Eyabi Anoma, Wolverine

Former Alabama, Houston, and UT-Martin defensive end/outside linebacker Eyabi Anoma has enrolled at Michigan.

Anoma was listed at 6’6″ and 270 lbs. as a Jack linebacker on UT-Martin’s roster. He made 36 tackles, 9.5 tackles for loss, 6 sacks, 1 forced fumble, and 3 quarterback hurries in 2021.

2018 RECRUITING RANKINGS
ESPN: 5-star, 94 grade, #1 DE, #3 overall
On3: N/A
Rivals: 5-star, 6.1 grade, #1 WDE, #7 overall
247 Sports: 5-star, 100 grade, #1 WDE, #4 overall

Hit the jump for more.

Michigan recruited Anoma when he came out of high school in 2018, but they backed off at one point, and he signed with Alabama. After one season at Alabama – where he made 9 tackles and 2 TFLs as a freshman – he was removed from the team and transferred to Houston, where he sat out due to transfer rules. He ended up at UT-Martin and spent one season there. Technically, this would be his fifth year of eligibility in 2022, but the COVID situation in 2020 means he could return in 2023 for a final year.

Anoma was a beast of a human when he came out of high school. He was listed in the range of 6’5″ and 235 lbs. as a recruit, but he already looked like a Power 5 college football player. His combination of strength, speed, and relentlessness was impossible for high schoolers to handle. The problem has been his off-the-field issues. His high school head coach, Biff Poggi, is now on staff at Michigan and could help rein him in a little bit.

The truly curious thing about Anoma coming to Michigan is that usually Michigan doesn’t get a ton of transfers or players with character issues. Since Anoma is a graduate transfer, he will be immediately eligible and does not have to jump through the same hoops as an undergrad transfer. But will he fit into the team’s culture?

As for getting on the field, Michigan could possibly use some help at the edge positions. After David Ojabo and Aidan Hutchinson moved on to the NFL, Michigan lost 25 sacks from its total last year. It has been unclear exactly who will step up in those positions in 2022, though some combination of Mike Morris, Taylor Upshaw, and Jaylen Harrell seemed likely. I doubt Anoma will be an immediate starter since he missed out on spring ball and even the beginning of fall camp, but he could be a valuable backup. Or if things don’t go well, he could end up off the team. In general, anything Michigan gets out of Anoma will be a plus since nobody expected him to be on the team up until last night.

Here are Anoma’s senior highlights from the 2017 season:

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