INSIDE THE FORT: Michigan football, NIL, recruiting intel, more
TheWolverine.com’s Chris Balas and Clayton Sayfie bring you the latest edition of Inside The Fort, which includes plenty of inside information regarding Michigan Wolverines football.
We begin discussing some Michigan players who are emerging and now on the NFL radar, and what we’re hearing on where guys are leaning. Name, Image and Likeness (NIL) ties in directly with that, and we have some intel on that front as well.
Then, we dive into what we’re hearing on injured Michigan football players — who could return this weekend, who may be out long term and more — and some intel on the Nittany Lions and their health ahead of this weekend’s showdown in Happy Valley.
CLICK HERE for the full Inside The Fort or view an excerpt below.
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Inside The Fort Excerpt
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Starting with the question many have been asking us over the last few weeks — will redshirt freshman David Ojabo be going pro now that his stock is going through the roof as one of top young pass rushers in the game?
ESPN’s Mel Kiper and others have the edge rusher going in the first round, some even in the top 10. While that seems like a stretch, agents are trying to tell Ojabo’s people it’s time to strike while the iron’s hot and forego his remaining eligibility.
“They’ve come out of the woodwork,” a source close to Ojabo said. “They’re relentless.”
Ojabo feels like he’s got more to learn, and he likes it at Michigan. He’s still not an every-down player at U-M, more a pass rush specialist, and understands he still has more to accomplish.
Perhaps the biggest factor working in the Michigan Wolverines’ favor, according to those close to the program, is his relationship with Kwity Paye. Paye was getting attention but stuck it out another year despite having every financial reason to leave. It was well-documented that Paye wanted to get to the league to support his mother (she retired after the Indianapolis Colts drafted her son), but he wanted to get his degree, and did.
Paye is Ojabo’s mentor, essentially. He’ll give his honest assessment, and that should play to the Wolverines’ advantage.
We’ll see how he finishes, of course. If he dominates down the stretch, he might not have much choice but to leave.
As for some of the other Michigan players who might be on the fence …
