Tag: Eyabi Anoma

Jesse Minter details plans for using Eyabi Anoma in near future

If the first game was an indication, Anoma could have a special season now that he’s with #Michigan. #GoBlue

Does it get any better than Eyabi Anoma’s Michigan debut?

The former five-star, who originally committed to Alabama over the Wolverines, somehow found himself in Ann Arbor, after all, having journeyed from Tuscaloosa to Houston to UT-Martin before donning a winged helmet. Despite only being on campus for a few short weeks, Anoma was deployed relatively early in the season opener, and on his very first play, he had Michigan’s second sack of the season and his first in maize and blue.

According to PFF, Anoma played 10 total snaps on Saturday, nine on defense and one on special teams, and he was Michigan’s second-highest rated edge rusher — behind Jaylen Harrell — with an 81.9 defensive grade. But he’s just getting started and still getting acclimated, his defensive coordinator is quick to remind.

Talking to Jon Jansen on the ‘Inside Michigan Football’ radio show, Jesse Minter shared how the Wolverines intend to deploy Anoma given his lack of time on task and understanding of the defense. Though he’s still learning the playbook, Minter hopes to gradually increase Anoma’s playing time, and if all goes to plan, his production will continue as it did in Week 1.

“To his credit, the guy got here about three weeks ago,” Minter said. “He’s bought into what we’re trying to do. He’s a guy with a really a lot of physical tools, a high ceiling. I think he’s still learning and so he’s — we told him we want to try to feed him a little bit more each week and it was like, ‘Hey, let’s throw them in there, on the next third down.’ And, of course, the rest was history for him. It was good to get him in there more in the second half on normal downs and kind of get a feel for playing the run and playing a normal style of play. But he’s a guy that we can definitely utilize as a pass rusher as we go.”

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Michigan’s defensive front really showed out in the season opener, with other edge rushers really stepping up. We mentioned Harrell, but Mike Morris was involved in several key plays, as was Braiden McGregor from the edge rusher positions.

As far as Minter sees it, the more the merrier. The Wolverines may have relied most heavily on Aidan Hutchinson and David Ojabo last year, but this season, the production doesn’t have to come solely from two players, as there are multiple who can get involved and get to the uarterback.

“I think it’s just a mentality that we want to have, that everybody gets a chance and everybody eats — and a huge thing for us is when one person makes a play we all make a play,” Minter said. “And I’ve said this before like I’d love for the end of the year for us to maybe have a guy that can have 12-13 sacks but right now we want to spread it around. We want to bring different guys. I think we got all three levels of the defense involved in pressure and it keeps offenses off-balance and the if the guys really buy into it, and can continue to buy into it, I think as a team we’re gonna have a lot of success.”

Anoma and company will have another chance on Saturday when the Wolverines host Hawaii at The Big House at 8 p.m. EDT.

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Mike Morris reiterates there are multiple edge guys that can ‘play winning football’ at Michigan

Love this edge room! #GoBlue

ANN ARBOR, Mich. — No. 8 Michigan took care of its business on Saturday when the Wolverines hosted Colorado State for their season opener. Michigan is now 1-0 on the new year after defeating the Rams, 51-7.

The Wolverines’ offense totaled 440 yards of total offense and rushed for 234 yards on the ground. While the offense did what it needed to do to move the ball and put up 51 points, the story of the game was the defense.

Michigan had to replace three starters on the defensive line, but Aidan Hutchinson and David Ojabo were, arguably, the greatest edge duo in football last season. Hence, why the national media has been reluctant to pick Michigan to repeat as Big Ten Champions, largely due to the fact that the Wolverines are replacing so much starting experience.

On Saturday, the Wolverines started Mike Morris and Jaylen Harrell at edge, but Michigan used a committee to get as much production as it could out of its edge players.

The Wolverines caused a ton of havoc for the Rams’ starting quarterback Clay Millen. Millen was sacked a total of seven times on Saturday, but that number doesn’t even speak volumes as to how much the defensive line was in the backfield.

Mike Morris and Junior Colson spoke with the media on Saturday and Morris pointed to the fact that Michigan rotated eight guys during the game against the Rams, and that everyone ‘ate’. It’s paramount to give small breaks, and if there are so many players that can play winning football, then Michigan can always have players that are fresh out on the field.

“We have a, we have so many edges and so many different guys at d-line who can do great things for the football team,” said Morris. “So me and Mazi talk about that all the time, there’s a lot of guys on the d-line and in the edge room who can play winning football. So we just switched it up as much as possible. Give everybody a break. Yeah, we just had like, what I think eight guys rotating at one point, and everybody ate. So yeah, I feel like we bring a lot of versatility and depth to each and every game.”

