The Michigan Wolverines have bolstered their depth and added some talent through the transfer portal this winter. Here is how this year’s moves compare to recent seasons:
After signing an impressive 2025 recruiting class, the Michigan Wolverines added even more talent this offseason via the transfer portal. Michigan has one of the top transfer portal classes, with a spring portal window still to come.
This year, the coaches are using some similar tactics that we’ve seen in the past to help improve the roster for next season. Here’s how they’ve done it.
Bringing in experienced players
The coaching staff has brought in some experienced players at key positions this offseason. First off, the Wolverines added quarterback Mikey Keene, who has four years of college football under his belt. While there’s a lot of understandable excitement about Bryce Underwood, it’s never a bad thing to have legitimate experience at the position.
Bringing in veteran players has worked out really well for Michigan in recent years, including with Olu Oluwatimi in 2022, Drake Nugent and AJ Barner in 2023, and Aamir Hall in 2024, just to name a few. Think back to the addition of Olu Oluwatimi for the 2022 season.
A guy like Keene might not have the type of year those guys had, but he will provide leadership and depth at the very least for the Wolverines in 2025.
Bolstering depth at key positions
The Wolverines are intentional when it comes to building depth through the portal. Think back to players like Hall and Josh Wallace. When it comes to the secondary, the next player to hit might just be former Louisiana cornerback Caleb Anderson. He’s not a long-term move — he has just one year of eligibility left — but he has the potential to instantly have an impact on the field.
The Wolverines have sported one of the best defensive lines in the country over the past few seasons, and they’re working on building up that depth again for 2025. Clemson defensive lineman Tre Williams and Alabama defensive lineman Damon Payne Jr. will help with the rotations and add even more talent to work alongside Rayshaun Benny.
Finally, the Wolverines have brought in Anthony Simpson and Donaven McCulley so far to compete for playing time at wide receiver. Simpson didn’t play all that much in 2024 due to injury, but he did have 57 catches for 792 yards and four total touchdowns the year prior. Much like Simpson, most of McCulley’s production came in 2023 when the 6-foot-5, 203-pounder reeled in 48 catches, 644 yards for six touchdowns. Michigan is taking a chance on this pair to bounce back after rough 2024 seasons, but they both bring some versatility and experience to the room this year.
Building for the future
While the Wolverines have some talent in the secondary, it’s obvious they see the benefits in rotating guys in, much like along the defensive line. They might not have needed to get T.J. and Tevis Metcalf, but they’ll both be nice players to have for this year and seasons to come. Even if they don’t get playing time right away, there’s potential for them to be critical pieces in the future.
That’s sort of the case with running back Justice Haynes and linebacker Troy Bowles. These young players have the potential to see major playing time in 2025, but they’re not one-and-done transfers (hopefully). While Haynes is expected to get snaps right away, it’s not like Michigan needed a starting running back. The same goes for the linebacker room. Michigan has plenty of guys, but has still added key talent that can help now and in seasons to come.
What has stood out to you over the past few seasons of the transfer portal? Let us know in the comments below!