Previewing the 2014 BBQ at the Big House

One idea that Rich Rod had at Michigan that wasn\’t a bad one was the annual BBQ at the Big House. The event is for the top Michigan prospects, targets and commits to come together, visit the facilities, take some pictures, talk with the coaches, tour the campus and enjoy a little barbecue.

In the past couple years, the staff has been able to get together many of their top targets to attend and bond with the commitments. This has resulted in one of the main turning points for several of the top gets, including Derrick Green, Erik Swenson, Messiah deWeaver, Shaun Crawford and George Campbell (the latter two are decommitted).

As for this year, it looks like the coaching staff may have put together one of their best ever one-day recruiting visits, which is saying a lot. I just hope Coach Hoke has some extra silverware on July 27th because it looks like this could be a very big group:

Confirmed

2015 CB: 4* Marcus Lewis, 6’2” 180lbs. Washington, DC (Gonzaga HS)* – Committed to Florida 

2015 DE: 4* Darian Roseboro, 6’5” 265lbs. Lincolnton, NC (Lincolnton HS)*

2015 CB: 4* Mook Reynolds, 5’11” 170lbs. Greensboro, NC (Northern Guilford)* – Committed to Virginia Tech

2015 RB: 4* Mike Weber, 5’10” 205lbs. Detroit, MI (Cass Tech HS)*

2015 LB: 4* Tyriq Thompson, 6’1”220lbs. Detroit, MI (King HS)*

2015 DE: 4* Jalen Bates, 6’5” 240lbs. Kaplan, LA (Kaplan HS) 

2015 DE: 3* Kengera Daniel, 6’5” 251lbs. Raleigh, NC (Millbrook HS)*

2015 WR: 3* Grant Perry, 5’11” 175lbs. Bloomfield, MI (Brother Rice HS)

2015 QB: 4* Alex Malzone, 6’2” 200lbs. Bloomfield, MI (Bloomfield HS)* – Commit

2015 LB: 4* Darrin Kirkland, 6’1” 200lbs. Indianapolis, IN (Lawrence Central HS)* – Commit

2015 CB: 4* Garrett Taylor, 6’1” 187lbs. Richmond, VA (St. Christophers)* – Commit

2015 S: 4* Tyree Kinnel, 5’11” 170lbs. Huber Heights, OH (Wayne HS)* – Commit

2015 K: 2* Andrew David, 5’9” 160lbs. Massilon, OH (Washington HS)* – Commit

2015 TE: 5* Chris Clark, 6’6” 247lbs. Avon, CT (Old Farms HS)* – Commit

2016 DE: Josh King, 6’6” 250lbs. Darien, IL (Hinsdale South HS)*

2016 OG: Ben Bredeson, 6’5” 255lbs. Hartland, WI (Arrowhead HS)*

2016 OT: Clark Yarbrough, 6’5” 255lbs. Woodberry Forest, VA (Woodberry Forest)

2016 RB: Elijah Holyfield, 5’11” 190lbs. Atlanta, GA (Woodward Academy)*

2016 TE: Naseir Upshur, 6’3” 231lbs. Philadelphia, PA (Imhotep Institute)*

2016 TE: Luke Ferrell, 6’6” 220lbs. Perry, OH (Perry HS)*

2016 LB: David Reese, 6’1” 235lbs. Farmington, MI (Farmington HS) 

2016 CB: Levert Hill, 5’11” 165lbs. Detroit, MI (Cass Tech HS)

2016 CB: Tobias Gilliam, 6\’0\’\’ 182lbs. Huber Heights, OH (Wayne HS) 

2016 OT: Michael Jordan, 6’6” 265lbs. Canton, MI (Plymouth HS)*

2016 OT: Thiyo Lukusa, 6’5” 300lbs. Traverse City, MI (Traverse City West)*

2016 WR: Austin Mack, 6’2” 205lbs. Fort Wayne, IN (Bishop Luers HS)*

2016 OG/DT: Michael Onwenu, 6’2” 300lbs, Detroit, MI (Cass Tech HS)

