Everyone loves an acrostic poem and Michigan fans love the idea of tomorrow's BBQ. Why not combine the two? Here's a letter-by-letter look at what tomorrow's BBQ is all about and why it's been a staple of Michigan's summer recruiting since Rich Rodriguez was running the show in Ann Arbor.
B – Bateman: Gadsden (Ala.) Gadsden City three-star offensive tackle Toryque Bateman might be the most likely to commit. The 6-8, 310-pounder has been to Michigan before and a return trip, with all even more buzz surrounding the program than before, could be enough to convince the No. 59 tackle in the country to drop for the Wolverines.
B – Big Fish: There will be five, five-star prospects on campus over the weekend for the BBQ. Pinson (Ala.) Clay wide receiver Nico Collins, Antioch (Calif.) High School running back Najee Harris, Calabasas (Calif.) High School cornerback Darnay Holmes, Detroit Cass Tech wide receiver Donovan Peoples-Jones, and Brooklyn (N.Y.) Poly Prep offensive tackle Isaiah Wilson will all be in attendance. As things sit right now, Michigan could very well end up landing Collins, Peoples-Jones, and Wilson. Harris and Holmes are longer shots, but summer unofficials that lead to potential officials are big for blue-chip prospects.
Q – Quantity and Quality: With over 50 prospects expected to be in attendance, the BBQ is not only a large event, it’s a quality event. The previously mentioned five-star prospects make it a big deal, but it’s the plethora of four-star prospects and coveted youngsters that make the event a success. Getting all that talent from four classes (2017-2020) in one place is huge for future recruiting momentum.
A – Ann Arbor: The event is dubbed “BBQ at The Big House” but it’s really about the entire city of Ann Arbor. Saturday is supposed to be filled with sunny skies and a high of 83 making for a perfect backdrop for this year’s BBQ. If this year’s installment is anything like last year, you couldn’t have dreamed up a better weekend for the cookout.
T – Team Effort: Events like this really are a total team effort. The coaches and their families, support staff, equipment guys, video team, current players, former players, committed prospects – everyone you can think of – is involved. It’s that involvement that has virtually every player that visits Michigan speaking about the family feel when describing the visit experience at U-M.
T – Team Building: It’s unclear exactly what this year’s BBQ will entail, but after the scavenger hunt last year we believe it’ll be something similar. Those kinds of games/competitions make for a solid team-building event before some of these guys even realize they will be teammates. Committed prospects like Highlands Ranch (Colo.) Valor Christian quarterback Dylan McCaffrey and Orchard Lake (Mich.) St. Mary’s outside linebacker Joshua Ross could be partnered up with potential future teammates like Collins and Holmes. The experiences they have during a weekend like the one that’s upcoming could pay dividends in terms of building meaningful relationships.
H – Harbaugh: The man with the plan. While the BBQ is not Jim Harbaugh’s concept, he has taken it to another level. Creating games, competitions, and a carnival feel has created an environment that all prospects would love to be a part of. The five, five-stars and 40-plus other recruits are evidence that Harbaugh’s twist on things is working in a big way.
E – Efficiency: Every prospect that was in attendance last year gushed about how smoothly the event ran. From the meal, to the transportation around campus, to the tours, to the games, to the start and stop times, it all went off without a hitch. This speaks to Harbaugh’s preparedness and the aforementioned team effort. Everyone sporting that Block M pulls their weight and makes the event look like a simple undertaking which it definitely is not.
B – Brooklyn: The home of the nation’s top offensive tackle, Isaiah Wilson. The 6-6, 330-pounder has been to Ann Arbor before but returning for such an event could be huge in his recruitment. A chance to mingle with McCaffrey and other future Wolverines could go a long way in convincing him that he also should play his football inside The Big House. The coaches will make him feel like a priority as the top offensive line target on their board.
