visiting.
Wilton Speight – QB – Richmond (VA) Collegiate: Speight committed to Michigan in February.
Erik Swenson – OT – Downers Grove (IL) South: Swenson is a 6’6″, 285. lb prospect for 2016 with offers from Illinois, Michigan, Northwestern, Notre Dame, and Ohio State. Michigan is his stated leader.
Tyriq Thompson – LB – Detroit (MI) King: Thompson is a 6’1″, 205 lb. prospect for 2015 with offers from Illinois and Wisconsin. He’s the son of former Michigan safety Clarence Thompson.
Brandon Watson – CB – Elkton (MD) Eastern Christian Academy: Watson committed to Michigan in June.
Maurice Ways – WR – Detroit (MI) Country Day: Ways committed to Michigan in April.
Mikey Weber – RB – Detroit (MI) Cass Tech: Weber is a 5’10”, 195 lb. prospect for 2015 with offers from Michigan, Michigan State, and Ohio State, among others. As a sophomore in 2012, he had 1,700 yards and 21 touchdowns rushing. He has several former teammates at or heading to Michigan.
Antonio Williams – RB – New London (NC) North Stanly: Williams is a 5’11”, 195 lb. prospect for 2016 with offers from Clemson, Georgia, North Carolina, North Carolina State, and South Carolina. As a freshman in 2012, he had 1,516 yards and 17 touchdowns.
Chase Winovich – LB – Clairton (PA) Thomas Jefferson: Winovich committed to Michigan in June.
