Michigan's coaching staff will be holding the annual BBQ at the Big House on August 2, 2015. The tradition was started by Rich Rodriguez and has normally been held in July, so this is a later date than normal. It could get interesting seeing how many players can travel from a long distance, because high school football practices usually begin at the start of August. Regardless, there are several players scheduled to attend, including a posse from Maryland and the New Jersey area.
2016 Ben Bredeson - OT - Hartland (WI) Arrowhead: Bredeson committed to Michigan in June (LINK).
Donnie Corley - WR - Detroit (MI) King: Corley is a 6'2", 180 lb. prospect with offers from Alabama, Michigan, Michigan State, Ohio State, Tennessee, and USC, among others. He's a 247 Composite 4-star, the #18 wide receiver, and #114 overall. Reports differ on how seriously he is considering Michigan, but Michigan State and Tennessee seem to be high on his list.
Terrance Davis - OG - Hyattsville (MD) DeMatha: Davis is a 6'4", 305 lb. prospect with offers from Alabama, Florida, Florida State, Georgia, Maryland, and Michigan, among others. He's a 247 Composite 4-star, the #2 offensive guard, and #76 overall. He has been rumored to be a silent commit to Michigan, but Maryland and others are in the mix. UPDATE: Davis did not make it to Ann Arbor.
Hit the jump for several more prospects, including kids all the way through the class of 2019.
Miami (FL) Miami wide receiver Keyshawn "Pie" Young (#1, image via Canes Warning)
COMMITMENTS
Baltimore (MD) Gilman offensive tackle Devery Hamilton committed to Michigan (LINK).
Camden (NJ) Camden defensive end Ron Johnson, Jr. committed to Michigan (LINK).
Montreal (Quebec) CEGEP du Vieux cornerback Benjamin St-Juste committed to Michigan (LINK).
ADDED TO THE BOARD: 2016
Vienna (GA) Dooly County defensive end Antonneous Clayton was offered by Michigan. He's a 6'4", 218 lb. prospect with offers from Alabama, Auburn, Clemson, Florida, Florida State, LSU, Notre Dame, and Ole Miss, among others. He's a 247 Composite 4-star, the #9 weakside end, and #110 overall. He's a very raw player but has an explosive first couple steps. He's a long shot to even make it to Ann Arbor and wants to decide by the end of the summer.
Dade City (FL) Pasco cornerback Jayvaughn Myers was offered by Michigan. He's a 6'1", 185 lb. prospect with offers from Auburn, Florida, and Florida State, among others. He's a 247 Composite 3-star, the #38 cornerback, and #439 overall. As a junior in 2014, he made 31 tackles, 5 pass breakups, and 1 sack. He claims a 4.5 forty. Myers was in Michigan for the Sound Mind Sound Body camp at the beginning of June. He is the half-brother of Tampa (FL) Catholic wide receiver Nate Craig-Myers, who is considered by some to be the top receiver in the 2016 class. Florida State probably has the best shot to land Jayvaughn.
Hit the jump for a couple more 2016 offers, some guys who went off the board, and then some random bits.
Egg Harbor City (NJ) Cedar Creek wide receiver Ahmir Mitchell
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With the exception of Gary, the players below will be in town Wednesday through Friday.
2016 Rashan Gary - DT - Paramus (NJ) Catholic: I wrote a scouting report on Gary back in May (LINK). His Crystal Ball has 44% of votes in favor of Alabama and 38% for Michigan.
Brad Hawkins - WR - Camden (NJ) Camden: Hawkins is a 6'1", 202 lb. prospect with offers from Auburn, Florida, Michigan, Notre Dame, Ohio State, Rutgers, and South Carolina, among others. He's a 247 Composite 4-star, the #38 wide receiver, #203 overall, and #7 in the Garden State. As a junior in 2014, he caught 51 passes for 748 yards and 11 touchdowns while also rushing for 255 yards and 2 scores; on defense, he made 40 tackles and 3 picks, all 3 of which he returned for touchdowns. Michigan and South Carolina seem to be the two front-runners. UPDATE: Hawkins rescheduled his visit for July 18th.