Going back to the loss of Hutchinson and Ojabo, the Wolverines lost, statistically, a ton of contribution. Hutchinson is the single-season sack leader at Michigan with 14 sacks in 2021. Ojabo wasn’t far behind him with 11 sacks. But Morris said that the edge room has a chip on its shoulder. He says that players come and go, but the coaches have done an excellent job recruiting and developing the room, so the Wolverines have multiple players that can get the job done.

“I feel like as an edge room and as a d-line and total, we put a, put a chip on our shoulder because their absence,” said Morris. “Everybody thought like, we weren’t going to be as good because of their absence. And I feel like that fell on the coaches and the players because it’s like, I feel like people didn’t have faith in the coaches recruiting, and didn’t have faith in the coaches development of us and didn’t have faith in our development. Because people come and go out of every school all the time. But now it’s like, does Michigan have a guy? But no, we have multiple. So anybody can anybody in the edge room can play winning football and start on this defense.”

Lineback Junior Colson, who led the team with 10 tackles on Saturday, was smiling ear to ear in the media room on Saturday. He said he was just happy for the defense with how well they played.

“I guess now I’m just excited for the defense you know we know there’s been a lot of talk about — we lost a lot of guys,” said Colson. “I think we proved that you know like we can still be dominant without them we can still win pressure we can still sack the quarterback we can still just dominate in all phases”

One, of the many, edge players that contributed on Saturday was freshman Derrick Moore. If you look at the stat sheet he only had a quarterback hurry, but he was a menace for the Rams’ offensive line. Moore had back-to-back plays where he was in the backfield going for a sack, but barely missed out on it. Morris said that Moore shocked the entire team due to how far along he was physically when he came to Michigan.

“Derrick more surprised all of us because he’s a big guy just coming in,” said Morris. “He looked like us. And he just got there in January, so I was very surprised by him and everything related to the field as well. Everything, everything transferred to the field. He was strong in the weight room and doing his thing in the field. Learning to play is very fast and just becoming a really good ballplayer and I’m excited to see where he goes.”

The Wolverines added former five-star and Alabama edge defender Eyabi Anoma a few weeks ago. On his very first player as a Michigan player on Saturday, Anoma sacked Millen. He added two tackles and a tackle-for-loss to his stats at the end of the day. Morris and Colson both shared similar sentiments — they are happy he’s on the team.

“And on Eyabi, honestly had no idea like what was going on, but I accepted him with open arms,” said Morris. “I’m sure the whole edge room did. And today he showed us what he can bring to our team and he showed us at practice as well but today he solidified what he could do for our defense.”

“He’s a phenomenal player,” said Colson. “He’s very smart. So he learned the playbook very, very quickly if you just I think he’s gonna get more and more snaps as the season goes on because he’s a dominant player. He has a high motor. I just can’t wait to see what he can do.”

The Wolverines’ defense will look to continue to wreak havoc in the backfield next Saturday against Hawaii.

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Eyabi Anoma to also figure into Michigan football special teams early on

Really can’t wait to see him in maize and blue on Saturday! #GoBlue

ANN ARBOR, Mich. — Jay Harbaugh pulls dual duty for Michigan football in that he oversees the safeties — he’s in his first year of doing so after being the tight ends coach the year before and running backs coach for several years before that — and special teams. Considering the importance of special teams, though it’s a somewhat unheralded one-third of the game, a lot of players make their mark there. But in Ann Arbor, a lot of elder statesmen insist on being involved there, too — which proves how seriously the Wolverines take that element of the game.

For Jay Harbaugh, he’ll get his first idea of how both his safeties — RJ Moten, Makari Paige, Rod Moore, and Caden Kolesar — look in Week 1, but also if the maize and blue can repeat as the country’s top special teams unit after a stellar 2021 campaign.

“You’re excited to see what certain young guys do, that’s a big thing. Also, some of the guys that are back, you want to see growth in their game. So it’s kind of everything you’re looking to see,” Harbaugh said. “OK, this new call or new technique, we want to see how that looks. You want to see young guys, hey, how do they look when it’s live action? Some of these older guys that have gotten bigger, faster, stronger, how do they look? So it’s probably tough to like nail one thing down. We’re salivating just for all of it because this is what we love to do.”

