Makari Paige

Makari Jaimon Paige (born January 11, 2002) is an American football defensive back for the Michigan Wolverines. He has won three consecutive Big Ten Conference titles, and a national championship in 2023.

Early life and high school
Paige was born in 2001, in West Bloomfield, Michigan. He is the son of Glen and Lajuanna Paige. He attended West Bloomfield High School, where he played football under future Michigan assistant coach, Ronald Bellamy. He was also high school teammates with Donovan Edwards and Semaj Morgan.

During his junior and senior seasons, 2018 and 2019, he totaled 198 tackles, intercepted four passes, and had eleven pass breakups. As a senior, he was named All-State and to the Detroit Free Press: Dream Team.

Paige was one of the top rated safeties in 2020, rated as a four star recruit with offers from Michigan, Notre Dame, Ohio State, Penn State, Purdue, and Kentucky. On July 30, 2019, Paige committed to home state school, the University of Michigan.

Freshman, sophomore and junior seasons


Paige committed to the University of Michigan in July 2019, and enrolled early in January 2020. As a freshman, during the COVID-shortened 2020 season, he appeared in all six games for Michigan, totaling 6 tackles on the season. In 2021, as a sophomore, he appeared in 9 games on special teams and safety.

In 2022, Paige overtook RJ Moten mid-season to earn the starting safety position. Paige started 5 games, appearing in 12 games. Paige finished the season with 41 tackles, 1 interception and 1 sack.

Senior season(s)
Prior to the 2023 season, Paige was rated by Pro Football Focus (PFF) at No. 7 among the returning safeties in college football. PFF also rated him as the second-highest graded defender on the Michigan team.

During the 2023 season, Paige started 13 games for the Wolverines, appearing in 14. Paige again totaled 41 tackles, including a forced fumble. Paige helped lead Michigan to three consecutive Big Ten conference titles, and a national championship.

Following the season, Paige announced he would return for a fifth year in 2024. He was named All-Big Ten honorable mention in both 2022 and 2023.