The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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46 THE WOLVERINE AUGUST 2022 COMMITMENT PROFILE PLAYER EVALUATION Strengths: An intriguing international prospect, Koumba has tremendous upside and natural traits that pop off the screen. He absolutely dominates against inferior competition in Europe and opened eyes on the camp circuit this summer. Koumba has great length (7-foot-2 wingspan) and knows how to use it when coming off the edge. He also moves well for his size, evidenced by his verified 4.7 40. Koumba is still pretty lean and has plenty of room to develop from a physical standpoint. Again, his ceiling is among the best of any edge prospect nationally. Areas Of Improvement: Koumba is still very raw from a technical aspect. He didn't grow up playing the sport and isn't exactly receiving the best coaching overseas. Koumba is coming along thanks to trainer Brandon Collier, but there is still a long way to go. He will likely have to sit at least a few years and develop under the watchful eye of U-M defensive line coach Mike Elston, who is known as a great developer of talent. Koumba needs to add some weight, and maintaining his athleticism while going through a body transformation will be key. Michigan Player Comparison: Koumba shares similar traits with Michigan sophomore defensive end Kechaun Bennett. Like Koumba, Bennett was a bit of a lankier edge that really specialized in getting after the quarterback. Bennett was a work in progress when playing the run, and the same goes for Koumba. Bennett has added about 20 pounds since arriving in Ann Arbor, and Koumba will likely follow a similar path in the strength and conditioning program. — EJ Holland A ymeric Koumba is still taking it all in. The rising 2023 edge prospect from France traveled to the United States this summer as part of the PPI Dreamchas- ers Tour. PPI, an international recruit- ing service and database, takes overseas prospects across the United States in June annually to compete at different school camps. It didn't take long for Koumba to catch the attention of college coaches — he measured in at 6-foot-5, 230 pounds with a 7-foot-2 wingspan. He also ran a 4.7 40 and logged a 10-foot, 2-inch broad jump. Those numbers along with his 1-on-1 reps garnered him offers from a handful of FBS programs. "That was my second time I had been to the U.S., and I really don't have much to say," Koumba said. "I am still just im- pressed by what is happening to me. The opportunities I am getting are crazy. There is nothing like that in Europe." Koumba returned to Europe following the end of the PPI Dreamchasers tour in late June. After talking things over with his family, Koumba decided his mind was made up. The newly minted three-star prospect gave Michigan a verbal commitment over offers from Buffalo, East Carolina, UConn and Vanderbilt. "Michigan talking to and offering me is crazy," Koumba said. "I really like the school. I have always heard of it, and I really think I can play there. The stadium at Michigan is one of the biggest football stadiums in the world, and that is excit- ing. It's home." Michigan defensive line coach Mike Elston led the way in the recruitment of Koumba. Elston has a long-lasting rela- tionship with PPI founder Brandon Col- lier dating back to his time at Notre Dame, and that connection helped the Wolver- ines surge to the top of Koumba's list. Elston first saw Koumba work out at Michigan's satellite camp in Atlanta to kick off the summer and brought him in for an unofficial visit a couple of weeks later. Elston went over film with the over- seas prospect and also spent some time getting to know him on a personal level. "I want to be with coaches who can push me and make me the best," Koumba said. "Coach Elston is really like that. I feel good with him." Koumba was also impressed with Michigan's recent edge production, particularly the development of NFL Draft picks Aidan Hutchinson and David Ojabo. "I knew about Michigan because of the pass rushers like Hutchinson and Ojabo," he said. "I'm a big fan of Ojabo, I want to play like him. A guy like him motivates me. To have the chance to be at the same place as him is really good." Koumba, who helped lead his Pion- niers de Touraine club team to a national title in Paris this summer, will make the long journey back to Ann Arbor at some point this fall and is excited for his family to get a look at his future home. "I'll definitely be taking an official visit to Michigan during the season," Koumba said. "I really want my family to see the school." — EJ Holland Aymeric Koumba Gives U-M A French Connection On The Edge Koumba, a fast-rising edge player from France, caught the eye of U-M defensive line coach Mike Elston when he came to the United States to compete at several college camps this summer. He returned to Europe with a number of offers in late June and gave Michigan his commitment on July 15. PHOTO BY MARSHALL LEVENSON/ON3.COM