Ratings
| * | Ovr | Pos | St | |
| 247Sports Composite | 5 | 14 | 3 | 1 |
| On3 Industry Ranking | 5 | 15 | 3 | 1 |
| 247Sports | 5 | 11 | 2 | 1 |
| On3 | 5 | 14 | 3 | 1 |
| ESPN | 4 | 27 | 8 | 1 |
| Rivals | 4 | 44 | 6 | 1 |
Vitals
| Hometown | Overland Park (Kan.) Blue Valley Northwest |
| Projected Position | Offensive Tackle |
| Height | 6-foot-6 |
| Weight | 280-pounds |
Recruiting Story
Hailing from Sherrone Moore’s home state of Kansas, Babalola appeared to be Stanford-bound for quite some time. However, Moore stayed persistent in pursuing the five-star, and though Michigan started getting some buzz, so did Auburn — which was making something of an NIL play. However, the Wolverines were quietly at the top, and Babalola finally pulled the trigger just before coming to Ann Arbor for his official visit.
Readiness Level
Often, five-stars are seen as plug-and-play recruits who can come in and make an immediate impact. But offensive linemen tend to need a few years before they reach that level. Expect some buzz around Babalola coming out of fall camp but don’t expect to see him until his sophomore year, outside of garbage time.
Notes
- Committed Oct. 21, 2024
- Also plays basketball
Scouting report
The scouting report from 247Sports’ Gabe Brooks:
Immensely gifted offensive tackle prospect who’s relatively newer to football and possesses virtually limitless long-term potential. Showing noticeably more block-finishing conviction as a senior. Outstanding physical measurables with a frame approaching 6-6 and 34+ arms with huge paws. Lean with ample frame space, though perhaps a tad more narrow than originally perceived upon live evaluation. Natural bender who plays with a wide base in pass protection, where he’s capable of consistently and effectively anchoring vs. strength. Originally a basketball player whose functional athleticism in pads reflects that background. Logged valuable two-way snaps previously in high school. Still developing hand placement technique and can more consistently exploit length to his advantage. May need a bit more time to develop at the P4 level than more ready-made tackle prospects, but owns a case for the highest-ceiling OT prospect in the 2025 recruiting cycle.
Film
Original commitment story
Michigan football gets a commitment from highly-coveted 5-star