While he’s only been a Wolverine for a couple of weeks, fans have been excited to see what edge rusher Eyabi Anoma will do in the early going.

Anoma was highly recruited and picked Alabama over Michigan in the 2018 cycle. But after changing schools several times, he found himself in Ann Arbor about halfway through fall camp. Despite not having a lot of time on task, Anoma is expected to suit up and play in Week 1, especially since the learning curve to rushing the passer isn’t as steep as other positions. But Jay Harbaugh expects to use him on teams as well, noting that Anoma has been all-in on everything that he’s been tasked with thus far.

“Yeah, he’s definitely involved,” Harbuagh said. “He’s had an awesome attitude. And he’s kind of getting integrated into our system and the different techniques and rolls and stuff like that. So he’s a guy who we will look forward to to contribute, and hopefully in this game.”

Michigan kicks off the 2022 season on Saturday when it hosts Colorado State at noon EDT.

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Michigan has four prospects on PFF’s top 100 draft board for 2023

We expect more Wolverines to be on this list at the season’s end.

It’s not surprising that a team that made the College Football Playoff and won 12 games in 2021 would have some players being talked about early for the 2023 NFL draft. While Michigan has some players being discussed for next April’s draft, the Wolverines don’t have anyone being projected to be a top pick in the 2023 draft.

The Wolverines do return just about everyone from the offensive side of the ball and this is a big reason why Michigan is a preseason top 10 team for 2022. But the maize and blue did lose a chunk of their top 10 scoring defense from last season. Aidan Hutchinson and Daxton Hill were both first-round selections, and the Wolverines also lost David Ojabo, Josh Ross, and Brad Hawkins who were all major contributors.

Pro Football Focus came out with a preseason top 100 draft board for the 2023 NFL draft and four Wolverines cracked the list from PFF.

We can tell you that shockingly, none of Olu Oluwatimi, Erick All, or Ryan Hayes cracked the top 100.

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Jim Harbaugh expects Eyabi Anoma to play in Week 1

Can’t wait to see what the former five-star can do now that he’s a Wolverine! #GoBlue

ANN ARBOR, Mich. — Michigan football surprised many in the college football world earlier this month when it was announced that the Wolverines brought in former college journeyman Eyabi Anoma as a graduate transfer.

The maize and blue were heavily involved in Anoma’s recruitment, but the five-star and top edge rusher in the 2018 class, ultimately picked Alabama as his destination of choice. However, he was dismissed from the team after his freshman campaign, and transferred to Houston, where he didn’t make it a full season, as he was also dismissed from the team. He transferred to UT-Martin, where he finally got a chance to play in 2021, and posted six sacks once he finally was able to get going.

On Monday, Harbaugh finally spoke about Anoma having joined the program, noting that he does expect him to get some playing time right out fo the gates in Week 1.

“Eyabi Anoma has been practicing with the team for about 10 days, 12 days — something like that,” Harbaugh said. “He’s been really good. He’s been a great teammate and look forward to seeing what he can do this coming season.

“He’ll hopefully be playing right away in the first game. Showed some outstanding assets he can bring to the team.”

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Generally, Michigan has shied away from players who have checkered pasts, as Anoma appears to have. However, given that the Wolverines have several players from the same high school — Baltimore (Md.) St. Frances Academy — as well as his former head coach in Biff Poggi, the assistant head coach in Ann Arbor, Harbaugh says he feels good that there won’t be any issues.

“Eyabi graduated from Tennessee-Martin. A very easy process in talking to his former teammates who are on our team,” Harbaugh said. “Eyabi is somebody we recruited, I recruited, right out of high school and always felt like we finished second in that. I’ve always really enjoyed being around Eyabi. I’m not aware of the vague off-field issues that you refer to. But, as it stands now, he’s a college graduate, really vouched for by his teammates and is just a great guy to be around on a day-to-day basis.

“No man knows the future, but I think it looks very good and bright for Eyabi.”

Fans will get their first opportunity to see Anoma in action on Saturday when the Wolverines host the Colorado State Rams at The Big House. Kickoff will be at noon EDT and the game will be broadcast nationally on ABC.

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Surprise starter on Michigan football defensive line reveals overall depth

This is big news! #GoBlue

Michigan football is a week away from taking the field in an official capacity, and one of the big questions has been who would line up along the defensive line.

While we’ve had some good ideas — Mazi Smith and Kris Jenkins were locks, but the edge rusher rotation was perhaps somewhat unclear with multiple players vying to start — we didn’t really know until Saturday. Which is a surprise, considering head coach Jim Harbaugh tends to keep things close to the vest.

