Makari Paige returning to Michigan for 2024 season
The Michigan Wolverines are getting defensive back Makari Paige back for a fifth season, he announced on social media on Monday night. With the 2024 NFL Draft declaration looming at midnight, the West Bloomfield native elected to run it back one more year in Ann Arbor.
Paige had 41 total tackles this season and two passes defended while playing in a safety rotation that included junior Rod Moore and sophomore Keon Sabb. Moore announced a return to Michigan earlier in the day, giving the Wolverines their starting pair of safeties back for a 2024 campaign that features plenty of familiar faces on defense back with the team.
Paige has appeared in 41 career games at Michigan with 20 starts in the secondary. He is a two-time All-Big Ten selection (honorable mention, coaches, 2023; honorable mention, media, 2022). He was a four-star recruit in the 2020 class and No. 227 player in the country, according to the On3 Industry Ranking. Paige was considered the 20th-ranked safety in the class and the fifth-best player in the state of Michigan.
Paige found a role early on in his Michigan career, suiting up and playing in all six games as a true freshman during the COVID-impacted season in 2020, making six tackles while also working on special teams. The 2021 campaign saw him appear in nine games at safety and special teams, making a pair of tackles to earn his second varsity letter with the Wolverines.
The 2022 season was a breakout campaign for him in Ann Arbor, appearing in 12 contests with five starts on the year. Paige finished his junior year at Michigan with 41 tackles and one sack to go along with three passes defended and his first-career interception. His play earned him an honorable mention All-Big Ten nod from the media.
Paige was working through an injury during the early part of this season and missed the Sept. 9 win over UNLV, but returned the next week against Bowling Green. He was also banged up in the Rose Bowl, but healed up and was able to make an impact in Michigan’s national title win over Washington.
Paige played for Michigan wide receivers coach Ron Bellamy at West Bloomfield High School and was a two-time team captain. Now, he will return to a U-M secondary that includes himself, Moore, Sabb, cornerback Will Johnson and others.
