 Paige with Michigan versus Maryland in 2021 | |
| Michigan Wolverines–No. 7 | |
|---|---|
| Position | Defensive back |
| Class | Senior |
| Personal information | |
| Born: | January 11, 2002 |
| Height | 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) |
| Weight | 208 lb (94 kg) |
| Career history | |
| College |
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| Bowl games | |
| High school | West Bloomfield (MI) |
| Career highlights and awards | |
| |
Makari Jaimon Paige (born January 11, 2002) is an American football defensive back for the Michigan Wolverines. He has won three consecutive Big Ten Conference titles, and a national championship in 2023.
Paige was born in 2001, in West Bloomfield, Michigan. He is the son of Glen and Lajuanna Paige. 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.
During his junior and senior seasons, 2018 and 2019, he totaled 198 tackles, intercepted four passes, and had eleven pass breakups. [1] [2] As a senior, he was named All-State and to the Detroit Free Press: Dream Team.
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 home state school, the University of Michigan. [3] [4]
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 6 tackles on the season. In 2021, as a sophomore, he appeared in 9 games on special teams and safety. [1] [8]
In 2022, Paige overtook RJ Moten mid-season to earn the starting safety position. Paige started 5 games, appearing in 12 games. Paige finished the season with 41 tackles, 1 interception and 1 sack.
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]
During the 2023 season, Paige started 13 games for the Wolverines, appearing in 14. Paige again totaled 41 tackles, including a forced fumble. Paige helped lead Michigan to three consecutive Big Ten conference titles, and a national championship. [10]
Following the season, Paige announced he would return for a fifth year in 2024. He was named All-Big Ten honorable mention in both 2022 and 2023.
West Bloomfield High School is a public high school in West Bloomfield, Michigan. The school is the only public high school in the West Bloomfield School District. The School Enrollment for the 2010-2011 school year is about 1900. West Bloomfield High School was previously located in the Abbott Middle School building, which opened on January 31, 1955 with an enrollment of 406. From fall 1968 through spring 1971, the school was temporarily located at the site of the current West Bloomfield Middle School. The current building was built in 1971. West Bloomfield High School has begun to offer the Advanced Placement International Diploma to the classes of 2011 and beyond. In addition, it established additional Advanced Placement courses starting the 2010-2011 school year.
The 1978 Michigan Wolverines football team was an American football team that represented the University of Michigan in the 1978 Big Ten Conference football season. In their 10th season under head coach Bo Schembechler, the Wolverines compiled a 10–2 record, tied for the Big Ten championship, outscored opponents by a total of 372 to 105, and were ranked No. 5 in the final AP and UPI polls. The defense allowed only 94.6 passing yards per game and ranked second in the country in scoring defense, allowing an average of only 8.75 points per game.
The 1977 Michigan Wolverines football team was an American football team that represented the University of Michigan in the 1977 Big Ten Conference football season. In its ninth year under head coach Bo Schembechler, the team compiled a 10–2 record, tied with Ohio State for the Big Ten Conference championship, and outscored opponents by a total of 353 to 124. The Wolverines were ranked No. 1 in the AP Poll midway through the season but were upset by the unranked Minnesota Golden Gophers. In the final game of the regular season, Michigan beat No. 4 Ohio State but lost to No. 13 Washington in the 1978 Rose Bowl. In the final AP and UPI polls, Michigan was ranked No. 9 and No. 8, respectively.
The 1966 Michigan Wolverines football team represented the University of Michigan in the 1966 Big Ten Conference football season. In its eighth year under head coach Bump Elliott, Michigan compiled a 6–4 record, tied for third place in the Big Ten, and outscored opponents by a combined total of 236 to 138.
The 1937 Michigan Wolverines football team was an American football team that represented the University of Michigan in the 1937 Big Ten Conference football season. In their ninth season under head coach Harry Kipke, the Wolverines compiled a 4–4 record and tied for fourth place in the Big Ten. Kipke was fired after the season, having compiled a 46–26–4 record in nine years as Michigan's head coach.
Jabrill Ahmad Peppers is an American football safety for the New England Patriots of the National Football League (NFL). He was a two-time college football All-American for the Michigan Wolverines, earning unanimous All-American honors in 2016, as well as being named the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year, Linebacker of the Year and Return Specialist of the Year. Peppers was selected in the first round by the Cleveland Browns in the 2017 NFL draft. He has also played for the New York Giants.
Devin Marquese Bush Jr. is an American football linebacker for the Cleveland Browns of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Michigan Wolverines, twice earning All-American honors.
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Donovan Edwards is an American football running back for the Michigan Wolverines. Edwards has won three consecutive Big Ten Conference titles and a national championship in 2023.
Daxton Jor-El Hill is an American football cornerback for the Cincinnati Bengals of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at the University of Michigan, where he was named an All-Big Ten selection. He was drafted by the Bengals in the first round of the 2022 NFL Draft.
Carlo Kemp is a former American football linebacker. He played professionally for the Pittsburgh Maulers of the United States Football League (USFL). He played college football at Michigan.
William Johnson is an American football cornerback for the Michigan Wolverines. He was an All-American as a sophomore, leading Michigan’s defense to a national championship in 2023.
Mason Graham is an American football defensive tackle for the Michigan Wolverines. He was an All-American as a sophomore, leading Michigan's defense to a national championship in 2023.
Roderick Moore Jr. is an American football defensive back for the Michigan Wolverines. He was an All-Big Ten selection, winning three consecutive Big Ten Conference titles and a national championship in 2023.
Kristopher Rudy-Charles Jenkins Jr. is an American football defensive tackle for the Cincinnati Bengals of the National Football League (NFL). He was an All-American for the Michigan Wolverines, winning three consecutive Big Ten Conference titles, and a national championship in 2023. Jenkins was selected by the Bengals in the second round of the 2024 NFL draft. He is the son of former NFL player Kris Jenkins.
Braiden McGregor is an American football defensive end for the New York Jets of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Michigan Wolverines, winning three consecutive Big Ten Conference titles and a national championship in 2023.
Semaj J. Morgan is an American football wide receiver for the Michigan Wolverines. As a true freshman, Morgan helped Michigan win a national championship in 2023.
Michael Barrett is an American football linebacker for the Carolina Panthers of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Michigan Wolverines, winning three consecutive Big Ten Conference titles and a national championship in 2023. Barrett was twice named All-Big Ten. He was selected by the Panthers in the 2024 NFL draft.
Keon Sabb is an American football safety for the Alabama Crimson Tide. He previously played for the Michigan Wolverines, winning a national championship in 2023.
Quinten Johnson is an American football safety for the Michigan Wolverines. He has won three consecutive Big Ten Conference titles and a national championship in 2023.
