The early transfer portal window has brought plenty of movement for Michigan — some expected, some jarring — and while Kyle Whittingham’s staff has done an admirable job stabilizing parts of the roster,
a few position groups still demand immediate attention. (That’s right — we’re looking at you, defensive side of the ball!)
The Wolverines covered some major ground with the offense in recent days, adding Texas wideout Jaime Ffrench, Utah tight end JJ Buchanan, Oklahoma running back Taylor Tatum, and Colorado State quarterback Brayden Fowler-Nicolosi. Where the real question marks remain is on defense, where the unit has been gutted of nearly all of its starting production from 2025.
As the window moves quickly toward closing, here’s where Michigan currently stands.
Linebacker
There’s no way around it — linebacker is Michigan’s most pressing concern, and it’s not particularly close.
In a matter of weeks, the Wolverines lost Jaishawn Barham and Jimmy Rolder to the NFL Draft, while Ernest Hausmann medically retired from football and Cole Sullivan transferred to Oklahoma. Veteran depth piece Jaydon Hood also entered the portal.
What’s left is dangerously thin. Only Troy Bowles, Nathaniel Owusu-Boateng and Chase Taylor logged meaningful snaps at linebacker in 2025, and none of them profile as a proven, every-down centerpiece heading into next season. Michigan hosted former Cal linebacker Cade Uluave this past weekend, as well as former Michigan State linebacker Aisea Moa. But with Pitt’s Rasheem Biles committing to Texas and no commitments in hand, the clock is ticking for the Wolverines.
Michigan needs multiple linebackers, and at least one who can start immediately.
Defensive Back
The team’s starting boundary corner roles look relatively stable for now with Zeke Berry and Jyaire Hill both returning. Still, defensive back as a whole — but especially safety — have quietly become an area of concern.
Michigan saw a wave of departures here shortly after Whittingham finalized his staff, with TJ Metcalf, Brandyn Hillman, Jayden Sanders, Jordan Young, Jaden Mangham, Elijah Dotson and Tevis Metcalf all entering the portal. That’s a massive loss of experience from a group that rotated heavily in 2025.
There are some notable bodies left — Mason Curtis, Jacob Oden, Jo’Ziah Edmond, and Shamari Earls — but proven production is thin. Whether it be through retention or additions via the portal, Michigan needs at least a few experienced players that can stabilize the secondary and allow younger players to continue to grow into defined roles.
Defensive Line
Michigan has taken real steps to address the defensive line, landing edge rusher John Henry Daley and interior lineman Jonah Lea’ea from Utah — two players who immediately raise the floor of the unit. Daley, in particular, gives the Wolverines a legitimate presence on the edge losing Barham, Derrick Moore and TJ Guy.
But the interior still needs attention. Michigan has lost Rayshaun Benny, Tre Williams and Damon Payne Jr. and Enow Etta this offseason, leaving Trey Pierce and Manuel Beigel as the primary returners. If Michigan wants to maintain its recent standard in the trenches, another experienced defensive tackle and another pass rusher to pair with a still-recovering Daley feels more like a requirement than a luxury.
The Bottom Line
Whittingham has stabilized key parts of the roster while already landing impact transfers at wide receiver, tight end, edge rusher, defensive tackle and special teams. Still, linebacker and the secondary remain glaring needs, and depth in the trenches can’t be ignored.
The good news? These are fixable problems in the modern portal era. The next stretch will determine whether Michigan converts urgency into momentum, or carries some question marks into spring ball.
