Makari Paige

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Makari Paige
Makari Paige (51696696320) (cropped).jpg
Paige with the Michigan Wolverines in 2021
Michigan Wolverines–No. 7
Position Defensive back
ClassSenior
Personal information
Born: (2002-01-11) January 11, 2002 (age 23)
Height6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)
Weight208 lb (94 kg)
Career history
College
Bowl games
High school West Bloomfield (MI)
Career highlights and awards

Makari Jaimon Paige (born January 11, 2002) is an American football defensive back. He played college football for the Michigan Wolverines, winning three consecutive Big Ten Conference titles and a national championship in 2023.

Contents

Early life

Paige was born in 2001, in West Bloomfield, Michigan, the son of Glen and Lajuanna Paige. [1] He attended West Bloomfield High School, where he played football under future Michigan assistant coach, Ronald Bellamy. He was also high school teammates with Donovan Edwards and Semaj Morgan. [1]

During his junior and senior seasons, 2018 and 2019, he totaled 198 tackles, intercepted four passes and had eleven pass breakups. [2] As a senior, he was named All-State and to the Detroit Free Press: Dream Team. [1]

Paige was one of the top rated safeties in 2020, rated as a four-star recruit with offers from Michigan, Notre Dame, Ohio State, Penn State, Purdue and Kentucky. On July 30, 2019, Paige committed to in-state school, the University of Michigan. [3] [4]

College career

Freshman, sophomore and junior seasons (2020-2022)

Paige (No. 7) in the 45-23 victory versus Ohio State in 2022 2022 UM vs OSU 0136.jpg
Paige (No. 7) in the 45–23 victory versus Ohio State in 2022

Paige committed to the University of Michigan in July 2019, and enrolled early in January 2020. [5] [6] [7] As a freshman, during the COVID-shortened 2020 season, he appeared in all six games for Michigan, totaling six tackles on the season. In 2021, as a sophomore he appeared in nine games, contributing on special teams and playing safety on defense in a reserve role. [1] [8]

In 2022, Paige overtook RJ Moten in the middle of his junior season to earn the starting safety position. Paige started five games for the Wolverines, appearing in twelve games on the season and finishing with 41 tackles, one interception and one sack. [1]

Senior season(s) (2023-2024)

Prior to the 2023 season, Paige was rated by Pro Football Focus (PFF) at No. 7 among the returning safeties in college football. PFF also rated him as the second-highest graded defender on the Michigan team. [9]

In 2023, Paige started 13 games for the Wolverines, appearing in 14. He again totaled 41 tackles, including a forced fumble. Paige helped lead Michigan to a third consecutive Big Ten conference title and a national championship. [1] Following the season, Paige announced he would return for a fifth year in 2024. He was named All-Big Ten honorable mention in 2022 and 2023. [1]

In 2024, Paige was voted as a team captain for his fifth season at Michigan. [10] In week three versus Arkansas State, Paige recorded two tackles and his first interception of the season; the second of his career. [11] In the last week of the season against Ohio State, Paige had three tackles and an interception, leading Michigan to a 13-10 win over their arch-rival. He finished his career 4-0 against the Ohio State Buckeyes. [12] He ended the season with 45 tackles and two interceptions. [1]

Paige opted out of his final bowl game. In his five years at the University of Michigan, Paige won 49 games with the Wolverines, three Big Ten championships, started 30 times in the secondary, and was a national champion. [1] In total, Paige amassed 135 tackles, three interceptions, one sack and one fumble recovery. [13]

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References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 "Makari Paige". University of Michigan Athletics. Retrieved September 12, 2023.
  2. ↑ "Four-star Paige on radar for U-m, Big Ten schools: Ball-hawking safety has received 13 offers". Detroit Free Press. September 2, 2018. p. C3 – via Newspapers.com.
  3. ↑ "OSU, UM among football recruit's top schools". The Lima News. July 13, 2019. p. 5C – via Newspapers.com.
  4. ↑ "Makari Paige Commits to Michigan". 247Sports.
  5. ↑ Allen Trieu (July 30, 2019). "Similar defense draws versatile Makari Paige to Michigan". The Detroit News.
  6. ↑ Brandon Brown (August 3, 2020). "Freshmen Faces: Makari Paige". SI.com.
  7. ↑ Orion Sang (July 31, 2019). "West Bloomfield star Makari Paige commits to U-M". Detroit Free Press. p. B11 – via Newspapers.com.
  8. ↑ "Michigan DB Makari Paige is (finally) figuring it out". Mlive.com . September 16, 2022.
  9. ↑ Matt Hartwell (May 19, 2023). "PFF names Rod Moore, Makari Paige among highest graded returning safeties". SB Nation: Maize N Brew.
  10. ↑ "Michigan football's 4 captains for 2024 aim to follow blueprint for success". Mlive.
  11. ↑ "Michigan v. Arkansas State (2024)". ESPN.
  12. ↑ "Michigan v. Ohio State (2024)". ESPN.
  13. ↑ "Makari Paige". Sports Reference (CFB).
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