The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/152358
michigan recruiting "It was my first time meeting some of them," Jefferson Hills (Pa.) Thomas Jefferson three-star linebacker Chase Winovich said. "There are a couple newer guys like Freddy [Canteen] and Brandon [Watson]. Most of the commits I already knew, but some of the other guys I actually met them in person. Now we can all text each other, and I know them." Canteen and Watson are teammates at Elkton (Md.) Eastern Christian Academy, and two of the newest pledges to Michigan's 2014 class. They got to meet their future teammates for the first time. "Everybody is real cool," said Canteen, a four-star recruit and the nation's No. 43 wide receiver. "I got a good chance to get to know them and to know their families as well. I just had a good time hanging out with those guys." "The Barbecue was fun, chilling with all the commits and recruits," Watson, a three-star cornerback, agreed. "We got to experience the atmosphere up there in Ann Arbor. It was the first time meeting most of the other commits face to face, but I talk to them on Facebook, Twitter, and we text sometimes. We already know each other, so it was just putting the face to guys that I already knew." The commits also worked on their own recruiting pitches for some of the uncommitted recruits in attendance. For Watson and Canteen, that meant showing a little Maize and Blue love to their 2016 teammate, linebacker Dele' Harding. Although Harding doesn't yet hold a Michigan offer, the 6-1, 220-pounder was one of the most impressive underclassman performers at Michigan's summer camp in June, and could hear good news from the Maize and Blue early in his sophomore season. Barbecue At The Big House Visitors Michigan's annual "Barbecue at The Big House" recruiting event morphed into a two-day affair July 27‑28, with rising sophomores visiting Saturday, and the commits and prospects in the 2014 and 2015 classes taking part Sunday afternoon. Two 2016 prospects even managed to make it to the second day of the event, attending along with teammates and family among the 2014 commits. Messiah DeWeaver Desmond Fitzpatrick Lawrence Gordon Thiyo Lukusa Martell Pettaway Tommy Roush Nathan Skene Erik Swenson Saturday 2016 Visitors QB WR DE OL RB OL TE OL Trotwood, Ohio Farmington, Mich. Saginaw, Mich. Traverse City, Mich. St. Clair Shores, Mich. Traverse City, Mich. Hartland, Mich. Downers Grove, Ill.