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Michigan Football: 6 Top in-state recruits with heavy Wolverine interest

By Matthew Helmkamp

ANN ARBOR, MI - OCTOBER 11: Fans cheer during a game between the Michigan Wolverines and Penn State Nittany Lions on October 11, 2014 at Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor, Michigan. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
ANN ARBOR, MI - OCTOBER 11: Fans cheer during a game between the Michigan Wolverines and Penn State Nittany Lions on October 11, 2014 at Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor, Michigan. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) /
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(Photo by Brian Blanco/Getty Images) /

Makari Paige

Position: safety

Height: 6-foot-3-inches

Weight: 182 pounds

High School: West Bloomfield

While Markari Paige does play wide receiver, he has concentrated on the defense since the Lakers have an abundance of talent at the wideout spot and were in need for someone to step up at safety, and that’s just what Paige did this season.

What they are saying

Paige is ranked fifth in the state and the 17th ranked safety in the country according to 247sports, who also provided him with a .9207 composite rating. He’s ranked fourth in the state according to Rivals.

West Bloomfield’s head coach Ron Bellamy talked about a play the then-sophomore Paige made in the playoffs two years ago. With the game on the line, Paige made a game-ending interception to defeat Cass Tech.

“We don’t think of that as a career-changing play for him; it was a career-beginning play, the first of many he’s going to make for us,” Bellamy said. “He made that great play as a sophomore — he was on lockdown against one of their better seniors — and he delivered. We always say to our young guys that we don’t care how old you are, be ready for a moment like that.”

Makari was injured early on this season and has still made an impression on college recruiters.

“Makari didn’t become a starter until halfway through last season because he was banged-up. Coach Bellamy stated, “But he started six games at multiple positions, so that’s why he’s so intriguing to college coaches. They see that, and they also see that he’s got good speed.”

Paige also excels in the classroom.

“A lot of people don’t know that he carries a 3.1 grade-point average and he’s a high-character kid,” Bellamy remarked. “He’s one of those kids who doesn’t say much, but he’s very observant. Every decision he makes is very calculated. He’s not caught up in hype. He’s going to be really careful in making a decision.”

Highlights

Makari accounted for 105 tackles during his junior campaign and made the All-State dream team. The season included a 9-3 overall record but they were defeated by Belleville in the regionals.

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