On Saturday, Harbaugh joined Jon Jansen on the “In the Trenches” podcast and had something of an unprecedented breakdown of the entire depth chart. Starting with the outside linebackers (edge rushers), he revealed that there are three players who are considered starters for two positions, while four more players will be in rotation, including recent incoming transfer Eyabi Anoma and true freshman Derrick Moore.

“The outside backers right now, starting outside backers: Jaylen Harrell, Mike Morris and Taylor Upshaw — those three have had a heck of a camp and there’ll be a rotation there,” Harbaugh said. “Braiden McGregor, TJ Guy, Eyabi Anoma’s doing some really good things.

“Derrick Moore has been fantastic, we’ve talked about there before, but when that motor becomes like Chase Winovich and Aidan Hutchinson and then he learns a countermove or two, I think he’s gonna be close to unblockable. Now as soon as that happens, may take some time, but he’s ready to play and he’ll be in there.”

But there’s a surprise that he unveiled, in the form of a new starter.

While most fans and media (us included) still tend to think of the defense in terms of a 4-3 front (it was switched to a 3-4 multiple last season, but still often operated similar to how it did, with two down linemen and two ends), Harbaugh revealed that one true freshman has emerged as a starter, opposite the expected interior linemen.

”Inside, interior defensive line, Kris Jenkins, starter in the base package. Mason Graham will come out of camp as a starter, true freshman,” Harbaugh said. “Mazi Smith, starter at nose. Cam Goode is somebody that is now really surging. He’s backing up Mazi at nose tackle. Kenneth Grant is right there as well at nose tackle. George Rooks at end, backing up Kris Jenkins, has had a tremendous camp. Dom Giudice has done some really good things. And we got a true freshman, Charlie Lovell, who walked on, just turned 18 about a week ago. His dad played at Michigan, was a kicker here. He’s been great as well and he’ll be really good in the future.

“So really been happy with the interior defensive line and the guy I gotta mention is Rayshuan Benny. Rayshaun Benny is surging. He and Mason Graham are playing the tackle position in base. But he’s just coming on like gangbusters, every practice is better and better. So I’m really excited about Rayshaun.”

That’s a lot of depth, although, beyond the starters, there’s very little experience. It’s encouraging that Graham, who enrolled early, has managed to cement his starter status, especially given the surge made by players such as Benny, who entered the offseason as an expected starter. It doesn’t appear that Graham got the nod because Benny isn’t pulling his weight as much as it sounds like the Anaheim (California) Servite lineman is performing beyond expectations.

We’ll know more in a week, when Michigan football hosts Colorado State. The game will kick off at noon EDT and will be televised nationally on ABC.

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Michigan football players react to Eyabi Anoma transferring in

It’ll be interesting seeing what he does wearing a winged helmet! #GoBlue

ANN ARBOR, Mich. — While being in the middle of fall camp tends to see breaking news in terms of starting jobs won or lost and emerging players and such, the Wolverines have a different story entirely.

Michigan football added a former five-star prospect and college football journeyman to its roster via transfer, Eyabi Anoma, who originally committed to Alabama, but ended up going to Houston and then settling in at Tennessee-Martin.

Hailing from Baltimore (Maryland) St. Frances Academy, the same high school  Michigan running back Blake Corum went to, Anoma was the No. 3 player in the country overall according to 247Sports’ rankings. He didn’t overlap with Corum in high school, but Corum is excited all the same to have him in Ann Arbor.

“He left the year I got there — I got there my junior year. He had gone to Bama,” Corum said. “He’s a baller. He’s a baller. He’s gonna help big time, just gotta get him the playbook. He’ll be on the field causing havoc soon. I’m glad to have him here.”

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Of course, Corum isn’t competing for playing time with him. But junior Jaylen Harrell will be.

Regardless of him being seeming competition, Harrell has taken Anoma under his wing, teaching him what he needs to know about the playbook and helping him get acclimated to Ann Arbor.

“Eyabi’s cool. He’s a good player,” Harrell said. “We’re really just competing every day. He’s a great guy to have in the room. We’re just excited to have him.”

His comment about competing every day begs the question: has Anoma been here longer than people have thought? No, Harrell clarified, he just arrived, but he’s ready to participate, all the same.

“He’s around. He got here yesterday — he’s around,” Harrell said. “Welcome him in with open arms — cool guy. Excited, he’s ready to learn. I’m helping him a little bit with the playbook and stuff like that. He’s ready to come into the room, to just compete and get after it.”

