In a surprising fall camp move, the Michigan football team has added a former five-star recruit to its roster, seemingly out of nowhere.
Just two days after entering the NCAA transfer portal for the third time in his career, former EDGE wide receiver and player Eyabi Anoma is listed at the University of Michigan School of Social Work in michigan directory as an undergraduate student.
While that in itself isn’t a guarantee that Anoma will join the Wolverines’ staff (Michigan has yet to comment on Anoma’s status or list him on its roster), precedent suggests that signing up it is usually the last and most difficult step for a player transferring to Michigan.
Anoma, listed at 6-foot-6 and 270 pounds last season for FCS Tennessee-Martin, was the No. 4 recruit in the 2018 recruiting class. Playing for current Michigan outfield assistant Biff Poggi , Anoma committed to Alabama over Michigan, Florida and a host of others. He played 90 defensive snaps for the Crimson Tide as a true freshman, recording nine tackles, including two for loss. He was named to the SEC All-Freshman team, but left Alabama after one season due to academics alone and transferred to Houston.
Anoma redshirted the 2019 season and then transferred to UT Martin after his sacked by the Cougars for a violation of team rules, such as tardiness, skipping classes, confrontations with peers, and insubordination, according to AL.com.
Anoma missed the 2020 season while sitting out due to NCAA transfer rules. In 2021, Anoma returned to the field and made its presence felt. Anoma was an Ohio Valley Conference and OVC All-Newcomer team selection in 2021 after recording 36 tackles, 9.5 tackles for loss and 6.0 sacks in 12 games. Anoma was on the Bluebloods’ preseason all-conference team.
As for his arrival at Michigan, surely spearheaded in part by his connection to Poggi and accelerated by Michigan’s heavy pursuit as a recruit, Anoma is listed as a graduate student in the Michigan directory, which may help him to achieve immediate eligibility. But entering the transfer portal after the NCAA’s June 1 deadline to ensure immediate eligibility and having already transferred twice in his career is cause for pause.
Michigan’s EDGE room faces the unenviable task of replacing Aidan Hutchinson and David Ojabo in the same season. Players like Mike Morris, Taylor Upshaw, Jaylen Harrell and Braiden McGregor have been mentioned as rotation players for now, while TJ Guy and Derrick Moore are two younger players who have appeared in fall camp.
If Anoma is added to Michigan’s roster, is deemed immediately eligible and can regain some of the talent that made him a top recruit, he could figure in this rotation.
“Anoma brings athleticism and speed to the rim, and as he develops his technique, he has a chance to be a dominant pass-rushing defensive end,” 247Sports national analyst. Brian Dohn wrote in his evaluation of Anoma. “He’s explosive, has the flexibility to drop his shoulder and move around the rim, and accelerates to the ball carrier. He has the speed to chase a play from behind and changes direction well. He needs to develop his technique because can use more than speed, and strength will allow him to disengage faster.
Stay tuned to 247Sports for more on this developing story.
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