A look back at BBQ at The Big House visitors that eventually committed to Michigan
Over 60 prospects, including a litany of commits, are visiting Michigan this weekend for the BBQ at The Big House, an annual late July summer recruiting event.
The two most recent barbecues have produced double-digit pledges in the 2023, 2024, and 2025 recruiting classes as The Wolverine examines the former targets who ended up picking Michigan following their late July visits.
DL Nate Marshall, 2025
BBQ Visit: 2023
Commitment Date: April 22, 2024
Hometown: Oak Park, Illinois
School: Fenwick
Height: 6-foot-4
Weight: 265lbs
Industry Ranking: No. 54 Overall, No. 5 Defensive Lineman, No. 3 in Illinois
Other Notable Offers: Alabama, Miami, Notre Dame, Auburn, Illinois, Purdue
Last Season Results: 38 total tackles, 16 tackles for loss, 6 sacks, 13 quarterback hits, 4 forced fumbles, 4 blocked kicks
Nate Marshall committed to Michigan shortly after his spring game visit earlier this year in April. His first-ever appearance in Ann Arbor took place for the barbecue.
DL Jaylen Williams, 2025
BBQ Visit: 2023
Commitment Date: June 10, 2024
Hometown: Palatine, Illinois
School: Palatine
Height: 6-foot-5.5
Weight: 255lbs
Industry Ranking: No. 217 Overall, No. 19 Defensive Lineman, No. 6 in Illinois
Other Notable Offers: Iowa, Wisconsin, Tennessee, Nebraska, Ohio State, Illinois
Last Season Results: All-State and All-Conference selection
Jaylen Williams is another Chicagoland pass rusher commit this cycle whose first Michigan occurred during the barbecue. The Wolverines garnered momentum for the four-star this summer as Williams took an official visit and announced his pledge.
OL Avery Gach, 2025
BBQ Visit: 2023
Commitment Date: May 3, 2024
Hometown: Birmingham, Michigan
School: Birmingham Groves
Height: 6-foot-4
Weight: 270lbs
Industry Ranking: No. 244 Overall, No. 9 Interior Offensive Lineman, No. 2 in Michigan
Other Notable Offers: Michigan State, Ohio State, Notre Dame, Wisconsin, Georgia, Auburn
Last Season Results: Team finished with 2,070 rushing yards, 1,692 passing yards, 44 total touchdowns
Avery Gach went on multiple unofficial visits in Ann Arbor prior to his commitment in May, including for last year’s barbecue. He noted relationships with head coach Sherrone Moore and offensive line coach Grant Newsome among the reasons he chose to stay in-state.
DL Bobby Kanka, 2025
BBQ Visit: 2023 & 2022
Commitment Date: August 1, 2023
Hometown: Howell, Michigan
School: Howell
Height: 6-foot-4
Weight: 263lbs
Industry Ranking: No. 394 Overall, No. 34 Defensive Lineman, No. 5 in Michigan
Other Notable Offers: Michigan State, Tennessee, Penn State, Syracuse, Minnesota, Louisville
Last Season Results: 38 total tackles, 9 tackles for a loss, 8 sacks
Bobby Kanka‘s commitment last year was publicly announced just two days after the barbecue. Kanka resides less than an hour from campus, so proximity allowed him to get comfortable and familiar with the area and be a part of many events Michigan hosted, like the previous two late July events.
QB Jadyn Davis, 2024
BBQ Visit: 2022
Commitment Date: March 31, 2023
Hometown: Charlotte, North Carolina
School: Providence Day
Height: 6-foot-0.5
Weight: 190lbs
Industry Ranking: No. 106 Overall, No. 8 Quarterback, No. 5 in North Carolina
Other Notable Offers: Clemson, Georgia, UNC, Ohio State, Tennessee, Alabama
Last Season Results: 70.8 completion percent (204-288) for 3,370 yards, 43 touchdowns and 9 interceptions, 3 rushing touchdowns, 136.4 quarterback rating
Jadyn Davis took two offseason summer visits to Michigan in 2022 prior to returning for a pair of games at The Big House and again in mid-March. Quarterbacks coach Kirk Campbell was on staff the month Davis committed, and they connected well, leading to the Wolverines landing their quarterback that cycle. Davis enrolled early and received ample playing time during the April spring game.
