The Evolution of Eyabi
Eyabi Okie(formerly Eyabi Anoma) played high school ball at St. Francis Academy, the same high school that star Michigan running back Blake Corum attended. He recorded a staggering 24 sacks his Junior year at St. Francis. Coming out of high school in 2018 he was ranked by 247Sports as the 3rd overall prospect in the nation, behind only quarterbacks Trevor Lawrence and Justin fields(both currently starting in the NFL). The future was bright for the young defensive standout, and he made the choice that many top prospects in his position make. He chose to commit to Nick Saban and the Alabama Crimson Tide.
Upon arriving on campus in Tuscolusa, expectations were high. Being the top recruit for the winningest college football program of the last few decades carries weight. He struggled in limited action his freshman season, recording just 9 tackles all year. Following his freshman season he made headlines by entering his name in the transfer portal, only to later withdraw from the portal after a conversation with head coach Nick Saban.
His sophomore year rumors regularly trickled out that Eyabi was not attending classes and was struggling to uphold his commitments as a student athlete. Later in the year he was expelled from Alabama for an undisclosed reason. Shortly after being expelled, he would transfer to Houston. It was more of the same for Eyabi at Houston. He struggled to attend class and was quickly expelled once again. This time when he entered his name in the transfer portal, there were no division 1 teams willing to take a chance on him.
Eyabi Okie swallowed his pride and joined the little-known FCS team, UT-Martin. His dreams of becoming an NFL player seemed to be slipping away, and his days of competing at the highest level appeared to be over. It was at this point that Eyabi had some serious soul searching to do. He had publicly fallen from grace. How would he respond?
Rather than stew in self pity, Eyabi Okie began the long road of cleaning up the wreckage of his past. He publicly apologized to Alabama and Houston for his shortcomings and vowed “I will continue to transition into the man God wants me to be.” Due to the transfer rules at the time, he was forced to sit out a full season. During that time, he hit the weight room hard and put on 25 pounds of solid muscle. When he finally returned to action, he played well, totalling 9.5 tackles for loss and 6 sacks. But his greatest accomplishment would not come on the football field. He worked tirelessly in the classroom and graduated from UT-Martin with a degree in interdisciplinary studies.
The University of Michigan is widely known as the one of the top academic institutions in the world. Fans of the Michigan football team know that they rarely turn to the transfer portal due to their high academic standards, and when they do accept transfers, they strictly stick to graduates.
In August of 2022, the Michigan Football roster appeared to fully assembled. It surprised many when Eyabi Okie committed to the University of Michigan just days before the start of the season. Michigan fans quickly pecked away at their laptop keyboards, researching this unexpected late addition to the team. Public opinions in the national media questioned whether or not he would be able to succeed. Many stated that he was destined to ruin another good opportunity. However, the Michigan faithful embraced Eyabi, and he got right to work, studying the playbook and participating in drills.
Just days after joining the team, Eyabi Okie suited up for Michigan’s home opener against Colorado State. Still learning the plays, he was unsure if he would even see the field. To everyones surprise, his number was called. He lined up alongside his teammates in the largest football stadium in the country, The Big House. Over 100 thousand fans cheered him on. The ball was snapped and he exploded into the backfield and took down the CSU quarterback for a sack. The Michigan coaches, fans, and players exploded in celebration. Eyabi was back!
Eyabi Okie is the true American redemption story. He represents all of us. He is that voice in our heads saying “I can do better. I can be better.” In a world of social media, cancel culture, and plastic surgery, where everyone is trying to appear perfect, Eyabi stands publicly in a place of truth and vulnerability. It is not his imperfect past that represents him. It is his willingness to continue to show up and move forward with class and dignity, fighting alongside his Michigan football brothers.
Eyabi has continued to earn more playing time as the season has progressed and has solidified his position in the Michigan defensive rotation. In press conferences, he responds with respect and humility. He dedicated this season to his Grandmother, and represents his family with pride.
Eyabi Okie and the Michigan Wolverines are currently 5-0 and are set to take on the Indiana Hoosiers this Saturday in Bloomington. Eyabi’s NFL hopes are alive and well, and his future remains bright. The fan-favorite will surely continue to provide highlight reel plays on the field, but more importantly, will continue to grow into an impressive young man and student-athlete.
