Portal Out: Eyabi Okie
Well this is an interesting one:
Michigan defensive end Eyabi Anoma is in the transfer portal.
— Tom VanHaaren (@TomVH) January 12, 2023
Anoma, who changed his name to Eyabi Okie, had transferred in to Michigan for one season. Originally a five-star that signed with Alabama, he's now a grad transfer.
Okie was a transfer in from UT-Martin last offseason, previously at Alabama and Houston before arriving at Michigan. The tumultuous career of Okie prior to his arrival at Michigan was well documented at the time and he was considered a major wildcard, especially due to his late arrival to the program in mid-August 2022. Despite that, Okie saw the field as a rotational pass rusher with some regularity and having success- he recorded 18 tackles, 6 TFLs, and 4 sacks this past season for Michigan. With one year of eligibility remaining, many viewed Okie as a breakout candidate for next season, with a full offseason of coaching from the Michigan staff. Instead, his unexpected decision to put his name in the portal means he will be trying to break out elsewhere.
It's hard to know the reasoning behind this, whether it's the departure of his mentor Biff Poggi, who guided Okie to Michigan, or perhaps the acquisition of EDGE Josiah Stewart from the portal out of Coastal Carolina. Whatever it is, Michigan's EDGE depth for 2023 has taken a bit of a hit. There is no content after the jump.
January 12th, 2023 at 5:05 PM ^
It sure feels like teams in the playoff are at a disadvantage with the portal calendar the way it is right now. Seems like all the transactions should happen after EVERYONE's season is finished, but that can't happen because of academic calendars and trying to get on campus in time.
January 13th, 2023 at 12:52 AM ^
Remember when Brady Hoke was our clap happy “not fully aware” coach and Dave “2 Cokes” Brandon was the AD?
Count your blessings.
January 12th, 2023 at 3:49 PM ^
It makes sense given the Edge production of Harrell, McGregor, and Moore returning and the addition of Stewart in the portal. (Also Bennet and guy in the pipeline and Jenkins can play DE)
It doesn't make sense in that bouncing around so much and another down transfer could hurt his stock.
Either way, I wish the young man nothing but the best.
January 12th, 2023 at 4:18 PM ^
I’m not sure I agree that it makes any sense. He was productive if not more productive than all of the guys you listed and physically more talented than all of them. The world was gonna be his oyster next year.
January 12th, 2023 at 3:56 PM ^
Said it before and I'll say it again: I hate the damn portal.
January 12th, 2023 at 4:04 PM ^
Are we better or worse with the portal this year. I would argue we brought in more than we lost and tailored it to what we needed.
January 12th, 2023 at 4:16 PM ^
I mean, he wouldn't have likely wound up at UM anyway (I guess he was a grad transfer so he could have wound up here but that's also assuming he hadn't transferred from Alabama, Houston, and UT Martin beforehand) so UM fans would have probably never even known him had the portal not existed.
January 12th, 2023 at 3:57 PM ^
Do we know the percentage of players that enter the portal and end up staying at their original school?
I doubt it would happen in this case, but <fingers crossed>.
January 12th, 2023 at 5:08 PM ^
< 10%.
January 12th, 2023 at 4:03 PM ^
Somewhat of an ooof. But when you get a guy who is on his fourth school, it makes sense.
January 12th, 2023 at 4:09 PM ^
In 2033 someone is going to say, "who was that guy who showed up halfway through fall practice, changed his name, had a couple of sacks, and then left by January?"
January 12th, 2023 at 4:12 PM ^
Underrated post.
January 12th, 2023 at 6:00 PM ^
That might happen in 2023 too
January 12th, 2023 at 4:39 PM ^
This might not be that bad? We already have a good floor at the position and I think we could see breakout years from Braiden McGregor and Derrick Moore. Obviously you’d want the depth and the potential upside, but if this means more snaps for Derrick Moore I’m all for it.
January 12th, 2023 at 5:03 PM ^
Time to start tampering. It's apparently legal now (or at least ignored).
Just make a shopping list of all the guys we want from any team, and then go after them by any means necessary. Don't be shy. Nobody else is.
January 12th, 2023 at 5:20 PM ^
Wtf dude lmao
January 12th, 2023 at 5:37 PM ^
All right, Alex, or someone, talk me down from this ledge, because I’m starting to get really worried about the defense being large step down next year: can the young guys improve enough plus the transfer pan out enough on the line from end to end (or I guess that’s edge to edge these days), does someone, anyone rise up or can they still find someone to play opposite Will, and if it’s Sainristil, who do they put in safety with Paige (who if I’m remembering rightly is only one with significant field time last year returning)? Does one transfer from a bad Nebraska team plus Colson continue improve, plus Barret staying for 70th year eligibility, keep the LB going from weak to weaker spot? Does Minter stay and show out like games 1 to 13 more than 14? Like I say, someone talk me off this ledge! (Or maybe the plan will have to be to score a gazillion and hold opponent to half a gazillion—but that would only get me started on: please stay rest of O line, pan major out new Stanford Center, and someone find me another catchy-blocky to go with Loveland and, say, a pair of receivers…)
January 12th, 2023 at 6:11 PM ^
Calm way down. We only lose 4.5 starters on D, plus some rotation. We return 2.5 starting DL, 1.5 starting CBs, 2 starting LBs (if you count NHG), and all safeties. We rotated DL heavily and are super deep there.
Are there holes to fill? Yes. Should we trust our roster and development? Yes. Is Minter better than the TCU game indicates? Yes.
January 12th, 2023 at 5:40 PM ^
It would be fascinating to know what actually went down here.
January 12th, 2023 at 8:10 PM ^
Okie dokie
January 12th, 2023 at 8:45 PM ^
On to his fifth school. This is all so weird.
January 13th, 2023 at 2:21 AM ^
LOOOLLL
January 13th, 2023 at 2:26 AM ^
He wanted to move closer to his girlfriend....
/drink
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