The transfer portal is officially closed. Congratulations, everyone, we did it! Now, while more names could still leave the portal, there should be no more entries from the Michigan Wolverines. But again, this is the NCAA we are talking about, so can any player, coach or fan ever feel comfortable? Laws and rules exist in this organization in the same way the Golden Rule exists in kindergarten classrooms across the country. But that’s a story for another day.
As it stands as of writing this on Tuesday,
Jan. 20, it feels like the perfect time to address the central question emerging from the settling dust. Did Michigan get better? Let’s go position by position, examine the turnover, and see which groups upgraded and which downgraded during portal season.
Quarterbacks
Key Retainees: Bryce Underwood
Key NFL/ Eligibility Losses: N/A
Transfer Portal Losses: Mikey Keene, Jadyn Davis, Davis Warren, Jake Garcia
Transfer Portal Additions: Brayden Fowler-Nicolosi, Colin Hurley
The Verdict: Upgrade. The retention of Bryce Underwood was the first, second and third most important priority for this staff. Sure, some of the “experienced” depth behind him is gone, but Brayden Fowler-Nicolosi fills that vital backup spot while Colin Hurley and the freshmen can learn and develop. The ceiling is higher for this room in 2026, and with the loss of Jake Garcia, so is the floor.
Offensive Line
Key Retainees: Andrew Babalola, Blake Frazier, Jake Guarnera, Evan Link, Andrew Sprague, Nathan Efobi, Brady Norton, Lawrence Hattar, Marky Walbridge,* Malakai Lee*
Key NFL/ Eligibility Losses: Gio El-Hadi, Greg Crippen
Transfer Portal Losses: Kayden Strayhorn, Ty Haywood, Ben Roebuck, Connor Jones
Transfer Portal Additions: Houston Ka’aha’aina-Torres
The Verdict: Upgrade. Michigan’s offensive line room is tackle-heavy, but retaining Jake Guarnera and the fact it is easier to kick inside than out make this room better in 2026. The losses of Ty Haywood and Kayden Strayhorn hurt the depth of the unit, but preserving the commitments of Marky Walbridge and Malakai Lee, as well as bringing Lawrence Hattar back out of the portal, will help mitigate those departures in the long-term. Moreover, the addition of Jim Harding as offensive line coach (the most important assistant coach hire for Kyle Whittingham) immediately maximizes the potential for every player in this room.
Running Backs
Key Retainees: Jordan Marshall, Bryson Kuzdzal, Savion Hiter*
Key NFL/ Eligibility Losses: N/A
Transfer Portal Losses: Justice Haynes, Jasper Parker
Transfer Portal Additions: Taylor Tatum
The Verdict: Downgrade. Regardless of the potential of five-star running back Savion Hiter (spoken like someone who remembers Derrick Green and Sam McGuffie all too vividly), until he takes a carry for the Wolverines, the loss of known All-Big Ten commodity Justice Haynes worsens this room entering next season. But this is just a slight downgrade with the return of Bryson Kuzdzal. With the inevitable running back injury bug lurking in the corners, having a reliable and durable option like Kuzdzal helps ease the pressure on everyone in the room.
Wide Receivers
Key Retainees: Andrew Marsh, Kendrick Bell, Channing Goodwin, Jamar Browder, I’Marion Stewart, Travis Johnson*
Key NFL/ Eligibility Losses: Donaven McCulley
Transfer Portal Losses: Semaj Morgan, Peyton O’Leary, Fred Moore
Transfer Portal Additions: Jaime Ffrench, J.J. Buchanan, Salesi Moa
The Verdict: Upgrade. Andrew Marsh is back and Semaj Morgan is gone. Based on this fact alone, even if the rest of the room leaves and admissions block the transfers, this is still a net positive. But factoring in the transfer of Salesi Moa (technically a transfer, but would be the second-highest receiver commit in program history per 247Sports), several promising young, returning receivers and the addition of two more exciting transfers, no room has improved more year over year than this one.
Tight Ends
Key Retainees: Zack Marshall, Hogan Hansen, Jalen Hoffman, Deakon Tonielli
Key NFL/ Eligibility Losses: Marlin Klein, Max Bredeson
Transfer Portal Losses: Brady Prieskorn
Transfer Portal Additions: N/A
The Verdict: Downgrade. The loss of two team captains and staples of both the passing and rushing attack will not be easily replaced. Michigan has the talent to mitigate the losses, but the impact and success of this room are largely contingent on the health of Hogan Hansen.
Defensive Tackles
Key Retainees: Trey Pierce, Enow Etta, Manuel Biegel, Alister Vallejo,* Titan Davis*
Key NFL/ Eligibility Losses: Rayshaun Benny, Tre Williams, Damon Payne Jr., Ike Iwunnah
Transfer Portal Losses: N/A
Transfer Portal Additions: Jonah Lea’ea
The Verdict: Downgrade. This front will be asking several players to take a leap, but the experience of Trey Pierce, Enow Etta and transfer Jonah Lea’ea should prevent any unknown freshmen or unproven second-year players from shouldering too much of a burden. However, these inexperienced players will have to be ready to step up in a rotational capacity and replace the veteran depth from last season.
