5-star OT Andrew Babalola commits to Michigan: Why it’s a massive win for Wolverines

Vibes around Michigan’s football program were sky-high after the Wolverines beat Washington for the national championship in January.

A lot has changed nine months later.

The Wolverines are 4-3 on the year, sport one of the worst offenses in the country, and are far out of the playoff picture. Ultimately, it is a far cry from the team that went unbeaten in 2023.

A win in some way was needed for the Wolverines, and they got that Monday night in the form of Overland Park (Kan.) Blue Valley Northwest offensive tackle Andrew Babalola. The five-star talent announced his commitment to the Wolverines, choosing the program over Auburn, Missouri, Oklahoma, and Stanford.

The 6-foot-6, 280-pounder is the first five-star pledge in Michigan’s 2025 class. He’s the program’s first five-star pledge since landing Donovan Edwards in 2020.

Babalola ranks as the No. 11 overall player in the 2025 class. He ranks as the No. 2 offensive tackle and No. 1 player out of Kansas.

Even with Michigan’s struggles on the field (on the offensive side in particular), Sherrone Moore’s staff pulled Babalola away from the other schools in contention.

Why choose the Michigan Wolverines?

One point that Moore and the other coaches could have used is the prospect of Babalola anchoring a line in front of highly touted freshman quarterback Jadyn Davis. Davis has yet to play for the Wolverines but was tabbed by man as the program’s quarterback of the future.

Blue Team quarterback Jadyn Davis (2) looks to pass against Maize Team during the second half of the spring game at Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor on Saturday, April 20, 2024.

Regardless of what ultimately drew him to Michigan, the Wolverines now have the anchor of their 2025 class—a group that’s inching its way toward a potential top-10 class.

Currently, the class ranks No. 14 in the country. Babalola is joined…


Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/5-star-ot-andrew-babalola-031245890.html

Author : High School Sports

Publish date : 2024-10-22 03:12:45

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