Makari Paige says a current Michigan DB reminds him of former star Daxton Hill

INDIANAPOLIS – The Michigan Wolverines stepped up to the podium on Thursday represented by head coach Sherrone Moore, senior running back Donovan Edwards, senior fullback/tight end Max Bredeson and fifth-year defensive back Makari Paige. Paige is now one of the elder statesmen on the defensive side of the ball, but there were some notable changes this offseason.

After senior Rod Moore went down with a potential season-ending knee injury during spring practices, the Michigan coaching staff augmented the depth on the back end with the additions of safeties Wesley Walker (Tennessee/Louisville) and Jaden Mangham (Michigan State) in addition to cornerbacks Aamir Hall (Albany) and Ricky Johnson III (UNLV).

“[The transfers are] great additions, actually,” Paige said at Big Ten Football Media Days at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indy. “Good individuals as people and great players as well, too. So grateful to have them with us. I knew Jaden Mangham because I played him in high school a couple of times. I knew his brother, too. Having him on our team, it’s a great addition and I’m happy for him.”

Paige will step into a larger role this year with Moore likely to miss the season, but the leadership impact from the injured safety is still tangible. There is not a whole lot of pressure to backfill his production because in many ways, Moore is still setting a ton for the room.

“Rod is a great leader in our defense and a great player, as well,” Paige said. “So I feel like people think it’s a lot of pressure on me to hold that standard. I don’t really feel that pressure. It’s tough going down with an injury like that. I feel bad. But he’s been doing good and having a positive experience, helping out the coaches, helping out being like a leader. He’s still a leader on the team coaching guys up a little bit. So it’s definitely in great spirits, being a great leader as well.”

Of course, the group is led by a new defensive backs coach this year in Lamar Morgan, who spent last season as the defensive coordinator at Louisiana and is a former pupil of last year’s defensive coordinator Jesse Minter. Former DBs coach Steve Clinkscale went to the Los Angeles Chargers with Minter and head coach Jim Harbaugh.

“[Morgan and Clinkscale have] different personalities for sure,” Paige said. “Different people, different backgrounds. Both good great coaches as well. [Morgan] being a defensive coordinator at his old school, he knows a lot of football [and I’ve been] digging at his brain a little bit. He’s somebody you could talk to and learn from and ask questions with.”

Paige speaks on the next wave of Michigan defenders

Entering his fifth and final season at Michigan, Paige will also serve as a mentor to young players that could have bigger roles this season given the depth that was lost from last year’s squad. He doesn’t see the next “Makari Paige,” per say, but does see the next generation of star defensive backs.

“They’re next themselves,” Paige said. “I’ll start with Zeke Berry, he’s going to be really good. Brandyn Hillman. Same thing with him, he’s going to be next Brandyn Hillman, and he’s going to be really good. Jyaire Hill is going to be really good as well. A lot of young guys with a lot of talent.”

Berry’s name has come up in several circles this offseason as the potential successor to Mike Sainristil at nickel for the Wolverines. With that in mind, it felt apt that Paige compared him to the man that Sainristil switched positions to replace ahead of the 2022 season.

“[Berry] is just so, so smooth,” Paige said. “He kind of reminds me of Daxton Hill a little bit with the way he moves and the way he plays. It’s similar to Dax. He’s just so smooth with everything he does and he makes plays.”

There is a major leadership void to fill with Sainristil’s graduation from the Michigan football program. Luckily, it seems his example has rubbed off on a ton of his U-M teammates.

“Mike is a great example of how to play football,” Paige said. “Being a leader, how to be a leader, how to work. I mean, his work ethic is crazy on the field. He could be super tired, but can still give 100% effort. I feel like a lot of us learned that from him last year watching him practice the way [you’re supposed to] practice. It’s had a great example for everybody else.”

Offensively, Paige sees a number of potential standouts for Michigan with plenty of opportunities available for playing time.

“I’m gonna say [wide receiver] Fred Moore is going to have a big season [along with] Tyler Morris and Semaj Morgan. [Others] offensively, Kalel [Mullings], Ben Hall, Donovan [Edwards], obviously.

“Defensively, I feel like you can’t just name one. You’ve got to name them all and there are a lot of them.”

Moore has set a tone to continue Michigan’s championship contention and serves as a steward for the players in his new role as head coach. Paige says it is not hard to buy into the message that is being sent out.

“We have a lot of players,” Paige said. “We have a lot of guys people don’t know about that have a lot of talent. And I feel like our culture is different than any other school as well.  Our culture is different. It kind of breeds success. So I feel like very confident about what he’s been saying.

“It’s not just him doing it [upholding the culture], it’s the players as well. A lot of the leaders on the team uphold it as well. So it’s not just a him thing, it’s an us thing.”