Less than a week separates the Michigan Wolverines and Alabama Crimson Tide for their Rose Bowl battle. The coaching staff is fresh off a recruiting victory, having signed all 27 committed players last Wednesday, while the players get ready to win on the field.
A number of the signees have risen to prominence recently and have very high ceilings. Nevertheless, one of the latter commits might become well-known early in his career.

After the Smith brothers’ decommitment, the coaching staff went full steam ahead in the recruiting process. Late in the cycle, they needed to fill a few holes and were searching for a diamond in the rough. Thanks to four-star edge Lugard Edokpayi, the Wolverines have discovered what they were searching for.

Edokpayi had an outstanding senior season, which caused a stir in the recruiting world. The Wolverines only made an offer to him last month, indicating that they were a late recruit. Even if his interest in the Wolverines was delayed, he was aware of their potential.

Lugard Edokpayi appears to be the next in line for Michigan, a team that has built its reputation on acquiring and developing defensive talents with a lot of upside. The Maryland native, who stands over 6-foot-6 and weighs about 220 pounds with plus length, has a large physique that should really fill out with time spent in Michigan’s strength programme.

Drawing on his basketball experience, he’s a snappy athlete off the edge. After coming into the autumn as a relative unknown, Edokpayi made a big splash as a senior. It seems like he is only beginning to realise the enormous potential he possesses, given his quick rise and impressive play this autumn. Given Michigan’s history of producing players with similar potential, I’m prepared to wager that Edokpayi helps the Wolverines win games.