2021 Season Countdown: #30 Makari Paige

2021 Season Countdown: #30 Makari Paige


August 8, 2021
Makari Paige (image via Victory Bell Rings)

Name: Makari Paige
Height:
6’3″
Weight:
192 lbs.
High school:
West Bloomfield (MI) West Bloomfield
Position:
Safety
Class:
Sophomore
Jersey number:
#7
Last year:
I ranked Paige #63 and said he would be a backup safety (LINK). He made 6 tackles.
TTB Rating:
79

It’s not usually a good thing when the third best safety in the program is a true freshman, because safety is a notoriously difficult position to learn so quickly. And yet in 2020, that was exactly where Michigan found itself. Paige was a well regarded recruit but not a superstar high school player, and with no spring ball during a COVID year, he was apparently the best guy available to back up Brad Hawkins and Daxton Hill at safety. He performed adequately for a freshman, but he was still slow to read things and lacked something when supporting the run.

Paige looks to be the third best guy again, but now he has six games and an entire off-season under his belt. He also now plays for his former high school coach, Ron Bellamy, the new assistant at the position. (It’s also worth noting that last year’s safeties coach, Bob Shoop, was not with the team for the entire season and fill-in Aashon Larkins was not nearly as accomplished.) So there should be an improvement here, and Michigan needs to groom replacements for Hawkins and Hill, both of whom are likely to be gone to the NFL in 2022.

Prediction: Backup safety, special teamer

You must belogged in to post a comment.