The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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MICHIGAN RECRUITING The Michigan visit hasn't been scheduled just yet — he's picking be- tween the Oct. 11 Penn State contest or the Nov. 22 Maryland game — but yet again, a post-commitment trip gives the Maize and Blue a chance to make the steal. BARBECUE AT THE BIG HOUSE IMPRESSES WITH NEW FORMAT Michigan's annual Barbecue at The Big House recruiting event has drawn rave reviews in the six years of its ex- istence, but with schools around the country copying the format, the U-M coaches opted to mix things up for the 2014 edition. The July 27 recruiting event still featured food and camara- derie among Michigan prospects from the rising senior class and beyond, but this time it also had a competitive por- tion to inject excitement into the day. "We got to go on the aMaize-ing race around the campus," St. Joseph (Mich.) High 2017 defensive end Co- rey Malone-Hatcher said. "It was a tour, but it was competitive. That got pretty hyped with some of the most competitive athletes in the country participating." Malone-Hatcher, a 6-3, 210-pounder who moved up to varsity as a fresh- man last fall and projects to be one of the top in-state players for the 2017 class, wasn't the only highly regarded athlete who enjoyed his time. The players were split into six teams, with the five Michigan commitments that were in attendance serving as cap- tains — 2015 pledges Alex Malzone (the No. 3 player in the state of Michi- gan and No. 11 pro-style quarterback in the country), Tyree Kinnel (the No. 8 player in Ohio, and the No. 10 safety and No. 193 overall player nationally), Darrin Kirkland Jr. (the No. 1 prospect in Indiana, and the No. 6 inside line- backer and No. 167 overall recruit in the land) and Garrett Taylor (the No. 2 prospect in Virginia, and the No. 7 cor- nerback and No. 48 overall player in the country), plus the lone 2016 pledge who could make the trip, quarterback Messiah DeWeaver (the ninth-best pro- style passer and No. 210 overall player nationally in his class). That left one opening for a captain, and little-known defensive end Jack Dunaway of Bloomfield Hills (Mich.) Brother Rice stepped up. The 6-3, 225-pounder has a preferred walk-on offer from Michigan — and is the son of former U-M tight end Craig Dun- away — and his captaincy of the sixth race team made him realize that he has a special opportunity in Ann Arbor. "I grew up a huge Michigan fan, and it's been my dream school," Dunaway explained. "[Defensive coordinator Greg Mattison] told me, 'If you end up playing, and end up making an impact, then we will give you a schol- arship.' I trust his word on that, and he would honor his word and give me a scholarship, so it would be up to me whether I earn a scholarship if I end up going to Michigan." With many other talented prospects in attendance — including a Rivals100 cornerback in Marcus Lewis (see above note) — it could be a preferred walk- on candidate who ends up picking Michigan first. ❑