Former Tide five-star recruit transferring again, looking for fifth school

Former Tide five-star recruit transferring again, looking for fifth school

The top-rated player in Alabama’s 2018 recruiting class is looking to transfer to a fifth different school.

Eyabi Okie, who was known as Eyabi Anoma when he signed with Alabama as a five-star recruit more than five years ago, entered the NCAA transfer portal on Thursday, On3 Sports and the Detroit Free Press reported. Okie is a graduate transfer.

Okie was the No. 4-rated player nationally in 247 Sports’ composite when he signed with Alabama on Dec. 20, 2017. He played in 12 games as a freshman in 2018, earning all-freshman SEC honors after recording two tackles for a loss.

But Okie was later suspended by Alabama and entered the transfer portal before the 2019 season, landing that season at Houston. But Houston dismissed him after the 2019 season and, after sitting out the 2020 season, he later joined Tennessee-Martin for the 2021 season.

Okie transferred again to Michigan before the 2022 season, changing his last name to honor his mother. He finished this season with 2.5 sacks for the Wolverines.

Okie played at St. Frances Academy in Baltimore, the same school where Tide found 2020 five-star edge rusher Chris Braswell, who is an expected starter in 2023.

Mike Rodak is an Alabama beat reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter @mikerodak.