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Roasted pig, a 2026 commitment, and social media buzz: Sights and sounds from Michigan's BBQ at The Big House

On3 imageby: Zach Libby07/29/24LibbyOn3
javian-osborne
javian-osborne

Coming off the summer dead period, Michigan hosted its late July BBQ at The Big House, an annual recruiting event that was established by former head coach Rich Rodriguez. The leaders since, including Sherrone Moore, have carried on the tradition. This year, it was Moore’s first time hosting the festivities while at the helm.

The Wolverines welcomed dozens of underclassmen targets and double-digit commits to Ann Arbor over the past three days. Social media started to buzz on Saturday when the food spread was shared by nutritionist Abigail O’Connor, whose comment of “Roast me now,” and her pictures that included a roasted pig, had fans flocking to express their liking.

On300 Washington (D.C.) Gonzaga College defensive back commit Kainoa Winston issued his opinion on what was provided.

Aside from the food, Michigan put on Olympic themed games inside the stadium, had the College Football 25 video games fired up for the prospects to play, did workouts for each individual position group, while allowing the prospects to talk in-depth with the coaches and tour the facilities.

Also, late Sunday night, the second commit was picked up in the 2026 recruiting class from a visitor out of The Sunshine State.

Here are more social media sights and sounds from the weekend. Reminder, this is a roundup of the recruits who posted their experiences, not every recruit who visited.

On300 CB Commit Brody Jennings, Jacksonville (Fla.) Mandarin, 2026

Brody Jennings shared his commitment graphic shortly following 10pm EST on Sunday. He was a belated addition to the barbecue visitors list, but his stay on campus ended with him choosing the reigning national champions. Michigan defensive backs coach LaMar Morgan re-offered Jennings in mid-June and last weekend was the sophomore’s first time in Ann Arbor.

Michigan Coaches React to the Jennings Commitment

Moore went to X and posted the eyeball emoji on Sunday afternoon, which has become his trademark phrase leading up to a commitment going public. Once the news was released by On3’s Hayes Fawcett, Moore followed it up with excitement on the popular social media app.

Morgan has been a fiery asset on the recruiting trail for Michigan since his hire earlier in the offseason.

Michigan defensive coordinator Don “Wink” Martindale even got in on the action.

So did Michigan director of player personnel Albert Karschnia. #BrickByBrick26 is the mantra for the program’s recruiting efforts next cycle.

Top 100 QB Commit Brady Hart, Cocoa (Fla.) High, 2026

Brady Hart was the first prospect in the 2026 recruiting cycle to commit to Michigan, which he did in mid-June on his first-ever visit. The barbecue was a prime opportunity for Hart to make in-person pitches to fellow recruits in his cycle and beyond. Hart has remained busy behind the scenes by building bonds with targets, but connecting face-to-face was met with compelling responses by other visitors.

Trio of 2025 Targets Appear

Michigan wide receivers coach Jerome Myles made the cross-country flight to Michigan for the first time last weekend. Myles was identified by offensive coordinator Kirk Campbell during the spring evaluation period and an offer was presented shortly afterward. Myles is communicating often with Campbell and Bellamy this summer. U-M will strive to get Myles to return in-season for an official visit.

Two more priority 2025 targets remaining on Michigan’s board were at the barbecue – Top 100 Katy (Tex.) Jordan wide receiver Andrew Marsh and On300 Kilgore (Tex.) High cornerback Jayden Sanders. Both are expected to drop a commitment next month, and the Wolverines have a commanding lead for each on the On3 Recruiting Prediction Machine. Marsh and Sanders also visited Ann Arbor in June.

Elite 2026 RB Targets

Top 100 Forney (Tex.) High’s Javian Osborne was the first 2026 running back to pick up a Michigan offer during the winter contact period. That was before U-M hired assistant coach Tony Alford from Ohio State. But the two have a very close relationship and they solidified that even more throughout the barbecue weekend. Osborne is also getting familiar with special teams coordinator JB Brown, who yields strong recruiting ties in The Lone Star State.

One of Alford’s first extended offers after joining the Wolverines was to Mineral (Va.) Woodberry Forest’s Savion Hiter, who’s known the former since his tenure in Columbus. Hiter was joined by his family and his mentor, Adam McCann, at the barbecue. McCann, who saluted the coaching staff for their hospitality on social media, was also with Hiter on their spring camp trip. Hiter and Osborne are listed in the Top 4 among all 2026 running backs nationally by On3.

One more Top 100 ranked running back enjoyed the barbecue festivities in Painesville (Ohio) Harvey’s Shahn Alston, who doesn’t have an offer at this time.

Top 100 OL Greg Patrick, Portage (Mich.) Northern, 2026

Gregory Patrick is On3’s No. 1 overall in-state prospect next cycle. He’s been to Michigan on five different occasions since June of last year and had a great time with Moore and offensive line coach Grant Newsome. The Wolverines are battling rival Michigan State and others for Patrick, who dropped a Top 9 on Monday.