I – In-State Prospects: Over 20 prospects from the state of Michigan are expected to be in attendance including commits Joshua Ross, Carter Dunaway, Corey Malone-Hatcher, and Phillip Paea. Detroit natives Jaylen Kelly-Powell and Ambry Thomas are both considered Michigan leans and will also be in the house. Five-star Donovan Peoples-Jones and his 2018 teammate, four-star cornerback Kalon Gervin will make the short drive to attend the event, as will talented 2019 teammates Devontae Dobbs and Julian Barnett from Belleville. Owning the state of Michigan is something that U-M should be able to do moving forward with the expected success on the field and the momentum of Harbaugh on the recruiting trail.
G – Greatness: The entire event oozes greatness. Harbaugh himself, the red-carpet rollout for such an event, the production value, the organization and time spent to make it run smoothly, and the overall vibe surrounding the program right now make invited prospects feel like a part of something special. Throw in the fact that Jordan now adorns all of Michigan’s football apparel and it just feels like a great time to be a Wolverine. First-time visitors should be blown away and returners should feel something different at the event now that Jordan and Nike is back in Ann Arbor.
H – Harris: Antioch (Calif.) High School five-star running back Najee Harris is the biggest visitor of the weekend. Not only is he the nation’s top running back and No. 2 overall prospect in the country, he’s committed to Alabama. The Michigan staff, running back coach Tyrone Wheatley specifically, had a great chance to interact with Harris at his high school for a satellite camp and they are hopeful that they can sway him away from the Tide. As a California native, some close to his recruitment think he could ultimately stay out west but the people involved in this weekend’s BBQ will do their best to give Harris plenty of reason to look seriously at U-M.
O – Offers: While dozens of offered prospects will be in attendance, a few recruits are coming to Ann Arbor in hopes of picking up a tender. Talented rising sophomore teammates Devontae Dobbs and Julian Barnett from Belleville are certainly two to keep an eye on as they’ve become more visible on the recruiting trail as of late. Erie (Pa.) Mercyhurst Prep three-star outside linebacker Jesse Luketa believes he could be close but wouldn’t quite say he’s expecting an offer during the weekend visit.
U – Underclassmen: The aforementioned Dobbs and Barnett are two of the more coveted 2019 prospects in Michigan but Detroit Cass Tech cornerback Xavier Goldsmith has put together a pretty solid offer list himself. The 5-7, 140-pounder is diminutive but experienced. He’s been attending camps and competing against Cass Tech’s finest since his middle school days and plays with a confidence and level of technique much bigger than his size. He holds offers from Cincinnati, Kent State, Temple, and Toledo along with a few others heading into his sophomore season. Kentwood (Mich.) East Kentwood 2019 teammates, offensive tackle Logan Brown and defensive tackle Mazi Smith, both hold an offer from Wisconsin so they’re two names to watch as well. Events like this are huge for building relationships with young prospects and there will be plenty in attendance giving the staff a chance to get in good with future blue chippers.
S – Slows BBQ: The well-known, Detroit-area BBQ joint will be providing food for the event. Operating with a fantastic reputation, Slows will make sure that attending heavy eaters will be more than pleased with their dining experience.
E – Expectations: The BBQ has generated commitments in the past and it certainly seems possible again heading into the weekend. Bateman is definitely one to watch as is five-star wide receiver Nico Collins. Other expectations include a more-than-positive response to the new Jordan gear and tons of meaningful interactions between committed prospects, Michigan coaches, current players, and big-time targets. As soon as the uniforms and apparel were unveiled, Twitter was buzzing with pro-Michigan reactions from obvious sources and even competing programs. Senior cornerback Jourdan Lewis said players from other schools were hitting him up about U-M’s gear. Senior prospects committed to other schools were tweeting out pictures and graphics of Michigan’s new look. Rolling out giant Nike, Jordan, and Block M logos used during the State Street celebration is going to give The Big House a look that visitors simply haven’t seen before. That buzz coupled with what coaches and players can currently sell will make this year’s BBQ a can’t-miss event.
