The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1493247
MARCH 2023 THE WOLVERINE 39 P L AY E R BIOS BY EJ HOLLAND Nathan Efobi is the definition of a true late riser on the recruiting trail. An athletically gifted prospect, Efobi initially attracted interest from college coaches as a defensive lineman. However, the On300 prospect (ranked No. 117 by On3) from Cumming (Ga.) South Forsyth began to take off as an offensive line re- cruit going into his senior year. Michigan offered over the summer and earned his commitment in the fall, beating out the likes of Miami and Penn State. "I love the development they can pro- vide for me," Efobi said. "I love the way I saw them working in the weight room. They talked to me about my potential and why it's so high. That made it easy for me to make my decision." Efobi understands he has a high ceiling and a low floor. That's the biggest rea- son opinions vary by a wide margin when it comes to Efobi's ranking. While On3 sees him as a top-125 prospect nationally, others see him as a middle-of-the-pack three-star. Efobi has terrific length, athleticism and feet, but he is still extremely raw from a technical standpoint. Finding the right coach to build him up was important for him. And there is no better man for the job than U-M offensive coordinator and line coach Sherrone Moore. "Coach Moore is a great person," Efobi said. "He acts the same on and off the field. He's a great coach and loves to coach people. He doesn't coach you too hard. He coaches you like you are his own son. I think he can develop me to my max poten- tial. He's been there and done it." Efobi will also have the benefit of work- ing with one of the best strength and con- ditioning coaches in the country in Ben Herbert. "I can't wait to get to Michigan because Coach Herb has shown me some before- and-after pictures, and it's shocking," Efobi said. "Players get big there and really transform. I'm ready to work with him." At 6-foot-4, 295 pounds, Efobi is an already large ball of clay waiting to be molded into a wrecking ball. He can play any spot along the line at the next level. And that's something that Moore used as a pitch during the recruiting process. "He said that he's going to put me ev- erywhere," Efobi said. "I'll play anything. I'll even play tight end [laughs]." Catching passes may not be in Efobi's future, but the hope is he'll serve up plenty of pancakes for an offensive line coming off back-to-back Joe Moore Awards. "I think it's the first time in history that winning it back-to-back has happened," Efobi said. "That's a big deal. It just made my decision easier. The offensive line got better every time I saw them. It was beau- tiful to see. I can't wait to be a part of it." ❑ 2023 Projection Efobi is one of the more interesting takes of the cycle. While three of the four major recruiting services have him ranked as a three-star prospect, On3 sees him as a top-125 player nationally. He is the defi- nition of a high-ceiling, low-floor recruit. Michigan can certainly maximize his tal- ent, but he'll need to spend his freshman year immersed in the strength and condi- tioning program. On3 rated Efobi as a four-star prospect. He was ranked as the No. 117 player and No. 10 interior offensive lineman nationally, as well as the No. 10 player in Georgia. PHOTO COURTESY NATHAN EFOBI STATISTICS • Helped the South Forsyth offense aver- age 23 points per game his senior year in 2022 and nearly 27 points per game in wins. • Part of an offense that posted more than 28 points per game his junior year including more than 36 points per game in wins. • Also played along the interior defensive line, where he had 4 tackles for loss, 2 sacks and 1 forced fumble as a senior. • As a junior, posted 20 solo tackles with 7 tackles for loss, including 3 sacks. HONORS • Voted a team captain his senior year. • Two-time first-team Region 6-7A All- Region selection. • RecruitGeorgia Honorable Mention All- State as a junior (2021). • Atlanta Journal-Constitution All-Metro honoree as a junior. • South Forsyth posted a 6-5 record and reached the playoffs in his senior year. • Helped the War Eagles reach the Region 6 Class 7A state championship with an 8-3 record his junior season. RECRUITMENT • Committed to Michigan on Nov. 18, 2022, after receiving his offer in July 2022. • Picked U-M over offers from Georgia, Georgia Tech, Miami and Penn State. • Recruited by U-M offensive coordinator and line coach Sherrone Moore. DID YOU KNOW? • Also lettered in track and field, compet- ing as a thrower. • Holds personal bests of 52 feet, 8.75 inches in the shot put (fourth place in the 2022 Georgia 7A championship meet) and was a sectional qualifier in the dis- cuss with a throw of 128 feet, 11 inches. • Son of Ifeoma and Chinenye Efobi. NATHAN EFOBI OFFENSIVE LINE 6-4 • 295 SOUTH FORSYTH HIGH CUMMING, GA. RANKINGS STARS NAT. POS. STATE ✪ ✪ ✪ 449 37 46 On3 ✪ ✪ ✪ ✪ 117 10 10 ✪ ✪ ✪ — 44 42 ✪ ✪ ✪ — 32 57 ✪ ✪ ✪ — 35 83 consensus Georgia Offensive Lineman Nathan Efobi Brings Athleticism And Potential To U-M THEY SAID IT South Forsyth head coach Troy Mor- ris: "He's a captain. That says a lot. Our team selects them, so that says he's a great teammate on the field and in the locker room. Our young guys have a vote, so he's making an impact on them as well. He's a hard worker. He's a really good football player as well."