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WEST BLOOMFIELD, Mich. — Michigan had a heck of a recruiting haul in 2020 at safety.
With players like four-stars Jordan Morant and RJ Moten coming in, sometimes it’s hard to remember that West Bloomfield (MI) four-star Makari Paige also made his way into the class, considering that his recruitment was quiet, and he made a later decision than the others.
But Paige is already intent on making an impact.
As an early-enrollee, he’s already taking part of winter conditioning. He’s helping recruit Donovan Edwards, his former teammate that’s getting national attention from the powers that be. And he’s certainly a candidate to be an instant impact freshman.
Part of that is the seriousness that Paige brings to the table, both on the playing field and in the classroom. While he is a safety, he isn’t one to be pigeon-holed into one particular position.
His former head coach Ron Bellamy, the former Michigan receiver and headman at West Bloomfield, shared with WolverinesWire why he’s sure that Paige will be a fan favorite for years to come.
“He’s a versatile player,” Bellamy said. “He’s gonna start out at possibly the free safety spot. He could play the rover, which is strong safety, he could play outside backer, which is the VIPER. So you’re looking at a kid that can move three different spots. High football IQ, high character kid, loves football. Really good student. He’s a diligent student in the classroom.
“In the sense of a football standpoint, he’s gonna know his assignments and compete day one for a job.”
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Given that he’s on campus before Morant and Moten, Paige has something of a leg-up, as he’s already getting acclimated to the strength and conditioning component, the classroom and the playbook.
As a recruit, Paige was listed as the 225th-best player in the 2020 class, regardless of position, according to 247Sports. With the departure of both Josh Metellus and Khaleke Hudson at their respective positions, Paige does have a unique opportunity to make a name for himself and see the field in a pivotal position in year one.