How did Harrell find out that he would soon have more competition at edge rusher? Did he find out online just like everyone else?

No, he says, the coaches shared they were bringing him in before the rest of the world found out. As far as Anoma’s journeyman status and his being kicked off the team in both Alabama and Houston, Harrell said he knows nothing about that. He reiterated he’s excited to see what Anoma brings to the room now that he’s getting another shot at a Power Five program.

“They talked to the whole defense, actually. Told us Eyabi’s coming in,” Harrell said. “Coach Harbaugh also told us he was coming in. Great addition to the team, like I said, welcome him in with open arms. Ready to just get out there and compete.”

Michigan has another week left of fall camp before it transitions into game week. The Wolverines open at home against Colorado State on Sept. 3, which could also be Anoma’s debut.

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Eyabi Anoma officially added to Michigan football roster; number, check-in weight, height revealed

He’s gonna be a beast! #GoBlue

The college football world was set on fire on Wednesday night, when The Wolverine’s Anthony Broome broke the news that Michigan football was adding former five-star Eyabi Anoma to its edge-rushing arsenal.

Anoma had committed to Alabama over Michigan late in the 2018 recruiting process, but ended up transferring to Houston — and then to UT-Martin. He was on the SEC All-Freshman team while with the Crimson Tide, but after sitting out two years, he fell off the radar.

At UT-Martin, he excelled, albeit against Football Championship Subdivision-level competition. He was on the Ohio Valley Conference All-Newcomer team after posting six sacks and 9.5 tackles for loss. He comes to Ann Arbor as a grad transfer with two years of eligibility, and he will have his former coach on staff. Biff Poggi oversaw him while he played at Baltimore (Maryland) St. Frances Academy.

Now, he’s officially on the Michigan football roster. Anoma will wear No. 18, and has officially checked in at 6 feet, 5 inches, 244 pounds, and is listed as an edge.

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Here is his bio officially from MGoBlue.com:

2021 (UT Martin)
• Named to OVC All-Newcomer Team
• Tabbed to Phil Steele FCS All-OVC third team
• Played in 12 games for the Skyhawks while starting eight contests
• Helped team to OVC Championship and second round berth in NCAA Division I playoffs
• Compiled 36 total tackles, including 9.5 tackles for loss and 6.0 sacks
• Ranked first in the OVC in sacks (6.0) and second in tackles for loss (8.0) during league play
• Registered sacks on back-to-back plays against Eastern Illinois (Oct. 16)
• Tallied four or more tackles in five games against Samford (Sept. 11), Eastern Illinois, Austin Peay (Oct. 30), Southeast Missouri (Nov. 20) and Montana State (Dec. 4)
• Best game came against Austin Peay (Oct. 30) when he tallied eight tackles, 4.5 TFLs, 1.5 sacks and blocked a potential go-ahead field goal in the final seconds
• Earned Stats Perform FCS National Defensive Player of the Week honors along with OVC Defensive Player and Newcomer of the Week accolades for his play against Austin Peay
• Forced a fumble against No. 10 Missouri State (Nov. 27).

2020 (UT Martin)
• Did not see game action; sat out due to NCAA transfer rule.

2019 (Houston)
•  Redshirted.

2018 (Alabama)
• Named to SEC All-Freshman Team
• Registered nine tackles, including two for loss, while adding one QB hurry in 12 games of action as a true freshman
• Made collegiate debut vs. Louisville
• Recorded one tackle for loss while adding a QB hurry against Arkansas State
• Registered a season-high three tackles at Ole Miss
• Totaled two tackles against Louisiana, including one tackle for loss
• Collected one tackle at Arkansas
• Finished with one tackle against The Citadel
• Registered one stop in annual Iron Bowl matchup vs. Auburn.

Prep
• Attended St. Frances Academy (2018) coached by Biff Poggi
• Helped lead team to an undefeated record in the Maryland Interscholastic Athletic Association A Conference for the second straight season
• Team finished 2017 ranked No. 11 in the USA Today High School rankings

Key Statistics
• Registered 98 tackles as a senior, including 22 sacks, four forced fumbles and three fumble recoveries; anchored a defense that allowed just 65 points all season and only one opponent to score more than a single touchdown
• Recorded 60 tackles and 24 sacks as a junior
• Averaged 11.6 points and 9.5 rebounds per games at Randallstown High School during the 2015-16 season

