Karmello English gave up the opportunity to play Alabama on a yearly basis when he chose to leave his home state for college, but he’s getting that chance as a freshman nonetheless.

English played in six games at wide receiver and on special teams for Michigan this season, and has a chance to get on the field vs. the Crimson Tide in Monday’s Rose Bowl College Football Playoff semifinal. It’s something he never expected to happen so quickly when he signed with the Wolverines, or even until the moment Alabama’s name popped up on the screen Dec. 3 as Michigan’s Rose Bowl opponent.

“Not at all — not for one second,” English said at Saturday’s Rose Bowl Media Day. “It shocked me, honestly. I never thought I’d get a chance to play them, even on down the road, being in the Big Ten Conference. … I thought it was gonna be Florida State. It was just crazy.”

English starred at Central-Phenix City, one of the top high school programs in the state. A four-star prospect, he was briefly committed to Auburn during the summer and fall of his senior season before ultimately signing with Michigan last December.

The 5-foot-11, 190-pound English got a chance to handle the ball in his first college game, returning a punt eight yards against East Carolina on Sept. 2. He caught just one pass all season, but it went for a 4-yard touchdown in a 52-7 rout of Indiana in mid-October.

“I feel like playing at Central really prepared me for Michigan,” English said. “The Michigan coaches take their time with everyone and make sure everyone is trying to reach the peak of their game. It was the same way at Central. It was a high-class environment with a lot of people trying their best to help you succeed.”

English was one of the higher-rated players in Michigan’s 2023 recruiting class, which was ranked in the Top 20 by the most of the major services. In addition to Auburn, Kentucky, Miami and Colorado were among the programs that recruited him the hardest.

He said what ultimately won him over with Michigan was the idea that nothing (not even a lucrative NIL deal) would be handed to him with the Wolverines, who “make you work for everything that you want.” He also developed a special bond with Jim Harbaugh, the super-intense Michigan head man.

“At the end of the day, he’s a player coach, from head to toe,” Harbaugh said. “He’s all about his players. I really feel like most people don’t understand that about him, but he’s the person that you want to be around 24/7. He makes you a part of his family.”

It’s highly likely not everyone in his hometown is rooting for English and his team to succeed this week, however. Phenix City has a long tradition of sending football players to Alabama, from Jeremiah Castille and Woodrow Lowe in the 1970s and 80s to Javion Cohen and Isaiah Faga in more-recent years.

But English isn’t overly concerned. He realizes that fans will be fans.

“It’s been crazy, honestly,” English said. “Most people say they’re still going to support me, but you know, the Alabama fan base is loud.”

Kickoff for Monday’s Rose Bowl between Alabama and Michigan is set for 4 p.m. Central, with television coverage on ESPN.