CB Jo’Ziah Edmond, 2024
BBQ Visit: 2023
Commitment Date: August 1, 2023
Hometown: Nappanee, Indiana
School: Northwood
Height: 6-foot-1
Weight: 180lbs
Industry Ranking: No. 123 Overall, No. 18 Cornerback, No. 2 in Indiana
Other Notable Offers: Purdue, Baylor, Ole Miss, Wisconsin, Kentucky, Iowa State
Last Season Results: 64 total tackles, 5 interceptions and 1 forced fumble. 26 carries for 204 yards and 4 touchdowns, 65 catches for 505 yards and 7 touchdowns
Jo’Ziah Edmond entered Michigan’s radar over the summer when he camped in front of the coaching staff and picked up an offer. While committed to Purdue, he went back to Ann Arbor for the barbecue, ultimately flipping to the reigning national champions in the process. Edmond enrolled a month ago.
TE Hogan Hansen, 2024
BBQ Visit: 2022
Commitment Date: December 8, 2022
Hometown: Bellevue, Washington
School: Bellevue
Height: 6-foot-5
Weight: 230lbs
Industry Ranking: No. 328 Overall, No. 22 Tight End, No. 5 in Washington
Other Notable Offers: Washington, Oregon, Auburn, Stanford, Miami, Florida
Last Season Results: 11 catches for 224 yards and 4 touchdowns. 8 carries for 121 yards and 2 touchdowns. 44 total tackles, 11 for a loss, 6 sacks, 2 forced fumbles and 2 fumble recoveries
Hogan Hansen comes from Seattle-based 7v7 and recruiting exposure service Ford Sports Performance, which also helped develop Colston Loveland. Michigan’s connections in Washington led to Hansen touring Ann Arbor for the first time during the barbecue. He returned for the win over Penn State two seasons ago and committed in December. He enrolled early and will fight for standing on the depth chart in fall camp.
Safety Jacob Oden, 2024
BBQ Visit: 2022
Commitment Date: February 2, 2023
Hometown: Harper Woods, Michigan
School: Harper Woods
Height: 6-foot-0.5
Weight: 185lbs
Industry Ranking: No. 342 Overall, No. 31 Safety, No. 8 in Michigan
Other Notable Offers: Notre Dame, Michigan State, Penn State, Nebraska, Iowa, Pitt
Last Season Results: 56 total tackles, 6 for a loss, 14 pass breakups, 4 interceptions, 2 forced fumbles, 1 fumble recovery
Jacob Oden is a Michigan legacy, so his knowledge of the program was vast even before he shut his recruitment in February of last year. One of his several visits to Ann Arbor, while uncommitted, transpired for the barbecue in 2022. Oden enrolled early and is being taught multiple positions on the secondary, similar to his former Swiss army knife role for powerhouse Harper Woods.
WR I’Marion Stewart, 2024
BBQ Visit: 2022
Commitment Date: June 16, 2023
Hometown: Chicago, Illinois
School: Kenwood Academy
Height: 5-foot-10
Weight: 18lbs
Industry Ranking: No. 351 Overall, No. 53 Wide Receiver, No. 10 in Illinois
Other Notable Offers: Wisconsin, Illinois, Tennessee, Missouri, Nebraska, Minnesota
Last Season Results: 38 receptions for 909 yards and 9 touchdowns. 14 carries for 128 yards and 3 touchdowns. 2 punt returns for touchdowns and 2 kick returns for touchdowns
I’Marion Stewart was offered by Michigan following his sophomore season and made his debut in Ann Arbor for the barbecue that summer. After that, the four-star playmaker returned seven more times, including a June official visit that preceded his commitment, which went live on OT7. Stewart enrolled in June.
OL Luke Hamilton, 2024
BBQ Visit: 2022
Commitment Date: November 27, 2022
Hometown: Avon, Ohio
School: Avon
Height: 6-foot-4.5
Weight: 290lbs
Industry Ranking: No. 467 Overall, No. 38 Interior Offensive Lineman, No. 17 in Ohio
Other Notable Offers: Penn State, Michigan State, Wisconsin, Kentucky, Cincinnati, Tennessee
Last Season Results: OHSAA Division II Player of the Year
Luke Hamilton became a frequent flyer in Ann Arbor once he committed to Michigan less than 24 hours after the win over Ohio State in Columbus. However, when undergoing the recruiting process, one of his three U-M visits was for the barbecue. Hamilton is projected as an interior lineman for the Wolverines and he enrolled in June.
