The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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DECEMBER 2024 ❱ THE WOLVERINE 49 ❱ COMMIT PROFILE BY EJ HOLLAND M ichigan scored its most important win of the 2025 recruiting cycle in late October. Five-star Overland Park (Kan.) Blue Valley Northwest offensive lineman An- drew Babalola committed to U-M over fellow finalists Auburn, Missouri, Okla- homa and Stanford. "It was about family atmosphere," Babalola said. "It was about having the peace of mind that I was going to a pro- gram that's going to take care of me on and off the field with development and academics. Also, playing on the biggest stage. "The relationships I formed with the coaching staff, the fellow recruits and the players made it the right fit in my mind." Babalola's decision came after a series of delays and twists and turns. While many grew impatient, Babalola just didn't feel ready — until Oct. 21, that is. "It was really difficult because of the love I have for all five schools," Babalola said. "I came into the summer with the mindset of 'I'm going to take my official visits and commit sometime in June.' Ob- viously, that didn't happen. Then it was 'I'll commit before school starts.' That didn't happen. "Overall, Michigan was always in the back of my head. It was super tough mak- ing the phone calls, but I just came to the conclusion that Michigan was the right place for me. It was a super tough and strenuous process." While development and academics were often considered the two most im- portant factors for Babalola, both Michi- gan head coach Sherrone Moore and of- fensive line coach Grant Newsome played a huge role in winning him over. "They did an amazing job," Babalola said. "Coach Moore offered me in the fall of my junior year. When he got promoted to head coach and Coach Newsome went to offensive line, things really picked up with constant contact and them recruit- ing me. They showed me the opportu- nities I had at Michigan. They're great people and made it easy for me to say, 'I want to go to Michigan.'" Michigan also got a boost from its 2025 recruiting class. "I'm super excited to be part of the class," Babalola said. "The main two guys I've built relationships with are Kaden [Strayhorn] and Avery [Gach]. They checked in on me all the time and said how much they would like me to play with them. They are some of the best kids in the country. I'm super excited to play with them." Babalola was once considered a Stan- ford lean. However, Michigan offers more on the football side while still providing an elite education. Michigan's Ross School of Business is world-renowned and really moved the needle for Babalola. "It played a huge role," Babalola said. "Michigan is one of the best schools in the country. It's the top public school. I want to go into business, and there is no better place than Ross. "I got to meet professors on my offi- cial visit and talk to current players on the roster like Andrew Gentry about their Ross experience. Michigan is the perfect combo of academics and athletics." Overall, Babalola, the No. 3 offensive tackle and No. 11 overall prospect nation- ally, is relieved to be done with the re- cruiting process and is excited about the future of the U-M program. "I believe in the vision," Babalola said. "I have a belief in the program and a belief in Coach Moore's vision for the program. There have been some setbacks and some things that have to get fixed. But overall, I believe in the program. I believe in Coach Moore. I believe in Coach Newsome. I be- lieve in their plan for my development. I believe in them getting this ship turned around and getting Michigan back to what it stands for." ❑ Five-Star Offensive Lineman Andrew Babalola Picks U-M On3 ranks Babalola as the No. 3 offensive tackle and No. 11 overall prospect in the country. He is Michigan's first five-star commit since Will Johnson in 2022. GRAPHIC COURTESY ON3 PLAYER EVALUATION STRENGTHS: Babalola has an impressive frame at 6-foot-6, 295 pounds. He is a tall, athletic tackle with a prototypical build and terrific feet. He comes from a strong basketball background and has only been playing football for three years, which means his upside is through the roof. Babalola is naturally mean and plays with plenty of physicality, often putting defenders in the dirt as he finishes blocks with authority. He is smart both on and off the field and has the makings of an early starter in Ann Arbor. WEAKNESSES: Babalola is still new to the game, so he can continue to improve his overall technique and learn how to use his length to his advantage, especially in pass protection. He is a dominant run blocker but can sometimes rely heavily on his sheer size and brute strength — something he won't be able to do at the next level. MICHIGAN PLAYER COMPARISON: Babalola hails from Kansas City and actually grew up play- ing basketball with Michigan offensive tackle Andrew Sprague. The two have similar frames and athletic profiles. Like Sprague, Babalola is a towering tackle with plus length, athleticism and feet. Sprague was one of the higher-ranked recruits in Michigan's 2024 class, but Babalola is an even more exciting tackle prospect. Both Babalola and Sprague could start together along the offensive line in the near future. — EJ Holland