Defensive Ends
Key Retainees: Cameron Brandt, Dominic Nichols, Nate Marshall, Carter Meadows*
Key NFL/ Eligibility Losses: Derrick Moore, Jaishawn Barham, T.J. Guy
Transfer Portal Losses: Devon Baxter
Transfer Portal Additions: John Henry Daley
The Verdict: Upgrade. I waffled on this one for longer than I should have. The NFL losses are substantial, but the case for improvement is one John Henry Daley. If you combine JHD’s sacks (min. 10) and tackles for loss last season, here is how he stacks up in Michigan history.
- 2009 Brandon Graham (10.5 sacks, 26 TFLs): 36.5
- 2021 Aidan Hutchinson (14 sacks, 16.5 TFLs): 30.5
- 2008 Brandon Graham/ 1987 Mark Messner (10 sacks, 20 TFLs): 30
- 2025 John Henry Daley (11.5 sacks, 17.5 TFLs)/ 1995 Jason Horn (11 sacks, 18 TFLs): 29
- 1998 James Hall (11 sacks, 16 TFLs): 28
Furthermore, Daley only played in 11 games last season. Now, factor in the addition of five-star Carter Meadows and the fact that Jaishawn Barham and Derrick Moore combined — and in one more game each — barely outpaced Daley last season (14 sacks, 20.5 tackles for loss) and it is hard to view this room as anything but better, if not more exciting, in 2026.
Linebackers
Key Retainees: Troy Bowles, Nathaniel Owusu-Boateng, Chase Taylor
Key NFL/ Eligibility Losses: Jimmy Rolder, Ernest Hausmann
Transfer Portal Losses: Cole Sullivan, Jaydon Hood
Transfer Portal Additions: Max Alford, Christian Pierce, Aisea Moa, Nathaniel Staehling
The Verdict: Downgrade. Cole Sullivan is the single biggest portal departure this offseason, and if you count Barham – the Week 1 starting linebacker – Michigan is losing its top four linebackers from 2025. All three key retainees showed promise last season, but are they prepared to carry this unit for an entire Big Ten season? Or could we see a player such as Mason Curtis — a la Sonny Styles down south — added to the room to help mitigate the damage? If this room is better next season, it will be due to the addition of transfer Nathaniel Staehling, who racked up 75 tackles, six tackles for loss, one sack and three picks at North Dakota State last season. However, we need to see it translate to the FBS level first.
Cornerbacks
Key Retainees: Zeke Berry, Jyaire Hill, Shamari Earls, Jojo Edmonds, Jamarion Vincent*
Key NFL/ Eligibility Losses: Caleb Anderson
Transfer Portal Losses: T.J. Metcalf, Jayden Sanders, Elijah Dotson, Tevis Metcalf
Transfer Portal Additions: Smith Snowden
The Verdict: Upgrade. This unit is probably worse long-term as it stands with the losses of freshmen Jayden Sanders and Elijah Dotson, but there is no doubt this room will be better next season. Jyaire Hill and Zeke Berry return, and they might be the second- and third-best corners on the roster now behind the addition of Utah transfer Smith Snowden. Furthermore, Jojo Edmonds and Shamari Earls might both be on track for a step forward with a new voice leading the room.
Safeties
Key Retainees: Rod Moore, Mason Curtis, Jordan Young, Kainoa Winston, Jacob Oden
Key NFL/ Eligibility Losses: N/A
Transfer Portal Losses: Brandyn Hillman, Jaden Mangham
Transfer Portal Additions: Chris Bracy
The Verdict: Upgrade. This may seem controversial, but I don’t view the departures of either Brandyn Hillman or Jaden Mangham as losses. Mangham always played a step slow and Hillman’s selfishness outweighed his big-hit ability. Simply clearing up roster space and the return of Rod (God) Moore will improve this room next season. Even if Curtis moves to linebacker, Jordan Young has shown enough promise as a rotational player to challenge for a starting role, and transfer Chris Bracy is fresh off a breakout 81-tackle campaign for Memphis.
Specialists
Key Retainees: N/A
Key NFL/ Eligibility Losses: Dominic Zvada, Greg Tarr
Transfer Portal Losses: Hudson Hollebeck, Beckham Sunderland, Evan Boutorwick
Transfer Portal Additions: Trey Butkowski, Cam Brown, Nico Crawford, Gavin Magorien
The Verdict: Upgrade. With a minimum of 20 attempts, Dominic Zvada was the most accurate kicker in Michigan history in 2024. Under the same parameters in 2025, he had the fourth-worst season in program history. The loss of Zvada (we’ll always have Columbus, king), coupled with the firing of coordinator J.B. Brown automatically makes this room better next season.
