Report: Eyabi Anoma Has Transferred to Michigan
Remember that year Michigan was cleaning house at St. Frances except there was a 5-star edge going to Alabama because that's where they go? Michigan couldn't hold onto Micah Mazzccua or Osman Savage, but Blake Corum, Nikhai Hill-Green, and ultimately Derrick Moore joined the class. Now, apparently, the 5-star edge is joining schoolmaster Biff Poggi in Ann Arbor as well.
Former five-star EDGE recruit Eyabi Anoma has enrolled at Michigan and is in the school's directory.
— Anthony Broome (@anthonytbroome) August 18, 2022
Former Alabama, Houston, UT Martin player entered the transfer portal on Aug. 15. Led UT Martin w/ 9.5 sacks last year.
MORE: https://t.co/IHN5AaoyWv pic.twitter.com/m1pUEHjDbG
A FIVE-STAR?
As in was ranked higher than Peppers.
| Rivals: 6'5/235 | ESPN: 6'6/223 | 247: 6'5/245 | On3 | 247 Comp |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5*, 6.1, #7 Ovr #1 WDE, #1 MD |
5*, 94, #1 East, #3 Ovr #1 DE, #1 MD |
5*, 100, #3 Ovr #1 LB, #1 MD |
didn't exist | 5*, 0.9987, #4 Ovr #1 LB, #1 MD |
| 4.98 | 4.95 | 4.94 | n/a | 4.99 |
A FIFTH-YEAR ELITE EDGE WHAT'S THE CATCH?
Anoma has had a rough career path since. He was kicked off Bama and Houston, in both instances for "violations of team rules." The issues sound like the kind that get you a spot at Last Chance U:
“A new report indicated Anoma did not change his behavior from what led to his dismissal from Alabama. According to Matt Zenitz of AL.com, tardiness, skipping class, clashing with teammates and insubordination led Houston to move on from the talented football player.”
On the other hand, Alabama had him on the academic honor roll before that. Given his association with Poggi, whatever story's there Michigan certainly knows it. Also the one area of Harbaugh's Michigan's program where they have more than earned the benefit of the doubt is academics.
CAN HE PLAY?
Anoma's certainly talented, the #4 player to the Composite in 2018, and #1 WDE. Via PFF he played 90 snaps for Bama in 2018, and though they gave him a grade in the 50s for that, he was named to the all-freshman SEC team. He didn't play for the next two seasons, then popped up at FCS UT Martin, listed at 6'6"/270. It was a productive, though not insane season: 6 sacks, 9.5 TFLs, 3 hurries. He was off the field more than on it, and probably rusty after two years of transfershirting. But if you ignore his rankings in 2018 and just look at his play on the field, Anoma doesn't look like an immediate impact guy. We're not talking about a Mike Danna who was putting up elite rushing numbers, caveat MAC. UT Martin was good, but Anoma wasn't its star.
NO I MEAN IS HE ELIGIBLE TO TRANSFER THIS LATE?
FCS->FBS transfers are under the same rules as intra-FBS transfers, so if he only entered the portal on 8/15 it would seem unlikely. However Rivals Josh Henschke reports he can because grad transfers aren't subject to the portal rules as long as they meet the grad transfer waiver requirement that his grad school offers a course of study not at his previous school.
So ??? This seems to be coming out because sleuths on The Wolverine's board found him enrolled for this fall, IE Michigan hasn't announced anything. There was talk last spring that Michigan was reaching out, said Balas($). Anoma sat out both 2019 (transfer to Houston) and 2020 (transfer to UT Martin) as transfer seasons, so he would be a Jr/5th in eligibility.
DO WE HAVE ROOM?
Nobody's said if he's getting a scholarship, actually. If he is, Michigan was two over the limit after Gabe Newburg hung it up, so now they're back to +3. It's usual to be +2 at this point—the over-signing alarms would be going off if they were +5.
DIDN'T YOU *JUST* PUT A PREVIEW IN PRINT?
Yes, well, things happen don't they. If you've read the Edge preview already, you're probably not too bummed about the prospect of a guy with Anoma's ceiling. Worst case scenario, the book is still on point.
