SpartanMag Recruiting Briefing

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APRIL 28, 2017, NORTHBROOK, Ill. - One of the top prospects in the state of Michigan for the class of 2019 took steps toward strengthening his national profile at last weekend’s Under Armour Chicago camp.

Julian Barnett (6-2, 187, Belleville High) was quick, physical, confident and memorable during his performance on Sunday. Afterward, he was awarded an invitation to participate in the national Under Armour Future 50 Combine, held in late December in Orlando.

When Barnett started to get rolling on Sunday, he challenged defensive backs to try to cover him. Some of them resorted to holding him at the line of scrimmage, which resulted in more verbal barbs from Barnett.

“The only person that was really holding me was the DB from (Detroit) King (Jaeveyon Morton) and I don’t know where Deion Sanders’ son is from, but him too (Shilo Sanders, of Trinity Christian in Cedar Hill, TX).”

Sanders is a QB/DB prospect for 2019.

Barnett answered the physicality at the line of scrimmage, and displayed good hands at the end of his routes.

That talent has resulted in 12 scholarship offers, including Michigan State, Auburn, Georgia, Illinois, Iowa State, Arkansas and MAC schools.

“I’m hearing from Ohio State a lot more lately as a DB instead of receiver,” Barnett said. “Even though I’m from Michigan, Michigan doesn’t talk to me. Michigan State talks to me a lot.”

The Spartans offered him a scholarship during his visit to spring practice.

“I was happy (about the offer),” Barnett said. “I was talking to Coach Dantonio when he gave me the offer, shaking his hand and stuff. We were talking about offense and defense. He let me hear the calls on the headset during practice.

“That was unexpected.”

Does he prefer wide receiver or defensive back at the college level?

“Either,” he said. “My upside is at DB because I’m tall and there are not a lot of tall DBs.”

Has MSU voiced a preference?

“Whatever I want to play when I get there as an athlete,” he said.

When asked which schools are among his favorites at this time, he said: “I would prefer not to say.”

SLEEPER REPORT

The state of Michigan's underrated WRs scored a decisive victory over the state of Michigan's DBs at the UA Camp in Chicago.

Barnett, Taj Mustapha (of West Bloomfield) and a sleeper WR by the name of Traveon Maddox of (Novi) consistently got the better of smaller, higher-ranked in-state DBs such as Morton and Zhamaine March of Detroit East English Village.

The last time we saw Morton, he was a dominant player in the Division II state title game, with his ball skills and quickness. But he had trouble against bigger receivers on this day in a tee shirt camp setting. He'll have a chance to even things up at other camps this spring and summer.

Maddox, listed at 6-4, 195, has a football offer from Kent State and a basketball offer from Ferris State. He averaged 18 points per game at Novi this winter and will be playing with the Michigan Warriors this weekend at the Jam Fest in Pittsburgh.

Maddox has had to be patient on the football field. Last year, senior WR Anthony D’Annibale was the prime target for the Novi passing attack, finishing the year with 26 TD catches. He signed with Dayton.

“I’m not one of those receivers that complains about not getting the ball,” Maddox said. “I was open but the quarterback’s favorite target was the other kid. The game he was suspended, I had three touchdowns.”

Maddox is hearing from Syracuse, Illinois, Indiana and MAC schools.

Maddox got a visit from MSU assistant coach and suburban Detroit recruiter Brad Salem last week.

“He told me he’s still very interested in me,” Maddox said.

More will be interested by the end of the summer if he keeps turning in performances at camps like he did on Sunday.

Maddox is a young junior at 16-years-old. He turns 17 in August.

Sunday's performance landed Maddox on the SpartanMag.com Top 25 on the 25th Watch List, along with another sleeper, Desjuan Johnson, a defensive end from Detroit East English Village Prep.

Johnson was a dominant edge rusher at the Wixom Big Man Camp this winter, and followed up with a strong showing at the Chicago UA camp. He has offers from Toledo and Kent State.

At 6-2, 230, Johnson is quick off the edge, has the flexibility and balance to accelerate while running the hoop, plus sophisticated use of hands. His chop, dip and rip was taught by EEVP d-line coach Ed Johnson, who played in the NFL and at Penn State.

Johnson had 17 sacks last year. If he continues to stand out at the summer camps, his offer list will explode, too.

Maddox’s teammate, offensive lineman Carlos Vettorello, had a strong showing in the trenches, Sunday.

Vettorello, 6-4, 275, won the Big Man Challenge event at the Chicago UA Camp.

He's hearing from Oregon, Oregon State, Boston College, Syracuse and Minnesota. All of those have offered except for Oregon and Illinois.

In the final round of the Big Man Challenge, Vettorello took two-of-three repetitions against Northwestern commitment four-star d-end Devin O’Rourke (6-6, 230, Franklin, Ill.).

It remains to be seen whether Michigan State will get involved with Johnson or Vettorello.