Name: Makari Paige
Height: 6’4″
Weight: 208 lbs.
High school: West Bloomfield (MI) West Bloomfield
Position: Safety
Class: Fifth year senior
Jersey number: #7
Last year: I ranked Paige #19 and said he would be a starting safety (LINK). He made 41 tackles, 1 fumble recovery, 2 pass breakups, and 1 quarterback hurry.
TTB Rating: 79
Paige was an Honorable Mention All-Big Ten selection in 2023 after being a thirteen-game starter. He was not a flashy player, but he's an extremely steady player. His long arms help him cover some ground as a tackler where others might whiff, and he was probably better in coverage than I thought he would be, even though that's not his strength. PFF gave him a 71.4 pass coverage grade and an 86.0 tackling grade, so you can see the discrepancy. Altogether he was part of a nice combination with Rod Moore and/or Keon Sabb.
The picture at safety has completely changed in 2024. And Paige was recently named a captain. But just by coincidence, I once again ranked Paige at #19, just like last year. Rod Moore is out with a torn ACL and Keon Sabb is at Alabama, but Quinten Johnson returned for a sixth year and Michigan brought in two transfer portal starters in the form of Wesley Walker and Jaden Mangham. That gives Michigan four starting-caliber safeties on the roster this year, so if Paige were going to miss any time, the depth should help mitigate issues. Defensive coordinator Wink Martindale recently said that Paige might get the "green dot" on defense (a.k.a. the in-helmet communication) or it might go to linebacker Ernest Hausmann, so I don't want to discount Paige's leadership. But the depth (or lack thereof) at some other spots has me ranking Paige as one of the lower-end starters in the countdown.
Prediction: Starting safety; 40 tackles, 2 interceptions
Kudos to Sherrone Moore. Saab bolting for Tuscaloosa could have started an avalanche, and in many places it would have. Getting in the HC spot yet, he not only stopped the bleeding but kept QJo and pulled two starter transfers
ReplyDeleteWith uncertainty on offense, these moves may be our season may define our season
Spot on analysis. Great college player and we are lucky to have him back for another season. Kind of reminds me of getting Keegan, Zinter, and Johnson back last year, because I think he could have zoomed off to the NFL.
ReplyDeleteShould be the captain of our secondary with Rod Moore hurt.