August 18th, 2022 at 9:05 AM ^
Feels like that shouldn't be a surprise though. Upshaw has 3.5 sacks, Harrell has 0, Macgregor has barely played and with the injuries he had it always seemed unlikely he'd live up to his recruit ranking. Even if we get decent play, if it's the weakness on a team that otherwise is playoff caliber, why not roll the dice on some upside if it could be the difference between 10-2 and 12-0?
August 18th, 2022 at 9:29 AM ^
Bringing him in doesn't have to be "necessary." The guy is looking to transfer to a bigger program and has connections to UM. If you think he has potential and you are able to bring him in, why let him go somewhere else?
August 18th, 2022 at 8:03 AM ^
This surprises me. He was dismissed from Bama and Houston for violation of team rules. Michigan doesn't usually roll the dice on those type of guys from a character standpoint. Assuming his relationship with Biff Poggi has something to do with the optimism he can turn it around.
August 18th, 2022 at 8:52 AM ^
al.com reported he got kicked out of Houston for tardiness, skipping classes, insubordination, and fighting with teammates. Source claims the same issues that had him booted from Alabama. Maybe he grew up in the meantime, but that seems like a real risky proposition.
August 18th, 2022 at 9:08 AM ^
that was 3 years ago, after all. A lifetime for a kid that age. And considering we're taking him in with his HS mentor into a strong culture, I get it.
August 18th, 2022 at 10:05 AM ^
Risky?
What’s the risk in bringing him on the team? Looks like a move that has high upside and low risk and that’s a move you make every time. You hope the guy has matured and learned important life lessons, you know he has the raw talent to be a contributor. I assume he will be on a really short leash and he knows it. If he doesn’t pan out, so what?
August 18th, 2022 at 12:14 PM ^
Always risky if one sows discord. I recall Tarik Black doing so... it is never good for the team.
August 18th, 2022 at 3:30 PM ^
What's risky about bringing a guy in with a history of skipping class, not listening to coaches, and fighting teammates? It may work out, but it's a risk. High upside, sure; but still.
August 20th, 2022 at 9:39 PM ^
What’s risky about a bringing in a guy who struggled on the field and academically at Bama so he needed JC to get things straight? That would be Kendall Sheffield, another 5* who struggled at Bama, which precipitated his move to Blinn Junior College. Supposedly a model student and teammate at OSU.
Ayebi has high upside like Sheffield, so it will be interesting to see if he has the other pieces under control.
August 18th, 2022 at 8:56 AM ^
This feels very random, but I guess worst case scenario he's a depth guy. I agree he won't likely be an impact up transfer like Danna but we'll see.
August 18th, 2022 at 9:18 AM ^
22 years old big difference for many men from 19 or 20. Grad transfer has just 1 year of eligibility and kid knows this is his chance seems a good bet and keep a close eye.
August 18th, 2022 at 12:14 PM ^
Oh, I disagree... hes old so is fully formed... if his head is right, he will be starting.
August 18th, 2022 at 9:58 AM ^
Recent tweets from the young man. He's certainly saying the right things.
August 18th, 2022 at 1:03 PM ^
Young man deserves more chances; we’re all human.
August 18th, 2022 at 10:08 AM ^
I hope this turns out fantastic for U of M and for this young man.....
Does this run against the current of our admittance issues with transfers? Or are grad transfers held to a lesser standard? Asking out of curiosity, I don't know.
August 18th, 2022 at 11:12 AM ^
From what I understand, these are two different issues. The transfer problem that UM faces is with undergrad transfers. UM apparently has a rigid set of standards for accepting undergrad transfer credits. So a player wanting to transfer in as a junior may lose enough credits (not recognized as equivalent courses at UM) to significantly delay their graduation and not make it worthwhile.
This isn't an issue for grad transfers. They are not looking to transfer credits since they are just beginning a new grad program. Assuming, of course, that they have the credentials to be admitted into the grad program.
August 18th, 2022 at 11:47 AM ^
Roger that.... I, having not gone to grad school, have no idea.... but I do recall friends being pissed because their under grad degree from a school like Edinboro University, wasn't good enough to get them accepted to grad school at say Duquesne, Robert Morris or Pitt. Maybe it was the specific field they were in being more competitive with limited capacity as well...
I was just curious.
