A few weeks ago, we opened up this exact same topic for discussion. The comments were all over the place when it came to Michigan’s transfer portal needs, and we tried our best to answer our own question a few days later. Now that a new head coach is in place and the transfer portal is open for the next two weeks, the picture is much cleaner now.
So we ask again this question — what are Michigan’s transfer portal needs this winter?
The identity of previous Kyle Whittingham teams is not all that different
from the Jim Harbaugh era teams. He likes to play smash mouth football, run the ball and suffocate opponents with defense. However, there are subtle differences — he will run his quarterback quite a bit more than Michigan ever has historically, and the Raven’s style of defense will likely fall by the wayside.
With all that in mind, the needs don’t change all that much in my opinion. Wide receiver continues to be a spot of severe need. Freshman wideout Andrew Marsh proved to be a revelation this year, but they need more than just one guy. The depth was not great, and losing a wide receiver recruit in four-star Brady Marchese due to Sherrone Moore’s exit didn’t help either.
The defensive interior is another place that seems to be a position of need to me. With Rayshaun Benny out of eligibility and both of last year’s incoming transfers out of eligibility, there is playing time to be had at that spot. The edge is also a bit of a concern with Derrick Moore (who is off to the NFL) proving to be the only Wolverine capable of putting any pressure on opposing quarterbacks.
Linebacker is a bit up the air depending on a handful of stay-or-go decisions that have yet to be made. Ernest Hausmann’s career is over, as is Jaishawn Barham’s. Jimmy Rolder and Cole Sullivan could return to form a dynamic duo at linebacker, but neither are locks just yet. After that, the depth gets a bit shaky with guys like Chase Taylor, Troy Bowles and Nathaniel Owusu-Boateng all playing sparingly this year.
There are certainly other positions that could be mentioned here, but we want to hear from you. What positions do you see as vital needs in this portal window? Is wide receiver still the biggest concern? Should Michigan pick up a backup quarterback now that Jadyn Davis and Davis Warren have hit the portal?
Let us know your thoughts and priorities in the comments below.
