The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/152358
michigan recruiting pounds — but makes up for it with excellent athleticism (a 10.54-second 100-meter dash isn't nationally elite for sprinters, but it is very good among future football players). He grew up a Michigan fan, and has taken several visits to Ann Arbor. He also plans to make an early college decision. If Michigan can add one or both of Jenkins and Crawford to the fold, the 2015 class will be well on its way to continuing U-M's recent trend of very highly ranked classes. Even a 2014 prospect — Naples (Fla.) Barron Collier defensive tackle commit Brady Pallante — could be considered a member of Michigan's 2015 class. Although he will graduate next spring, he plans to delay his fulltime enrollment at U-M until January 2015 as a "greyshirt" commitment. That status means his scholarship is attributed to the timeline, even though he is a 2014 grad. Camaraderie Builds At BBQ Michigan's annual Barbecue at The Big House recruiting event has morphed from a showcase for rising seniors into an opportunity for the already committed seniors to continue building their bonds with each other — and do a little recruiting of underclassmen. All but three of Michigan's 2014 commits — Paramus (N.J.) Catholic teammates Juwann Bushell-Beatty (a three-star recruit and the No. 27 offensive tackle nationally according to Rivals.com) and Jabrill Peppers (a five-star cornerback and the No. 2 player in the nation), and Salt U-M 2014 pledges Brandon Watson and Freddy Canteen recruited Elkton (Md.) Eastern Christian Academy teammate and 2016 linebacker Dele' Harding (above) during the Barbecue at The Big House weekend. photo courtesy rivals.com Lake City Highland defensive tackle Bryan Mone (a four-star player and the No. 14 defensive tackle in the country) — made it to the Barbecue, as did two of the 2015 commits, Tarpon Spring (Fla.) East Lake wide receiver George Campbell, a potential five-star player, and Massillon (Ohio) Washington kicker Andrew David (see sidebar for full visitors list). The committed players were already well acquainted with each other entering the event. Thanks to the technologies of text messaging and social media, the majority of the commits have been in regular contact. The Barbecue was more an event to put faces with names, and continue building friendships.