August 18th, 2022 at 10:09 AM ^
Seems like a really intriguing pickup. Tearing it up in FCS means something--much higher level of ball than anything in high school. And obviously he was considered to have the athletic potential to be an FBS star. Could be a major contributor. At worst, it's a sound roll of the dice at a position that could be somewhat weak
August 18th, 2022 at 10:35 AM ^
Just one year of eligibility left? Or does he get the Covid exemption in addition?
August 18th, 2022 at 12:12 PM ^
It is probably moot because will go to NFL.
August 18th, 2022 at 5:58 PM ^
Like your style
August 18th, 2022 at 10:53 AM ^
Sounds like regret he didn't come to Michigan in the first place, especially after seeing us send two edges in the top 15 picks*.
*(if Ojabo didn't get hurt in combine)
Hope he grew up because there are several red flags with him at Bama and then getting kicked off team at UT Martin.
August 18th, 2022 at 11:31 AM ^
In my understanding, he was kicked off the team at Bama and then Houston, which are indeed red flags. Unless there's some info out there I haven't seen, looks like he finished his degree at UT-Martin and is leaving on good terms
August 18th, 2022 at 12:10 PM ^
The more someone is talented the harder it is to boot them, so this can go two ways only. Getting booted once is problematic...a second time? Sheesh.
August 18th, 2022 at 3:39 PM ^
Since he committed to Bama in December of 2017, Michigan has had these DEs get drafted:
-Rashan Gary. 2019. 1st round. 12 overall
-Chase Winovich. 2019. 3rd round. 77 overall.
-Josh Uche. 2020. 2nd round. 60 overall.
-Mike Danna. 2020. 5th round. 177 overall.
-Kwitty Paye. 2021. 1st round. 21 overall.
-Aidan Hutchinson. 2022. 1st round. 2 overall.
-David Ojabo. 2022. 2nd round. 45 overall.
And the 2017 draft, last before he committed, has Charlton go 28 and Wormley go 74. Pretty wild stretch.
August 18th, 2022 at 10:57 AM ^
Emotional maturity often lags behind physical maturity. I am glad we are giving this guy another chance. His grades must have been pretty darn good. Whatever he did at Alabama and Houston is in the rear view mirror now. The nine sacks at Tennessee’s middle brother are nothing to sneeze at. Chances are he’s going to play extra hard if he something to prove. And it sounds as if he has a lot to prove, with the athletic skill set to do so.
August 18th, 2022 at 11:36 AM ^
This is low risk/high upside; a take every time. Can't wait for the Hello Post. Go Blue!
August 18th, 2022 at 1:24 PM ^
Low risk from a football perspective, not so sure he's low risk off the field. But if the coaches are convinced he's more mature now then... ok, let's see what happens.
August 18th, 2022 at 11:58 AM ^
Yeesh, hope those incidents are behind him. The upside is exciting, and I trust Jim when it comes to academics and character. But still a bit worrisome.
August 18th, 2022 at 12:16 PM ^
I agree with the poster who is saying that maybe people are overthinking this. It’s easy to see that the young man has a prior relationship with the coaches including Poggi who I believe is a staffer again. Appeared Elston recruited him at Notre Dame. I applaud the young man for focusing on his academics and not football as it would seem he understood he needs to work on himself. Now he has the opportunity to earn playing time, and showcase his ability for NFL if not this season then next. Or perhaps he gets a graduate degree from Michigan and he has and walks a different type of successful path. Either way I’m rooting for the guy.
August 18th, 2022 at 1:49 PM ^
Even if he doesn't put up big numbers this season I think it is a huge get for next year.
August 18th, 2022 at 2:36 PM ^
Not everyone who goes to last chance U flames out, a lot of them turn things around. I don't think we'd be taking him if he didn't have his shit together. I'm more worried about his ability to contribute than him being a toxic presence. Hope we see big things for our sake and his!
August 19th, 2022 at 10:45 AM ^
While many kids go to Alabama and have great success, it's not easy for someone from Baltimore, especially someone who might not be fully mature, to step on campus in Tuscaloosa, Alabama and fully adapt to a completely different culture, especially while dealing with everything that Saban demands. I'm not sure why he chose Houston as his 2nd stop, but that might not have been the best choice, either. It sounds like by the time he ended up at UTM, that he was getting his act together. Remember, during those 4 years he kept up with his academics to put himself in a position to finish his degree (in 4 years). To me, that showed that he never let the tough times bring him down. Many other kids would not have rebounded from the first, much less second misstep.
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