2016 QB: Messiah deWeaver, 6’4” 205lbs. Trotwood, OH (Trotwood Madison HS)* – Commit

2017 OL: Josh Myers, 6’5” 255lbs. Miamisburg, OH (Miamisburg HS)*

2017 WR: Donovan Peoples-Jones, 6’1” 170lbs. Detroit, MI (Cass Tech HS)

Possible

2015 WR: 3* Auden Tate, 6’4” 195lbs. Tampa, FL (Wharton HS)*

2015 OL: 4* Drew Richmond, 6’5” 320lbs. Memphis, TN (Memphis University School)*

2015 CB: 4* Cameron Ordway, 6’1” 170lbs. Pulaksi, TN (Giles County HS)*

2015 CB: 5* Iman Marshall, 6’2” 190lbs. Long Beach, CA (Poly Tech)*

2015 WR/ATH: 4* Brian Cole, 6’2” 210lbs. Saginaw, MI (Heritage HS)* – Will be in AA on Friday and Saturday 

2015 CB: 3* Ray Buford, 6’1” 195lbs. Southfield, MI (Southfield HS) – Committed to Minnesota

2015 CB: 3* Tyrone Miller, 6\’0\’\’ 178lbs. Ann Arbor, MI (Saline HS)

2015 CB: 3* Amari Henderson, 6\’1\’\’ 170lbs. Charlotte, NC (Mallard Creek HS) – Committed to Wake Forest

2015 LB: 4* Tyriq Thompson, 6’1”220lbs. Detroit, MI (King HS)*

2015 OT: 4* Grant Newsome, 6’6” 280lbs. Lawrenceville, NJ (Lawrenceville HS)* – Commit

2015 OG: 4* Jon Runyan Jr, 6’4” 265lbs. Philadelphia, PA (St Joe’s Prep)* – Commit

2016 OG/DT: Michael Onwenu, 6’2” 300lbs, Detroit, MI (Cass Tech HS)

2016 WR: Desmond Fitzpatrick, 6’1” 175lbs. Farmington, MI (Farmington)

2016 WR: Kalebb Perry, 5’11” 175lbs. Mount Pleasont, MI (Mt. Pleasant)

2016 WR: Donnie Corley, 6’2” 170lbs. Wyandotte, MI (Roosevelt HS)

2016 WR: Jalen Martin, 6’2” 190lbs. Harper Woods, MI (Chandler Park Academy)

2016 LB: Brendan Ferns, 6’3” 212lbs. Saint Clairsville, OH (St Clairsville)

2016 RB: Kentrail Moran, 5’10” 180lbs. O’Fallon, IL (O’Fallon HS)

2016 LB: Daelin Hayes, 6’2” 210lbs. West Bloomfield, MI (St. Mary’s Prep)*

2016 CB: Patrice Rene, 6’1” 180lbs. Ontario, Canada (St. Peter Catholic) 

2016 WR: Justin Layne, 6’3” 170lbs. Cleveland, OH (Benedictine HS)*

2016 DE/TE: Devante Brooks, 6\’5\’\’ 220lbs. Washington, DC (St. John\’s College)

2016 OG: Liam Eichenburg, 6’5” 275lbs. Cleveland, OH (St. Ignatius HS)*

2016 DE: Prince Sammons, 6’8” 260lbs. Cincinnati, OH (Cincinnati Hills Christian)

2016 DE: Lawrence Gordon, 6’6” 260lbs. Saginaw, MI (Arthur Hill)

2016 OT: Erik Swenson, 6’7” 285lbs. Downers Grove, IL (Downers Grove South)* – Commit

*offered

The list is long and star studded. And to make things even better, with a great performance the coaching staff has a chance to really add some fireworks to this barbecue.

Darian Roseboro, Marcus Lewis, Mook Reynolds and possibly Auden Tate are all guys that are expected to make late summer decisions. IMO, a great visit could see Team 135 add Roseboro the day of, as well as Lewis, Reynolds and Tate when they make their decisions soon after.

Other names to watch are the non-offered players with very high interest in Michigan, including Grant Perry, Tyrone Miller, Naseir Upshur, Michael Jordan, Thiyo Lukusa, Prince Sammons and Kentrail Moran.

Garrett Fishaw