Michigan Wolverines football adds five-star OT Andrew Babalola

The Overland Park (Kansas) Blue Valley Northwest senior chose the Wolverines over Stanford, Auburn, Missouri and Oklahoma in a controversial recruitment.

Babalola had originally thought about signing at the end of July after his official visits in June. That was pushed back to August and then September before he set a firm deadline to announce his college decision by his final game of the regular season, Friday.

He will be the top-ranked player in Michigan's 2025 recruiting class, according to 247Sports.

Babalola was a basketball player who didn't play a real football game until his junior season. He participated in spring ball toward the end of his sophomore year. Despite his lack of experience, Babalola's 6-foot-1, 280-pound frame and the athleticism he picked up from the basketball court made him an instant Power Four recruit.

Babalola, a native of Bloomfield Township, cited his relationships with head coach Sherrone Moore, offensive line coach Grant Newsome and recruiting director Sam Popper as some of his key connections in Ann Arbor. Since he was an excellent student, academic aspects also played a major role in his decision.