OL Jake Guarnera, 2024
BBQ Visit: 2022
Commitment Date: April 28, 2023
Hometown: Ponte Vedra, Florida
School: Ponte Vedra
Height: 6-foot-4
Weight: 283lbs
Industry Ranking: No. 475 Overall, No. 41 Interior Offensive Lineman, No. 59 in Florida
Other Notable Offers: Florida, NC State, Florida State, Penn State, UNC, Rutgers
Last Season Results: Team finished with 2,353 passing yards, 2,142 rushing yards, 50 total touchdowns
Jake Guarnera is another 2024 signee whose first time at Michigan took place for the barbecue. He returned for the Hawaii game, but his first in-depth experience of the program while spring camp was underway gave him the impression that Ann Arbor was home. Guarnera enrolled early and will play center for the Wolverines.
WR Channing Goodwin, 2024
BBQ Visit: 2022
Commitment Date: May 7, 2023
Hometown: Charlotte, North Carolina
School: Providence Day
Height: 6-foot-1
Weight: 175lbs
Industry Ranking: No. 537 Overall, No. 85 Wide Receiver, No. 18 in North Carolina
Other Notable Offers: NC State, Virginia Tech, South Carolina, UNC, Missouri, Kentucky
Last Season Results: 65 catches for 1,088 yards and 14 touchdowns, 1 rushing touchdown
Channing Goodwin‘s father, Jonathan Goodwin, played for Michigan in the late 90s. Like Davis, the younger Goodwin visited U-M twice during the summer of 2022, including for the barbecue. He returned three more times before embarking on the same college route that the eldest Goodwin enjoyed decades ago. Goodwin enrolled in June.
CB Jyaire Hill, 2023
BBQ Visit: 2022
Commitment Date: December 21, 2022
Hometown: Kankakee, Illinois
School: Kankakee
Height: 6-foot-1
Weight: 170lbs
Industry Ranking: No. 166 Overall, No. 20 Cornerback, No. 2 in Illinois
Other Notable Offers: Illinois, Notre Dame, Oklahoma, Oregon, Florida, Penn State
Last Season Results: 8 total tackles, 1.5 tackles for a loss
Jyaire Hill had a contender group consisting of Michigan and Illinois for most of the fall prior to his commitment on National Signing Day. The Wolverines brought him in for the barbecue to garner momentum, and through further work done in-season, they won out for the cornerback. Hill played sparingly as a freshman but is on the shortlist for the CB2 spot opposite Will Johnson.
OT Evan Link, 2023
BBQ Visit: 2022
Commitment Date: August 1, 2022
Hometown: Washington D.C.
School: Gonzaga College
Height: 6-foot-5.5
Weight: 290lbs
Industry Ranking: No. 286 Overall, No. 21 Offensive Tackle, No. 3 in Washington D.C.
Other Notable Offers: Penn State, Stanford, Virginia Tech, Miami, Tennessee, South Carolina
Last Season Results: Didn’t see game action
Evan Link was initially supposed to take an official visit to Michigan in the summer of 2022 but decided to attend the barbecue and quickly committed. Penn State and Stanford were significant threats to land Link, but the true offensive tackle sided with the Wolverines. Link didn’t play last season and will likely use the 2024 season to earn valuable learning experience under veterans like Myles Hinton and Andrew Gentry.
WR Semaj Morgan, 2023
BBQ Visit: 2021
Commitment Date: December 1, 2021
Hometown: West Bloomfield, Michigan
School: West Bloomfield
Height: 5-foot-9.5
Weight: 185lbs
Industry Ranking: No. 522 Overall, No. 76 Wide Receiver, No. 12 in Michigan
Other Notable Offers: Ole Miss, Maryland, Purdue, Missouri, West Virginia, Memphis
Last Season Results: 22 catches for 204 yards and 2 touchdowns. 4 carries for 67 yards and 2 touchdowns. All-Big Ten Selection
Semaj Morgan had a unique connection to Michigan through his former West Bloomfield head coach, Ron Bellamy. When Bellamy was hired by his alma mater, his relationship with Morgan continued, leading to the latter being offered, experiencing the barbecue, and later committing during the 2021 season. Morgan arrived on the scene during the 15-0 run, contributing heavily to offense and special teams.
TE Zack Marshall, 2023
BBQ Visit: 2022
Commitment Date: August 13, 2022
Hometown: Carlsbad, California
School: Carlsbad
Height: 6-foot-4
Weight: 220lbs
Industry Ranking: No. 530 Overall, No. 26 Tight End, No. 45 in California
Other Notable Offers: Arizona, Cal, Utah, Washington State, Colorado State, Army
Last Season Results: Appeared in two games
Zack Marshall‘s first trip to Michigan was for the barbecue. He didn’t have an offer when he began the visit, but upon working out with Newsome, the team’s tight ends coach at the time, U-M pulled the trigger. Marshall waited less than two weeks later to commit. Marshall saw the field in the wins over Indiana and Minnesota last season.
