| Makari Paige | |
| School: | Michigan Wolverines |
| Currentnumber: | 7 |
| Currentposition: | Defensive back |
| Class: | Senior |
| Birth Date: | 11 January 2002 |
| Heightft: | 6 |
| Heightin: | 4 |
| Weight: | 208 |
| Highschool: | West Bloomfield (MI) |
| Pastschools: |
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| Bowlgames: | |
| Highlights: | |
| Espn: | 4429139 |
Makari Jaimon Paige (born January 11, 2002) is an American football defensive back for the Michigan Wolverines. He has won three consecutive Big Ten Conference titles, and a national championship in 2023.
Paige was born in 2001, in West Bloomfield, Michigan, the son of Glen and Lajuanna Paige. He attended West Bloomfield High School, where he played football under future Michigan assistant coach, Ronald Bellamy. He was also high school teammates with Donovan Edwards and Semaj Morgan.
During his junior and senior seasons, 2018 and 2019, he totaled 198 tackles, intercepted four passes and had eleven pass breakups.[1] [2] As a senior, he was named All-State and to the Detroit Free Press: Dream Team.
Paige was one of the top rated safeties in 2020, rated as a four-star recruit with offers from Michigan, Notre Dame, Ohio State, Penn State, Purdue and Kentucky. On July 30, 2019, Paige committed to in-state school, the University of Michigan. [3] [4]
Paige committed to the University of Michigan in July 2019, and enrolled early in January 2020.[5] [6] [7] As a freshman, during the COVID-shortened 2020 season, he appeared in all six games for Michigan, totaling six tackles on the season. In 2021, as a sophomore he appeared in nine games, contributing on special teams and playing safety on defense in a reserve role.[1] [8]
In 2022, Paige overtook RJ Moten in the middle of his junior season to earn the starting safety position. Paige started five games for the Wolverines, appearing in twelve games on the season and finishing with 41 tackles, one interception and one sack.
Prior to the 2023 season, Paige was rated by Pro Football Focus (PFF) at No. 7 among the returning safeties in college football. PFF also rated him as the second-highest graded defender on the Michigan team.[9]
In 2023, Paige started 13 games for the Wolverines, appearing in 14. He again totaled 41 tackles, including a forced fumble. Paige helped lead Michigan to a third consecutive Big Ten conference title and a national championship.[10] Following the season, Paige announced he would return for a fifth year in 2024. He was named All-Big Ten honorable mention in both 2022 and 2023.
In 2024, Paige was voted as a team captain for his fifth season at Michigan.[11] In week three versus Arkansas State, Paige recorded two tackles and his first interception of the season; the second of his career.[12] In the last week of the season against Ohio State, Paige had three tackles and an interception, leading Michigan to a 13-10 win over their arch-rival. He finished his career 4-0 against the Ohio State Buckeyes.[13]