Doran Grant

This week the big recruiting weekend in the Big Ten will be in Ann Arbor, Mich. Wolverine Coach Rich Rodriguez will welcome in a large group of recruits for the latest edition of the Ohio State-Michigan rivalry.

Rodriguez will host approximately a dozen prospects on official visits.  None of those seniors are prospects the Buckeyes are going after.

However, it is a different story when it comes to juniors who will be making unofficial visits to Michigan this weekend.  At least a half dozen juniors the Bucks have either offered a scholarship or are interested in are expected to be in attendance at the big game on Saturday.

Three of the top five juniors in the state of Ohio are expected to be in Ann Arbor and all three have been offered a scholarship by both Ohio State and Michigan.

“I’ll probably be attending the Ohio State-Michigan game,” quarterback Braxton Miller said.  “I’ll probably be going with my dad.”

The 6-foot-2 and 185-pound Miller (Huber Heights, Ohio/Wayne) is the No. 1 prospect in the Buckeye State.  Miller estimated his scholarship offer total to currently stand at 32.  However, Miller said he is not close to selecting a college.

Defensive back Doran Grant (Akron, Ohio/St.Vincent-St. Mary), the No. 4 prospect in Ohio, has the potential to be a great cover corner at the next level.  Grant was one of the first juniors the Bucks offered and he is very interested in Ohio State.

Linebacker Trey DePriest (Springfield, Ohio/Springfield), the No. 5 prospect in the Buckeye State, has over a dozen offers on the table.  Jim Tressel has brought in some great linebackers while he has been at Ohio State, and DePriest could be another.  Of course with the current state of Michigan’s defense, he would be a huge addition to the Wolverines’ program if Rodriguez could land him.

At least two other top prospects from Ohio will or may be in Ann Arbor on Saturday.

Defensive end Chris Rock (Columbus, Ohio/DeSales) said on Thursday night that he hopes to make it to Michigan this weekend.  Rock has been battling the flu this week, but if he feels well enough he plans to head north for The Game.  Rock has an offer on the table from Michigan.

Defensive back Ron Tanner (Columbus, Ohio/Eastmoor) also has an offer from Michigan.  The Bucks haven’t offered, but as in the case with Rock, are interested.  Tanner will leave for Ann Arbor on Friday and stay overnight before heading to the game on Saturday.

Freshman defensive end Devon Edwards (Columbus, Ohio/Eastmoor) will make the trip north with Tanner.  The 6-foot-4 and 225-pound Edwards saw significant playing time in his first year at Eastmoor.

Two of the top five juniors in the state of Michigan are expected to be in the Big House Saturday, wide receiver DeAnthony Arnett (Saginaw, Mich./Saginaw) and linebacker Lawrence Thomas (Detroit, Mich./Renaissance).

The Wolverines have already offered both Arnett and Thomas.  The Buckeyes haven’t offered either, but have been in contact with both.  In fact Arnett was in Columbus last weekend and was in the ‘Shoe’ as the Buckeyes clinched at least a tie for the Big Ten title and a birth in the Rose Bowl.

If the Bucks can go to the Big House and come away with any type of convincing victory on Saturday, the boo birds could be out in Ann Arbor.  That certainly could make for an uncomfortable situation for Rodriguez with all the recruits in attendance.  It could be a double blow the Bucks strike to their rivals from the north.