Multiple 2026 Prospects Earn Offers

Three-star Saline (Mich.) High tight end Lincoln Keyes became the second in-state 2026 tight end to notch a Michigan offer.

Four-star Mansfield (Texas) Lake Ridge offensive lineman Felix Ojo sees himself fitting in perfectly on a unit that’s coming off of two Joe Moore Awards in the last three seasons.

Three-star Kingston (Ga.) Cass offensive lineman Bear McWhorter recently backed out of his commitment from Arkansas and returned to Michigan for the barbecue. After McWhorter’s second trip to Ann Arbor, Moore offered the sophomore.

On300 Houston (Tex.) Legacy School of Sports Sciences wide receiver Mike Brown‘s first experience at Michigan ended with him receiving an offer from Bellamy.

2025 Commits Return

Top 100 Oak Park (Ill.) Fenwick EDGE Nate Marshall appeared for his second-straight BBQ at The Big House. It happened on the heels of Marshall’s June official visits to Michigan and Auburn. However, as the Chicagoland pass rusher told The Wolverine over the weekend, he’s feeling excited for the future while donning the maize and blue.

All three of the Louisiana native commits this cycle returned as well, including On300 Marrero (La.) Archbishop Shaw wide receiver Jacob Washington, who pledged coming off of his official visit on Victors Weekend.

Three-star Alcoa (Tenn.) High tight end Eli Owens put out the social media post below on Thursday, and then posted the barbecue GIF once the event came to a close. Owens has been highly active on X since committing back in January, assisting the coaching staff through peer recruiting, which the fanbase is taking notice and applauding.

Other 2025 commits that returned for the barbecue included Top 100 tight end Andrew Olesh, On300 running back Jasper Parker, On300 EDGE Julius Holly, four-star offensive lineman Avery Gach, four-star defensive lineman Bobby Kanka, and three-star linebacker Chase Taylor.

Fighting Off LSU

Before three-star wide receiver commit Phillip Wright flew to Michigan, he made a stop at LSU, which is working hard to flip the speedster from Destrehan (La.) High. The SEC school’s track and field team has also offered Wright.

Brothers Make Return

Speaking of Julius Holly, he’s making an effort to pitch his younger brother to Michigan as they went back to Michigan together following an early June official visit, which transpired before Julius committed.

Jaxon Holly has an early offer from the Wolverines and has already been to Ann Arbor twice this summer.

On300 DB Joey O’Brien, Glenside (Pa.) La Salle College, 2026

Joey O’Brien arrived at Michigan on Friday and took a photo of The Big House scoreboard while standing on the middle of the turf field. Projected as a safety by On3, O’Brien is the No. 105 overall prospect in the country, according to the On3 Industry Ranking, a weighted average that utilizes all four primary recruiting media services.

On300 ATH Jayden McGregory, Des Moines (Iowa) Valley, 2026

Jayden McGregory was among the litany of 2026 projected defensive back offers that Morgan issued in the spring. He’s the No. 1 overall prospect in the state of Iowa.

On300 IOL Canon Pickett, Tampa (Fla.) Bay Tech, 2026

Canon Pickett had never been to The Big House, which is what he mentioned to On3’s Chad Simmons before the visit, as a must. Pickett eventually posted a photo with Moore and his family on Saturday night.

On300 OT Zaden Krempin, Prosper (Tex.) High, 2026

Michigan became the 30th Division I school to offer Zaden Krempin when Newsome pulled the trigger in May of this year and eventually welcomed Kempin to campus for a three-day stay over the weekend.

Four-star EDGE Luke Wafle, Princeton (N.J.) Hun School, 2026

Michigan landed the older brother of Luke Wafle in the 2024 recruiting class – defensive lineman Owen Wafle. Now, the Wolverines are vying for the four-star sophomore’s talents as Luke’s barbecue return was his third trip since the Ohio State game last season.

Three-star WR Jaylen Pile, Southlake (Tex.) Parish Episcopal School, 2026

Jaylen Pile notched a Michigan offer in the winter and has ventured to campus twice, including this past weekend. He’s connecting well with Bellamy so far in his recruiting process.

Rising OT Blake Graham, Los Angeles (Calif.) Leuzinger, 2026

Former Michigan assistant coach Jay Harbaugh, who was the primary recruiter along the West Coast, put an offer on the table for Blake Graham in the spring of last year. Graham never been to U-M until the barbecue, but based on his moments spent with Newsome, Nick Gilbert, and Nick Rossiello, the junior’s experience on campus exceeded expectations.

Rising CB Jaziel Hart, Roanoke (Va.) North Cross School, 2026

Michigan offered Jaziel Hart this past month and he wasted little time in coming up to Ann Arbor for the first time. He published a photo of him and his family with Moore, as well as a video of him working out in the defensive back drills.