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Michigan star edge rusher, Eyabi Okie, enters transfer portal

The Wolverines’ star edge rusher unexpectedly entered the portal amidst many rumors surrounding the Michigan football program.

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Dec 31, 2022; Glendale, Arizona, USA; Michigan Wolverines edge Eyabi Okie (18) against the TCU Horned Frogs during the 2022 Fiesta Bowl at State Farm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

Thursday afternoon, amidst a flurry of rumors surrounding the Michigan football program’s future with Warde Manual (AD) and Jim Harbaugh (head coach), the Wolverines lost another star from its 2022 roster. This time, U-M is losing edge-rusher Eyabi Okie, who had just transferred to Michigan for the 2022 season.

Why is Eyabi Okie leaving?

At first glance, Okie’s departure may seem like a direct result of the rumors surrounding Jim Harbaugh’s desire to leave the program. While this could be the case, it is likely not related to the Jim Harbaugh or Warde Manuel rumors. When discussing Eyabi Okie’s future with Michigan, there are two important factors to keep in mind.

  1. Eyabi Okie is now a grad student, and in 2023, will see action with his fourth college football team. It is not as if Okie has not transferred before — the graduate student initially committed to Alabama and then transferred to UT-Martin before committing to Michigan ahead of the 2022 season.
  2. Biff Poggi, a former Michigan assistant, is heading to Charlotte to take its head coaching job. Poggi played a large role in Eyabi Okie’s commitment to Michigan football in the first place, and Poggie’s departure could have been a deciding factor.

In Okie’s only season in Ann Arbor, he compiled seven tackles and four sacks along Michigan’s tough defensive line.

Where does Michigan football go from here?

First off, this is a huge blow to Michigan’s defense heading into 2023. Assuming the Wolverines can keep their coaching staff together (and no more major players hit the portal), U-M should be gearing up for another monster season in 2023 and could win its third-straight Big Ten Championship. Additionally, we could finally see the Wolverines break their 2.5-decade-long National Championship drought.

That being said, Okie’s departure leaves the defense in a weird spot. With Morris and Okie both headed out the door, Michigan football will likely need to hit the transfer portal to find some more depth at defensive end. If Michigan can get the Harbaugh situation under control, I am sure that there will be no lack of talent lining up to play for the Wolverines next season.

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Michigan football beats Ohio State, lands commitment from No. 2 player in Ohio

The Wolverines swooped in and stole one of the biggest names in the Buckeye state!

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Major Ohio recruit picks Michigan football
© Junfu Han / USA TODAY NETWORK

ANN ARBOR, MI — On Tuesday evening, the Michigan Wolverines landed a massive commitment for a major Ohio recruit. Michigan football received word that Jordan Marshall, a four-star running back from Archbishop Moeller High School in Cincinnati, OH, has picked the Wolverines over the Ohio State Buckeyes.

Michigan football lands huge commitment from a major Ohio recruit

According to the On3 rankings, Jordan Marshall is a four-star running back recruit from Cincinnati — he stands at 5-11 and weighs in at 190-pounds. He is ranked as the No. 79 player in the 2024 recruiting class, the No. 6 running back in the country, and the No. 2 player in the state of Ohio. Additionally, the major Ohio recruit was being heavily pursued by Ohio State, though opted to head to Ann Arbor instead. The Michigan football team also beat other major programs like Ohio State, Tennessee, Wisconsin, Penn State, and much more.

This elite running back is a massive addition to the 2024 Michigan football recruiting class, and he could be the next great major Ohio recruit to down the Buckeyes in the Maize and Blue.

Why did Marshall choose the Wolverines?

Here is what the four-star major Ohio recruit told On3 when asked why he committed to Michigan football:

“Family was the biggest thing for me. Being with coach Hart’s family and meeting them really meant a lot for me. See how much his family means to him and him knowing what family means to me. Also just the community and culture there. It feels like home every time I step into that building and it’s a freaking amazing place. They have one of the best institutions in the world and I take pride in that and know I have to have a plan after football. I think Michigan gives me the best opportunity. Last one they WIN. I’m trying to play for national championships. Not just Big 10 champs. But world champions.”

“It’s amazing. Me and coach Hart are like the same person and I really appreciate that. I am also super close to Coach Clink. We have grown a relationship just with life and I feel comfortable talking to him about anything . They plan to use me in every way they can in the back field . Passing, running, and blocking and whatever else I can do to help my team win.”

“It’s going to be crazy. Some of my friends are big OState fans, so is my papa. But he is going to start rooting for Michigan. I’m excited to play those guys. Just know after Blake and Donovan leave, just know that we are coming back to run that ball!”



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Jadyn Davis’s father breaks down their latest visit to Ann Arbor

Jadyn Davis loved his latest trip to Ann Arbor, which could be a deciding factor in his recruitment.