Honors and Rankings
• 247Sports Composite five-star prospect, the top player in the state of Maryland, nation’s second-best wide-side defensive end prospect and the seventh-best player nationally
• ESPN 300 member who is rated No. 4 overall; five-star prospect that lists as the No. 1 player in Maryland and as the second-highest rated defensive lineman in the country
• Rivals.com five-star prospect and the top-rated player in Maryland; listed as the No. 4 wide-side defensive end prospect and the No. 24 overall player nationally
• Selected to participate in the 2017 Under Armour All-American Game and the Polynesian Bowl
• Earned 2017 Baltimore Sun All-Metro Defensive Player of the Year honors
• Received first-team all-metro honors as a senior after collecting second-team accolades during his junior season
• Was selected to play in the 2017 Maryland Crab Bowl but was unable to participate due to his team’s participation in the GEICO State Champions Bowl Series in Phoenix

Personal
• Eyabi Anoma was born June 7, 1999

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Former Alabama five-star LB transferring to Michigan

Former Alabama edge rusher Eyabi Anoma is transferring to Michigan per reports. He was formerly a five-star out of the 2018 recruiting class.

Alabama fans likely remember several highly-rated recruits on the defensive side of the ball that didn’t pan out. Some that come to mind are Antonio Alfano, Ishmael Sopsher and Ben Davis. Another player that never got to see his full potential in his time in Tuscaloosa was Eyabi Anoma.

After spending time at three different programs, he is now headed to Michigan. The news was first reported by On3’s Anthony Broome. Anoma was a highly-touted prospect for the Crimson Tide coming out of high school. He was rated as a five-star by 247Sports.

He spent just one season at the Capstone. The Maryland native played sparingly during that year. He recorded just nine tackles and 2.5 tackles for loss. After the 2018 season concluded, Anoma announced that he transferred to Houston after being dismissed from the program.

He sat out the 2019 season but got kicked off the team in 2020 for violation of team rules. After that, he transferred to play for Tennessee-Martin. The NCAA made Anoma sit out yet another season before being able to play this season. In 2021, he played in 12 games while recording 36 total tackles, six sacks, and 9.5 tackles for loss. After the season was over, Anoma was named to the OVC All-Newcomer Team.

Now, he will join his fourth team in as many as five years. The Wolverines are looking to replace Aidan Hutchinson. Hutchinson was drafted No. 2 overall in the 2022 NFL draft by the Detroit Lions. It will be interesting to see how the Wolverines’ defensive coaching staff chooses to utilize Anoma. He could present issues against inexperienced offensive lines in the Big Ten.

Roll Tide Wire will continue to follow Anoma’s college career as well as other Alabama football transfers.

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Report: Michigan football to add former five-star as grad transfer

This could be a GAME CHANGER! #GoBlue

If at first you don’t succeed, keep trying until you get your recruit of choice — even if it takes a good five years.

It looks like that could be the case for Michigan football when it comes to a former five-star EDGE prospect in Eyabi Anoma, a player the Wolverines coveted badly, but lost out on to Alabama. Hailing from Michigan feeder school Baltimore (Md.) St. Frances Academy — a school that has given the Wolverines Blake Corum, Nikhai Hill-Green, Derrick Moore, and assistant head coach Biff Poggi, among others — Anoma was a primary focus of the staff’s 2017 satellite camp tour, with the stop at Bowie State in Bowie, Maryland.

Still, Anoma ended up being a white whale missed out on. He committed to Alabama, but transferred out, having ventured to Houston, before being dismissed for violation of team rules and ultimately transferring to Tennessee-Martin in 2020. He entered the NCAA transfer portal yet again on Monday.

Now here’s where things get interesting: On3’s Anthony Broome reports that it appears that Michigan will finally land Anoma — a good five years after the courtship ended.

Anoma is in the Michigan student directory, indicating that this is likely a done deal, and that he has been accepted.

PFF gave Anoma an overall 72.3 grade for the 2021 season, and he had seven sacks for UT-Martin. He played sparingly in his freshman year at Alabama and did not appear for Houston.

As a recruit, Anoma was the No. 3 player in the country, regardless of position, according to 247Sports’ proprietary rankings. If he is in the fold, it will give Michigan football yet another option at pass rusher, as the program looks to replace the production lost by No. 2 overall NFL draft pick Aidan Hutchinson and second-round pick David Ojabo. If he does transfer in, he’ll be the third high-profile incoming transfer, with Olu Oluwatimi coming from Virginia and Cam Goode arriving from UCF.

Stay tuned as more info becomes available.

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