Keon Sabb, Wolverine

Keon Sabb, Wolverine


December 16, 2021
Keon Sabb (image via Twitter)

Bradenton (FL) IMG Academy safety Keon Sabb committed to Michigan. Sabb recently decommitted from Clemson and also had offers from Alabama, Florida, Georgia, LSU, and Ohio State, among others.

Sabb is listed at 6’2″ and 200 lbs. He claims a 4.47 forty and a 10.8 in the 100 meters.

RANKINGS
ESPN: 4-star, 83 grade, #8 S, #143 overall
On3: 4-star, 94 grade, #8 S, #102 overall
Rivals: 4-star, 5.9 grade, #8 S, #99 overall
247 Sports: 4-star, 94 grade, #10 S, #71 overall

Hit the jump for more on Sabb’s commitment.

A New Jersey native, Sabb was a long-time commitment to Clemson. He ended up transferring to IMG Academy as a senior, where Michigan did not seem to have a huge presence in the 2022 cycle. It seemed like pursuit had dropped off on Michigan’s end, but with Michigan’s outstanding 2021 season, Sabb decided to take an official visit to Ann Arbor for The Game against Ohio State while still committed to Clemson. Clemson has a no-visit policy, but they still kept on him. Defensive coordinator Brent Venables departed to take the Oklahoma head coaching job, and Sabb decommitted. At that point the writing seemed to be on the wall that he would sign with Michigan.

Sabb’s film is a little bit difficult to get a grip on because he does not have a highlight video for a full season; it’s all 16- to 25-second clips from individual games. IMG Academy plays some of the better programs from around the country, so he plays against good competition. He plays anywhere from deep safety to an outside linebacker type spot coming off the edge. He has good straight-line speed and shows the ability to break on short throws, and I think he will be a solid tackler.

My biggest questions about Sabb come with how his body and skills will develop. His frame is a little thick for a safety, and I don’t necessarily see the hips for him to roam center field or play man coverage on quick slot guys at the next level.

Overall, I think Sabb is a very good player and I expect Michigan’s coaching staff to use him properly. I used to have issues with what Michigan was doing with its personnel and scheme during the Rich Rodriguez years and a bit into the Brady Hoke era, but since Harbaugh was hired in 2015, his staffs have put guys in the right places. To me Sabb looks like a solid replacement for what Brad Hawkins did in Michigan’s defense. He can play in the box, play over a tight end, take a running back out of the backfield, and man cover a little bit.

Sabb is at least the sixth defensive back in Michigan’s class, joining cornerback Will Johnson, cornerback Myles Pollard, safety Kody Jones, safety Damani Dent, and safety Zeke Berry; Amorion Walker could be a seventh, though I doubt it.

TTB Rating: 84

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