Philadelphia (PA) Imhotep tight end Naseir Upshur with former
Michigan tight ends coach Dan Ferrigno in June 2014 (image via GBMWolverine)
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Name: Naseir Upshur Height: 6'3" Weight: 233 lbs. High school: Philadelphia (PA) Imhotep Position: Tight end Class: 2016
Notes: Holds offers from Alabama, Arizona, Arizona State, Auburn, Boston College, Cincinnati, Connecticut, Florida, Florida State, Illinois, Iowa, LSU, Maryland, Massachusetts, Miami, Michigan, Michigan State, Mississippi State, Missouri, Nebraska, North Carolina, North Carolina State, Ohio State, Penn State, Pitt, Purdue, Rutgers, South Carolina, Syracuse, Temple, Tennessee, UCF, UCLA, USC, Virginia, Virginia Tech, Wake Forest, West Virginia, Western Michigan, Wisconsin. . . 22 catches, 640 yards, 11 touchdowns; 20 tackles, 6 sacks as a junior in 2014 . . . Claims 4.7 forty . . . 4.47 shuttle . . . 26.7" vertical . . . Rivals 4-star, #3 TE, #61 overall . . . Scout 4-star, #10 TE, #212 overall . . . 247 Sports 4-star, #7 TE, #208 overall
Strengths: Thick, powerful lower body . . . Adept and potent blocker . . . Drives feet after contact . . . Blocks through the whistle . . . Impressive straight line speed . . . Tough to bring down for defensive backs . . . Good agility . . . Solid route runner . . . Understands how to threaten and beat coverages
Weaknesses: Rather short for tight end . . . Does not possess ideal length . . . Limited catching radius . . . Body catcher . . . Does not extend hands well
Projection: Tight end/H-back. Upshur has the tenacity to become an inline tight end and blocker, but he lacks ideal size for the position and might top out around 240 lbs. He probably projects best as a complementary tight end or an H-back type who can go in motion, line up as a wing, work out of the slot, etc. He is not a mismatch in the passing game because he lacks the explosiveness and catching radius to beat well trained pass defenders. However, he could be effective on seam routes, an occasional bubble screen, bootlegs, etc. He will also be a strong point in the running game, where he can latch onto and overpower second-level defenders. If offense doesn't work out, Upshur could also play defensive end, where he has some explosiveness and a nose for the ball.
Reminds me of: Khalid Hill. Upshur's size is similar to that of Vernon Davis, but he lacks the same kind of speed. Hill is a similar type of player in regard to pass catching and overall physical profile, but Upshur is more explosive and a stronger blocker.
Likelihood of committing to Michigan: Steve Lorenz recently predicted that Upshur would end up committing to Michigan. Jay Harbaugh is his recruiter and has been coming after him hard. He essentially has his choice of schools, and there has been some talk about him playing with Maryland quarterback Dwayne Haskins, who is bound for somewhere other than Ann Arbor. Overall, Michigan is one of his top few schools right now and at least has a strong chance to secure his commitment.
Elkton (MD) Eastern Christian Academy LB Dele' Harding (image via Twitter)
COMMITMENT
Lawrenceville (NJ) Lawrenceville School offensive tackle Grant Newsome committed to Michigan (LINK).
ADDED TO THE BOARD: 2015
Nacogdoches (TX) Nacogdoches cornerback Jaylon Lane was offered by Michigan. The 6'1", 177-pounder committed to Oklahoma State in early May and has offers from Florida, Florida State, Georgia, LSU, Miami, Notre Dame, Ohio State, and Oklahoma, among numerous others. He's a 247 Composite 4-star, the #22 cornerback, and #195 overall. He claims a 4.44 forty and a 36" vertical. As a junior in 2013, he made 46 tackles, 5 interceptions (2 returned for touchdowns), and 1 kickoff return touchdown.
Greensboro (NC) Northern Guilford cornerback Mook Reynolds was offered by Michigan. The 5'11", 170-pounder committed to Virginia Tech in early February and has offers from North Carolina, Notre Dame, and Tennessee, among others. He's a 247 Composite 4-star, the #25 cornerback, and #272 overall. Reynolds would like to visit Ann Arbor this summer and wants to make a "final decision" in August, so the Wolverines (and other schools) have a chance to move in. Both of these new cornerback offers seem to be related to the recent decommitment of Lakewood (OH) St. Edward cornerback Shaun Crawford.
ADDED TO THE BOARD: 2016
Elkton (MD) Eastern Christian Academy linebacker Dele' Harding was offered by Michigan. He's a 6'1", 230 lb. prospect with offers from Massachusetts, Tennessee, and USC. He's a Scout 3-star, the #26 outside linebacker, and #280 overall. Harding was a teammate of Freddy Canteen and Brandon Watson and has visited Michigan a couple times before, including last summer's camp. Steve Lorenz from 247 Sports immediately put in a Crystal Ball pick for Michigan.
Philadelphia (PA) Imhotep tight end Naseir Upshur was offered by Michigan. He's a 6'3", 232 lb. prospect with offers from Arizona, Arizona State, Maryland, Pitt, Rutgers, South Carolina, Virginia Tech, West Virginia, and Wisconsin, among others. He's a 247 Sports 4-star, the #5 tight end, and #166 overall. Upshur is a capable receiver, but his most impressive skill is his run blocking. Despite not being the largest tight end around, he's tenacious and uses excellent technique. Michigan also pursued 2013 running back David Williams (South Carolina) from Imhotep.
OFF THE BOARD Lakewood (OH) St. Edward cornerback Shaun Crawford committed to Notre Dame. Crawford was previously committed to Michigan, just like I was previously committed to that one girl before that other, prettier girl came along. It turned out she was crazy, though.
