#57

Makhi Gilbert

DL · Eastern Michigan · Fr. · #57

Returning to Eastern Michigan for 2026
Fr. · Phenix City, Ala. → Central
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This season's coverage starts August 26 — check back once kickoff hits.

Makhi Gilbert

DL · Eastern Michigan · Jr · #57

Limited signal — not enough coverage for a story yet.

Career Arc

HS
Recruit
No recruit profile
CFB
College
Eastern Michigan
2025
NFL
NFL Draft
Not drafted (yet)

2025 snapshot

Season context · Team result + system

2025Eastern Michigan4-8HC: Chris Creighton · Balanced

Career stats

SeasonTeam
2025Eastern Michigan1651.50.0------
Career1651.50.0------

Signature game

SIGNATURE GAME · Week 4 · 2025

W 34–31

vs Louisiana

2 TOT  ·  1 SOLO  ·  1 QB HUR

Edged out Louisiana at home in a shootout.

How he plays

Play style

Wins his gap play after play.

CFB Index positional classification

2026 Outlook

Eastern Michigan

2026 Depth chart

Projected starter

Defensive line · Eastern Michigan

Returning around him

  • 25% of 2024 offensive production back (Heavy turnover)
  • Transfer portal: -15 net (11 in / 26 out)

2026 Award watch

No preseason watch lists yet (most drop June 15 – July 15)

Eastern Michigan · Last season: 4-8 · Talent rank #94 · 2026 recruiting class #105

DNA match

Player DNA

Two-Gap Base

Stout at the point of attack — steady tackle-for-loss production without a standout pass-rush number.

IDL

His 2025 production profile sits closest to De'Jon Benton’s 2022 season.

USC · 2022

#2

Jaylen Pate

Northwestern · 2022

84%
#3

Devin Morgan

Buffalo · 2024

83%
#4

Chad Stephens

East Carolina · 2021

83%
#5

Tyson Lee

Western Michigan · 2024

83%

Matches De'Jon on

Sack rate
Height
TFL rate

Not enough data yet for this comparison.

As a junior, his production profile tracks closest to Ike Nnakenyi's junior season at Nevada (2024).

Ike Nnakenyi

80%match

Nevada · 2024

#2

Kyler Jordan

Baylor · 2024

78%
#3

Austin Romaine

Kansas State · 2025

78%
#4

Bryce Wilson

Akron · 2022

77%
#5

Jaylen Pate

Northwestern · 2022

74%

Matches Ike on

Class year
TFL rate
Weight

Differs from Ike on

Height (lower)

Heisman trajectory

Heisman Trajectory · 2025

Peak #13599

Final rank
#13599
Avg #13667.3
Finalist prob 0%

Peaked at #13599 this season.

Background

EMU: 2025: Played in five games with four starts…Finished with 16 tackles, including five solo and 11 assisted…Added 1.5 tackles for loss for four yards…Recorded two quarterback hurries…SAMFORD: Spent three seasons at Samford…Played in 26 career games…Totaled 32 tackles, five tackles for loss, an...

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