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Jadyn Davis Michigan football
© Junfu Han / USA TODAY NETWORK

ANN ARBOR, MI — Over the weekend, the top 2024 recruiting target for the Michigan Wolverines was in Ann Arbor for yet another visit. While Jadyn Davis has visited with the Wolverines many times in the past, his latest trip was even more important for a few reasons — namely, it was his first time meeting the new Michigan football quarterbacks coach Kirk Campbell. Campbell, who was recently hired following the dismissal of former co-offensive coordinator and QB coach Matt Weiss, clearly made a good first impression with the five-star quarterback.

Jadyn Davis is the top target for the Wolverines

‘Desperate’ would not be the correct word to describe Michigan football when it comes to the recruitment of Jadyn Davis; however, landing him is on the top of the Wolverines’ to-do list without a shadow of a doubt. Assuming current starting QB JJ McCarthy leaves the program after the 2023 (or even 2024) season, the Michigan football team will need a new, equally talented man under center to keep the Wolverines competitive.

For those around the program, the belief is that McCarthy’s successor will be the five-star North Carolina prospect Jadyn Davis, though until a commitment is secured, all of the predictions mean next to nothing.

Michigan football makes a good impression on the Davis family

After his latest (and arguably most important) visit with Michigan football, Jadyn Davis’s father broke down how it went and what he liked.

“I guess the main thing [this time] is that we got to spend a lot of time with Kirk Campbell,” Mr. Davis said. “That was three quarters of the visit. We got to sit in the quarterback room with all those [quarterbacks] and hear how he teaches the position, the progressions, and actually watch him go to work. It was pretty engaging. It’s a good room. A good room with a good teacher. Very impressed with coach Campbell.”

That was not all, though — he was impressed with much more than just the Xs and Os.

He’s very, very relationship-oriented,” Mr. Davis said. “He’s a family guy. I can see myself in him at times when I’m talking to him. He’s going to bring the guys together, treat them like they’re family, coach them hard, but at the same time acknowledge when they do stuff right. So he’s a standup guy, in my opinion.”

When will Jadyn Davis commit? No one is sure, and his father was (understandably) as vague as he could be. “Yeah, we talked about it,” Mr. Davis added. “A timeline was discussed, and we’ll see what happens.”



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Michigan receives crystal balls for two elite offensive linemen

The Wolverines are expected to land two elite offensive tackles from Texas.

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Michigan football crystal balls
Dec 31, 2022; Glendale, Arizona, USA; Michigan Wolverines offensive lineman Trevor Keegan (77) blocks for quarterback J.J. McCarthy (9) against the TCU Horned Frogs during the 2022 Fiesta Bowl at State Farm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

ANN ARBOR, MI — On Monday, following a massive recruiting weekend for the Michigan Wolverines, Jim Harbaugh and his staff received some more good news on the 2024 recruiting trail. Two new crystal balls were placed for the Michigan football program — both are for elite 2024 offensive linemen that could end up developing into the next generation of Joe Moore Award-winning linemen in the Maize and Blue.

Michigan football receives new crystal balls for two elite 2024 linemen

On Monday afternoon, the Michigan football team received many crystal balls for two separate four-star offensive tackles. The first of the crystal balls was placed at 4:12 PM by Steve Lorenz of The Michigan Insider for 2024 four-star Max Anderson, an offensive tackle out of Reedy High School. Anderson is a native of Frisco, TX, and is ranked as the No. 186 player in the 2024 class, the No. 10 offensive tackle in his class, and the No. 31 player in the state of Texas.

The crystal ball has a confidence level of five; however, Lorenz is 100% accurate for his 2024 predictions thus far.

The second elite prospect that Michigan football is expected to land is four-star Texas lineman Blake Frazier. Frazier is a massive offensive line recruit out of The Woodlands High School, and is the son of a former Michigan football national champion (Steve Frazier). Frazier did not just receive one crystal ball, he earned four crystal balls within 24 hours from Sunday to Monday, including many Michigan insiders and 247 director of recruiting Steve Wiltfong.

Frazier is a major tackle prospect for the Wolverines — he is rated as a composite four-star recruit and is ranked as the No. 213 player in the 2024 class, the No. 13 offensive tackle in the nation, and the No. 36 player in the state of Texas.

Both Frazier and Anderson could be massive pickups for the Michigan football program as the Wolverines look to stay elite while playing their own style of football. If Jim Harbaugh wants to keep winning Big Ten titles in Ann Arbor, he will need to maintain a steady flow of elite offensive line recruits coming through the door to propel his offense.



Thank you for reading Blue by Ninety. For more Michigan Athletics content from Blue by Ninety, follow us on TwitterFacebook, and Instagram. You can also subscribe to our YouTube Channel. For feedback, questions, concerns, or to apply for a writing position, please email our Managing Editor at Cj@BluebyNinety.com. Also, be sure to check out our shop and our podcast, which is available on Apple PodcastsSpotify, and all other steaming platforms. It is because of your support that we have become one of the fastest and most influential Michigan media outlets there is!

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